title: The primary care physician and the treatment of patients with skin disorders.
abstract: Scientific advances have altered the nature of primary care medicine. Primary care providers are increasingly asked to care for a broad spectrum of common maladies, including cutaneous disease. We review studies that have compared primary care physicians with dermatologists with respect to the diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders. Though primary care providers play a crucial role in the delivery of health care, the judicious and appropriate use of dermatology consultation should be encouraged.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Federman
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kirsner
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D010781:Photography; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States