Assessment Of Urban Family Physician Program In Pilot Centers Covered By Ahvaz Jundishapur University Of Medical Sciences

Family physician is the core in the world efforts for quality improvement, cost effectiveness, and equity in the health care systems. The main purpose of this present study was to investigate situation of the family physician program and identify referral route in this program in six pilot cities in Khuzestan province.

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 2011. Pre-designed checklists were used for collecting data. In this study, 15 healthcare team in six pilot cities for family physician program in Khuzestan province were examined and their specified referral levels for each city was investigated and compared with the national instruction to identify current gaps.

The least number of staff belonged to nutrition, nurses and physicions respectively. In the second referral level cities, Specialists did not welcome the program. In Mahshar, a second level city, five specialists have been registered to family physician program. In the third level, 28/5 percent of specialist were enrolled in this program.

It seems that it is necessary to facilitate patient access to physicians under contract with family physician program and referral system in second and third levels. Therefore, establishing a motivation system for attracting specialist and improving their maintenance situation can also be beneficial.