The need for a unique body of knowledge defined as family medicine is met in large measure by this textbook. To my knowledge, the information presented is not currently taught in the traditional medical school curriculum. The text is broad and diverse, as is the discipline of family medicine. Each chapter uniformly relates its information from the perspective of the family physician, thereby conveying that the most important therapeutic tool of family medicine is the family physician.
This textbook of family medicine represents the collective work of over 60 authors, most of whom are recognized as leading spokesmen for family medicine. It is divided into major sections consisting of "Health Care for the Family," "Health and Illness Behavior," "Family Practice Approach: Physician Roles and Responsibilities," "Clinical Data Base: The Scope of Family Medicine," "Comprehensive and Continuous Care," "Patient Management Skills," "Diagnostic and Therapeutic Skills," and "Primary Care: Consultation and Referral."