The primary physician's role in care for developmentally handicapped children

Over the past ten years the needs and rights of handicapped persons have been widely emphasized, leading to major changes in their care. The primary physician has an important role in identification of handicapped children and in counseling and educating families. Training for physicians in these areas has only recently been introduced in some medical schools, residency programs, continuing medical education courses, and journals. The results of a survey of Arizona family physicians and pediatricians and parents of handicapped children confirm that primary physicians see handicapped children with regularity and generally have a clear perception of their role. Screening and counseling families about their child's disability appear to be major problem areas leading to parental dissatisfaction. The implications of these findings for future training efforts are discussed.