Characteristics of family practitioners with large geriatric practices

Little has been reported on the characteristics of physicians presently serving the health needs of the elderly. In this report, generated from a survey of Florida family practitioners, physicians and with large geriatric practices are compared to physicians with practices composed primarily of younger patients. Family physicians with large geriatric practices are older, and treat more chronic disease than do their peers. However, they consult the same professional journals and texts in caring for their patients, refer patients to specialists at the same rate, and have the same office facilities as do their colleagues who treat chiefly younger patients. The family physician with a large geriatric case load is less likely to have a predominantly outpatient practice and more likely to be involved with hospitalized patients. Data from the census and health manpower studies suggest that family physicians will care for substantial number of elderly patients in the future. Continuing education which addresses issues in geriatrics may help to attain optimal health care for the elderly.