Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians

Though family doctors represent only about 7 percent of the state's physicians, they care for nearly a third of all Rhode Island children and more than one third of all Rhode Island adults. Family medicine is a primary health care specialty in which individuals and families are provided continuing and comprehensive health care. Here are some other things that family doctors do as well:
• Caring for patients regardless of age or health condition, sustaining an enduring and trusting relationship
• Understanding community-level factors and social determinants of health
• Serving as a patient's first contact for health concerns
• Navigating the health care system with patients, including being their primary doctor while admitted to the hospital as well as specialist and hospital care coordination and follow-up
• Using data and technology to coordinate services and enhance care
• Considering the impact of health on a patient’s family
• Providing gender affirming care
• Performing prenatal care and deliveries at multiple hospitals in RI as well as caring for the newborns
• Office procedures like skin biopsies, incision and drainage, joint injections, birth control implants (iud and nexplanon), abortion services, and osteopathic manipulative treatment.