title: Primary care for persons with disabilities. The physiatrist's perspective.
abstract: It is difficult for many persons with physical disabilities to find and access primary health care. This article discusses this problem from the perspective of a physiatrist. It discusses the components of primary health care and then compares and contrasts the current status of the training, skills, and interest levels of generalist physicians and physiatrists in providing primary medical care for disabled persons. It includes a discussion of the artificiality of the specialist/generalist dichotomy and the concept of specialists providing true primary care to certain patient populations. General and personal strategies are suggested to influence and to change the health care system so disabled persons can find and have improved access to good primary health care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7798, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Currie
mesh_terms: D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education; D007878:Legislation as Topic; D010810:Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine; D011320:Primary Health Care; D014481:United States