Family Practice: Quality and Credibility

The decline of general practice as an acceptable mode of medical-care delivery began with the publication of the Flexner Report. This decline was further accelerated by the emergence of the specialty boards in the 1930's. Because of increasing doubts concerning the competence and qualifications of general practitioners, the rapid development of subspecialties and the geometric increase in medical knowledge, the decades after World War II almost killed general practice. The passing of the family physician was a real and distinct possibility.The decline was slowed by the emergence of the American Academy of General Practice in 1948. Reversal of the . . .