Family medicine is the medical specialty that provides continuing and comprehensive health care for individuals and families. This specialty integrates the biological, clinical and behavioral sciences. The scope of family medicine encompasses all ages and sexes as well as each organ system and every disease entity. It is this combination of expertise that qualifies family medicine physicians to provide continuing and comprehensive medical care, health maintenance and preventive services to each member of the family regardless of sex, age or problem – be it biological, behavioral or social. These specialists, because of their background and interactions with families, are best qualified to serve as a patient’s advocate in all health-related matters, including the appropriate use of consultants, health services and community resources.
Because of their extensive training, the clinical faculty of the Department of Family Medicine at IU School of Medicine provide comprehensive health care for people of all ages – from newborns to seniors. The clinical teams are affiliated with four IU Health outpatient ambulatory clinics and inpatient services at IU Health Methodist Hospital. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focusing on integrated care. Family medicine integrates care for patients of all genders and every age, and family medicine physicians advocate for the patient in a complex health care system.
Physician educators in the IU School of Medicine Department of Family Medicine provide patient care in the school’s Indianapolis clinical partner facilities: IU Health Methodist Hospital, Windrose Health Network, IU Health University Hospital and Shalom Health Care Center.