Family-oriented primary care: A manual for medical providers

Despite a well-publicized shift away from the traditional family structure, the family remains the most basic relational unit in society and the physician's most potent ally. A family orientation in health care can provide a wider understanding of illness and broader range of solutions than the classic biomedical model. This volume offers practical guidance for the physician who would like to take greater advantage of this resource. It is structured around step-by-step protocols that are illustrated with case studies drawn from the authors' collaboration at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. The preliminary chapters give a common-sense grounding to family systems theory, family research, and family assessment. The family conference is carefully examined with step-by-step instructions on when and how to call and conduct one. The majority of the book offers practical guidelines for family-oriented approaches to transitional events in the life cycle, such as pregnancy or nursing home placement.