BULLETIN OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE
JANUARY 1977
VOL. 53, No. I
ISSUES
IN
PRIMARY CARE*
Address of Welcome
JOSEPH POST, M.D. Professor of Clinical Medicine New York University School of Medicine Attending Physician Lenox Hill Hospital New York, N.Y.
A S chairman of the Committee on Medicine in Society I welcome you to this Annual Health Conference of the New York Academy of Medicine. The subject matter continues the themes of recent conferences which this committee has sponsored. These have dealt with such topics as The Professional Responsibility for the Quality of Health Care (1975), Prevention and Health Maintenance Revisited (1974), Problems of Older People: Forced Idleness, Impoverishment, Ill Health, Isolation (1973), The Hospital as a Community Facility (1972), and Toward A National Health Program
(1971). It is of particular significance that at a time when we think of the advanced state of medical knowledge, the accuracy of diagnosis, and the effectiveness of therapeusis as unequalled in all recorded history, the issue of primary care should become one of such great concern to us as professionals as well as to our patients. This consideration of primary care is part of the continuing need *The 1976 Annual Health Conference of the New York Academy of Medicine held April 22 and 23, 1976.
6
6J
.
J. POST POST~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
to bring scientific advances to the people who need them. It is also evidence that we recognize some of the distortions in our health education and in our delivery of health care. Laissez-faire in both areas has led to an overabundance of specialists of many categories and to the poorly balanced distribution and availability of physicians. We have contributed to this state of affairs by encouraging a kind of elitism which glamorizes and rewards the specialist inordinately. In addition, the availability of programs for specialty and subspecialty training has mushroomed throughout the nation since 1946. Whereas before that time the relatively few opportunities for such advanced education were confined chiefly to university hospitals, these programs are now to be found in many community hospitals as well. Indeed, it is almost a badge of honor for an institution to provide such training programs. Are they all equally effective? How many such programs do we need? It is time for us to reassess some of these issues and to act appropriately. If we do not, some action probably will be taken by those who may be less qualified, albeit more eager to make changes. I congratulate Dr. Frederic T. Kirkham, Jr., and the members of his committee on the excellent program that they have prepared and wish to express appreciation for the many hours of hard work that they contributed.
Bull. N.Y. Acad. Med.
JANUARY 1977
VOL. 53, No. I
ISSUES
IN
PRIMARY CARE*
Address of Welcome
JOSEPH POST, M.D. Professor of Clinical Medicine New York University School of Medicine Attending Physician Lenox Hill Hospital New York, N.Y.
A S chairman of the Committee on Medicine in Society I welcome you to this Annual Health Conference of the New York Academy of Medicine. The subject matter continues the themes of recent conferences which this committee has sponsored. These have dealt with such topics as The Professional Responsibility for the Quality of Health Care (1975), Prevention and Health Maintenance Revisited (1974), Problems of Older People: Forced Idleness, Impoverishment, Ill Health, Isolation (1973), The Hospital as a Community Facility (1972), and Toward A National Health Program
(1971). It is of particular significance that at a time when we think of the advanced state of medical knowledge, the accuracy of diagnosis, and the effectiveness of therapeusis as unequalled in all recorded history, the issue of primary care should become one of such great concern to us as professionals as well as to our patients. This consideration of primary care is part of the continuing need *The 1976 Annual Health Conference of the New York Academy of Medicine held April 22 and 23, 1976.
6
6J
.
J. POST POST~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
to bring scientific advances to the people who need them. It is also evidence that we recognize some of the distortions in our health education and in our delivery of health care. Laissez-faire in both areas has led to an overabundance of specialists of many categories and to the poorly balanced distribution and availability of physicians. We have contributed to this state of affairs by encouraging a kind of elitism which glamorizes and rewards the specialist inordinately. In addition, the availability of programs for specialty and subspecialty training has mushroomed throughout the nation since 1946. Whereas before that time the relatively few opportunities for such advanced education were confined chiefly to university hospitals, these programs are now to be found in many community hospitals as well. Indeed, it is almost a badge of honor for an institution to provide such training programs. Are they all equally effective? How many such programs do we need? It is time for us to reassess some of these issues and to act appropriately. If we do not, some action probably will be taken by those who may be less qualified, albeit more eager to make changes. I congratulate Dr. Frederic T. Kirkham, Jr., and the members of his committee on the excellent program that they have prepared and wish to express appreciation for the many hours of hard work that they contributed.
Bull. N.Y. Acad. Med.
