Image used for representation only
The family medicine model at Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has shown to be an innovative approach, delivering holistic primary care in the country.
The family medicine model of care, introduced at PHCC in 2018, focuses on disease prevention and health promotion.
Under this model, every person has a family practitioner assigned at their health centre, supported by a professional team, who provide continuity of care for better health service quality and health outcomes.
In 2021, a total of 2,475,235 patients visited health centres across PHCC for family medicine.
A study on ‘Development of a model to deliver primary health care in Qatar’ anticipates that family medicine model will help redesign and integrate the way primary healthcare is delivered to the population of Qatar in helping patients manage their own health and reduce the numbers that need to be admitted to secondary care, improving patients’ independence and well-being as well as dramatically reducing the cost to the overall health system.
“The Family Medicine Model shifts primary health care focus from disease treatment to disease prevention. It promotes screening for early diagnosis of risk factors, and diseases. It provides better access to specialist services in the community, and effective management of stable chronic conditions by providing services that cover all residential areas,” PHCC says on its website.
“Our integrated Family Medicine Model helps people better manage their own health and reduce the need to be admitted to secondary care, improving patients’ independence and wellbeing,” it added.
Family physicians deliver a range of acute, chronic and preventive medical care services. In addition to diagnosing and treating illness, they also provide preventive care, including routine checkups, health-risk assessments, immunisation and screening tests, and personalised counselling on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Family physicians also manage chronic illness, often coordinating care provided by other subspecialists.
PHCC’s family medicine team helps patients to access all the services they need in one visit, helping them manage their health. They identify any potential future health concerns to ensure patients and their family maintain optimal health, and connect patients with others such as specialists and health coach if required.
