Short Report - Special Collection: COVID-19

The evolving role of family physicians during the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis: An appreciative reflection

Louis S. Jenkins, Klaus B. Von Pressentin, Kartik Naidoo, Rachel Schaefer
African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine | Vol 12, No 1 | a2478 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v12i1.2478 | © 2020 Louis S. Jenkins, Klaus B. Von Pressentin, Kartik Naidoo, Rachel Schaefer | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 23 April 2020 | Published: 09 June 2020

About the author(s)

Louis S. Jenkins, Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; and, Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, George Regional Hospital, Garden Route, George, South Africa; and, Primary Health Care Directorate, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Klaus B. Von Pressentin, Division of Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Kartik Naidoo, Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; and, Mossel Bay Sub-District, Western Cape Department, South Africa
Rachel Schaefer, Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; and, Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, George Regional Hospital, Garden Route, George, South Africa

Abstract

Ten family physicians and family medicine registrars in a South African semi-rural training complex reflected on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis during their quarterly training complex meeting. The crisis has become the disruptor that is placing pressure on the traditional roles of the family physician. The importance of preventative and promotive care in a community-oriented approach, being a capacity builder and leading the health team as a consultant have assumed new meanings.

Keywords

family medicine; training; roles; community; COVID-19

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