American Board of Family Medicine 2228 Young Drive Lexington, KY 40505-4294 Tel: (859) 269-5626 Toll-free: (888) 995-5700 www.theabfm.org

A Family Physician is concerned with the total healthcare of the individual and the family and is trained to diagnose and treat a wide variety of ailments in patients of all ages. The Family Physician receives a broad range of training that includes adult medicine and care of the aged, the care of children, women’s health, maternity care, preventive medicine and behavioral science. Special emphasis is placed on the primary care of families, utilizing consultants and community resources when appropriate.

Training Required: Three years

Subspecialties for Family Medicine

Certification in one of the following subspecialties requires additional training and examination.

• Adolescent Medicine
  A Family Physician with multidisciplinary training in the unique physical, psychological and social characteristics of adolescents and their healthcare problems and needs.
  
  
• Geriatric Medicine
  A Family Physician with multidisciplinary training of the aging process and special skills in the diagnostic, therapeutic, preventive and rehabilitative aspects of illness in the elderly. This specialist cares for geriatric patients in the patient’s home, office, long-term care settings such as nursing homes and the hospital.
  
  
• Hospice and Palliative Medicine
  These physicians have special knowledge and skills to prevent and relieve the suffering experienced by patients with life-limiting illnesses. This specialist works with an interdisciplinary hospice or palliative care team to maximize quality of life while addressing the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of both patient and family throughout the course of the disease, including through the dying process and subsequent family grieving. This care can occur within or outside of a formal hospice or palliative care team. This specialist has expertise in the assessment of patients with advanced disease and catastrophic injury; the relief of distressing symptoms; the coordination of interdisciplinary patient and family-centered care in diverse settings; the use of specialized care systems including hospice; the management of the imminently dying patient; and legal and ethical decision making in end-of-life care.
  
  
• Sleep Medicine
  A Family Physician with special knowledge and skill in the diagnosis and management of clinical conditions that occur during sleep, that disturb sleep or that are affected by disturbances in the wake-sleep cycle. The physician will be skilled in the analysis and interpretation of comprehensive polysomnography and well-versed in emerging research and management of a sleep laboratory.
  
  
• Sports Medicine
  A Family Physician that is trained to be responsible for continuous care related to the enhancement of health and fitness as well as the prevention of injury and illness. The specialist possesses knowledge and experience in the promotion of wellness and the prevention of injury from many areas of medicine such as exercise physiology, biomechanics, nutrition, psychology, physical rehabilitation, epidemiology, physical evaluation and injuries. It is the goal of a Sports Medicine specialist to improve the healthcare of the individual engaged in physical exercise.
  

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