Primary Medical Practice in the United Kingdom and the United States

Abstract

Comparisons between the United Kingdom and the United States reveal definite differences in the style and content of primary medical practice. In the United States emphasis is on diagnosis. In the United Kingdom emphasis is on continuity and homebased care supported by a nationwide network of paramedical and social services. In both countries more is known about what discontents physicians than what satisfies patients. Medical practice and physician-patient relations are profoundly affected by external factors, including social attitudes, privileges, tradition, personal expectations and, above all, econimics. The American medical profession is the more exposed to external criticism, and future conflict and preoccupation with survival is largely an American phenomenon. Little is known in either cooutry about the long-term outcome of different forms of medical care. In Britain patients appear to value kindness above applied medical technology.

The Evolution of Medical Specialism

“…They then decided to broaden their expertise by providing postgraduate training in a new specialty of family practice. In the early 1970s, these developments were paralleled by the creation of the American Academy of Family Practice and by the publication of the American Family Physician, which replaced the journal entitled General Practice that formerly was distributed at no charge to general practitioners [28].…”