Community-oriented primary care: critical assessment and implications for resident education.
BACKGROUND
Community-oriented primary care (COPC) is a systematic approach to health care based on principles derived from epidemiology, primary care, preventive medicine, and health promotion that has been shown to have positive health benefits for communities in the United States and worldwide.


METHODS
MEDLINE was searched using the key phrase "community-oriented primary care." Other sources of information were books and other documents.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of lack of predictable reimbursement for COPC services and difficulties encountered incorporating COPC in medical and residency curricula, widespread application of COPC has not occurred. Recent trends in public health initiatives, managed health care, and information technology provide an environment ripe for application of COPC in medical practice. Also, recent recommendations made by the Strategic Planning Working Group of the Academic Family Medicine Organizations and the Association of Family Practice Residency Directors regarding specific community competencies for residency training have direct bearing on COPC and family medicine educators. These trends and recommendations, properly configured, will produce a medical training and practice environment conducive to COPC.
Longlett
S K
SK
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Quincy 62301, USA.
Kruse
J E
JE
Wesley
R M
RM
D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003479:Curriculum; D005194:Family Practice / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education*; D007396:Internship and Residency; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011634:Public Health; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms; D014481:United States