Show NATIONAL FAMILY HEALTH WEEK In November National Family Health Week was proclaimed by President Nixon The proclamation came as a result result result re re- sult of House Joint Resolution No introduced by bv Representative Carter R and Senate Joint Resolution No 46 presented for passage by the late Senator Everett Dirksen R. The designation is somewhat misleadIng misleading mislead mislead- ing log as to the purpose of this special week Perhaps a better name would be National Family Doctor Week for the proposal was made In honor of these medical specialists Rep Carter said The passage of this legislation focuses national attention on one of the most meaningful developments to take place within our health care structure in recent recent recent re re- cent years the recognition of the role played by the family doctor in the delivery delivery delivery de de- livery of health care services to the American American American Am Am- public The American Academy of General Practice is the second largest medical organization in the United States with over members in its Its Its' 52 chapters encompassing all of the 50 states the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico The Academy organized in 1947 is keyed keyed key key- ed to provide the public with medical care by a primary-contact primary physician They stress a program based on preventive preventive pre pre- as well as curative medicine They believe as we do that the American Amer ican family should have access to a personal personal per per- family doctor one who knows the entire family and can provide for its total health needs One who will provide to day-to-day medical care for each of the family members But one who will select the proper limited specialist when a 1 patients patient's patients patient's pat pat- at- at lents lent's needs require special training The family doctor will stay on through that period of specialization as a medical advocate and friend and resume his personalized care during the rehabilItation rehabilitation rehabilitation of his his' patient For decades American medicine had been primarily the field of the family He was the family friend In times of need during sickness in times of anticipation such as pregnancy In times of joy such as births He was the close ally aUy against pain and disease The specialists have come along and over the years the family doctor seemed to tobe tobe tobe be fading from the scene Now he Is making a long overdue comeback with new specialized training We hope that his week will become an annual event We hope that his specialty the specialty the entire family will family will never be without him again |