Advocacy

Advocacy Toolkit

Talking Points to Position Academic Family Medicine in Health Systems

Family physicians are uniquely qualified to be in leadership positions in health systems.

  • Family physicians have broad medical training with an understanding of how specialties work together for optimal patient health.
  • “Family physicians are well positioned to take the lead in implementing health system reforms that improve value and patient-oriented outcomes.”1
  • Family physicians have received training on effective communication.

Health systems should have comprehensive family medicine clinics.

  • Family physicians are the answer to the primary care shortage in health systems. They are trained to diagnose and treat a broad range of diseases and conditions in patients of all ages.
  • On average, family physicians generate nine times their income in hospital revenue – a higher ROI than most specialties.2
  • Nurse practitioners and PAs play an important role in family medicine practices, allowing for larger patient panel sizes and a broader scope of practice for family physicians. This team-based care is an effective strategy to mitigate the undersupply of primary care physicians. 3
  • Family physician job descriptions should reflect family medicine’s unique, broad scope.
  • Family physicians are uniquely qualified to care for patients with complex multimorbidity, behavioral health, and social issues – and to understand how to do that within the context of family and community, helping health systems meet their commitments to communities.

Family medicine is underutilized.

  • Health care systems based on primary care have better quality of care, better population health, greater equity, and lower cost.4
  • Family medicine is more than a referral source.
  • Family medicine training produces physicians who are versatile; this was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when family physicians led health systems changes, served as first point of contact for patients, rounded in COVID wards, set up vaccination clinics, and became community spokepersons and advocates.
  • Family medicine provides comprehensive, coordinated, team-based care directed at meeting the Quadruple Aim, which will be critical to health system profitability during and after the transition to fee-for-value payment.
  • Resources should be directed towards meeting the Person-Centered Primary Care Measures. Meeting the measures can help systems meet social missions for population health, equity, quality, and sustainable health care expenditures.
  • Enhancing the role of family medicine within health care systems is the only viable option for reducing hospital admissions.
  • Systems that seek to be successful with risk-based contracts need to make an investment in high-performing primary care teams to reduce the cost of care and improve outcomes.

 

  • Lin K. Family Physicians are Natural Health System Leaders. American Family Physician Community Blog. May 19, 2014. http://afpjournal.blogspot.com/2014/05/family-physicians-are-natural-health.html
  • Miller, P. New Survey Shows Physicians are Key Revenue Generators for Hospitals. Merritt Hawkins Physicians Staffing Blog. https://www.merritthawkins.com/news-and-insights/blog/healthcare-news-and-trends/new-survey-shows-physicians-are-key-revenue-generators-for-hospitals/. Accessed March 2, 2020.
  • Dai M, Ingham RC, Peterson LE. Scope of Practice and Patient Panel Size of Family Physicians Who Work With Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants. Fam Med. 2019;51(4):311-318. https://doi.org/10.22454/FamMed.2019.438954.
  • Phillips R, Pugno P et al. Health Is Primary: Family Medicine for America’s Health. The Annals of Family Medicine. Oct 2014, 12 (Suppl 1) S1-S12; DOI: 10.1370/afm.1699

 

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AI Chatbot Tips

Tips for Using STFM's AI Assistant

STFM's AI Assistant is designed to help you find information and answers about Family Medicine education. While it's a powerful tool, getting the best results depends on how you phrase your questions. Here's how to make the most of your interactions:

1. Avoid Ambiguous Language

Be Clear and Specific: Use precise terms and avoid vague words like "it" or "that" without clear references.

Example:
Instead of: "Can you help me with that?"
Try: "Can you help me update our Family Medicine clerkship curriculum?"
Why this is important: Ambiguous language can confuse the AI, leading to irrelevant or unclear responses. Clear references help the chatbot understand exactly what you're asking.

2. Use Specific Terms

Identify the Subject Clearly: Clearly state the subject or area you need information about.

Example:
Instead of: "What resources does STFM provide?"
Try: "I'm a new program coordinator for a Family Medicine clerkship. What STFM resources are available to help me design or update clerkship curricula?"
Why this is better: Providing details about your role ("program coordinator") and your goal ("design or update clerkship curricula") gives the chatbot enough context to offer more targeted information.

3. Don't Assume the AI Knows Everything

Provide Necessary Details:The STFM AI Assistant has been trained on STFM's business and resources. The AI can only use the information you provide or that it has been trained on.

Example:
Instead of: "How can I improve my program?"
Try: "As a program coordinator for a Family Medicine clerkship, what resources does STFM provide to help me improve student engagement and learning outcomes?"
Why this is important: Including relevant details helps the AI understand your specific situation, leading to more accurate and useful responses.

4. Reset if You Change Topics

Clear Chat History When Switching Topics:

If you move to a completely new topic and the chatbot doesn't recognize the change, click the Clear Chat History button and restate your question.
Note: Clearing your chat history removes all previous context from the chatbot's memory.
Why this is important: Resetting ensures the AI does not carry over irrelevant information, which could lead to confusion or inaccurate answers.

5. Provide Enough Context

Include Background Information: The more context you provide, the better the chatbot can understand and respond to your question.

Example:
Instead of: "What are the best practices?"
Try: "In the context of Family Medicine education, what are the best practices for integrating clinical simulations into the curriculum?"
Why this is important: Specific goals, constraints, or preferences allow the AI to tailor its responses to your unique needs.

6. Ask One Question at a Time

Break Down Complex Queries: If you have multiple questions, ask them separately.

Example:
Instead of: "What are the requirements for faculty development, how do I register for conferences, and what grants are available?"
Try: Start with "What are the faculty development requirements for Family Medicine educators?" Then follow up with your other questions after receiving the response.
Why this is important: This approach ensures each question gets full attention and a complete answer.

Examples of Good vs. Bad Prompts

Bad Prompt

"What type of membership is best for me?"

Why it's bad: The AI Chat Assistant has no information about your background or needs.

Good Prompt

"I'm the chair of the Department of Family Medicine at a major university, and I plan to retire next year. I'd like to stay involved with Family Medicine education. What type of membership is best for me?"

Why it's good: The AI Chat Assistant knows your role, your future plans, and your interest in staying involved, enabling it to provide more relevant advice.

Double Check Important Information

While the AI Chat Assistant is a helpful tool, it can still produce inaccurate or incomplete responses. Always verify critical information with reliable sources or colleagues before taking action.

Technical Limitations

The Chat Assistant:

  • Cannot access external websites or open links
  • Cannot process or view images
  • Cannot make changes to STFM systems or process transactions
  • Cannot access real-time information (like your STFM Member Profile information)

STFM AI Assistant
Disclaimer: The STFM Assistant can make mistakes. Check important information.