With family doctors increasingly overburdened, bureaucratized, and burned out, how can the field change before it's too late? Over the past few decades, as American medical practice has become increasingly specialized, the number of generalists—doctors who care for the whole person—has plummeted. On paper, family medicine sounds noble; in practice, though, the field is so demanding in scope and substance, and the health system so favorable to specialists, that it cannot be fulfilled by most doctors. In Searching for the Family Doctor, Timothy J. Hoff weaves together the early history of the family practice specialty in the United States with the personal narratives of modern-day family doctors. By formalizing this area of practice and instituting specialist-level training requirements, the originators of family practice hoped to increase respect for generalists, improve the pipeline of young medical graduates choosing primary care, and, in so doing, have a major positive impact on the way patients receive care. Drawing on in-depth interviews with fifty-five family doctors, Hoff shows us how these medical professionals have had their calling transformed not only by the indifferent acts of an unsupportive health care system but by the hand of their own medical specialty—a specialty that has chosen to pursue short- over long-term viability, conformity over uniqueness, and protectionism over collaboration. A specialty unable to innovate to keep its membership cohesive and focused on fulfilling the generalist ideal. The family doctor, Hoff explains, was conceived of as a powered-up version of the "country doctor" idea. At a time when doctor-patient relationships are evaporating in the face of highly transactional, fast-food-style medical practice, this ideal seems both nostalgic and revolutionary. However, the realities of highly bureaucratic reimbursement and quality-of-care requirements, educational debt, and ongoing consolidation of the old-fashioned independent doctor's office into corporate health systems have stacked the deck against the altruists and true believers who are drawn to the profession of family practice. As more family doctors wind up working for big health care corporations, their career paths grow more parochial, balkanizing the specialty. Their work roles and professional identities are increasingly niche-oriented. Exploring how to save primary care by giving family doctors a fighting chance to become the generalists we need in our lives, Searching for the Family Doctor is required reading for anyone interested in the troubled state of modern medicine.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Calling all animal lovers! A heartwarming memoir about one woman's career as a vet and the unique role pets play in our lives • “Filled with compassion and wisdom, Karen Fine is a healer whose own wounds have deepened her gifts for bringing animals and their people comfort and peace.” —Sy Montgomery, bestselling author of The Soul of an Octopus A tribute to our furry, feathery, scaley, and wet family members, All Creatures Great and Small meets Being Mortal in this compelling memoir of one woman's dream to become a veterinarian. Karen Fine always knew that she wanted to be a vet and wasn't going to let anything stop her: not her allergy to cats, and not the fact that in the '80s veterinary medicine was still a mostly male profession. Inspired by her grandfather, a compassionate doctor who paid house calls to all his (human) patients, Dr. Fine persevered, and brought her Oupa's principles into her own practice, which emphasizes the need to understand her patients’ stories to provide the best possible care. And in The Other Family Doctor, Dr. Fine shares all these touching, joyful, heartbreaking, and life-affirming tales that make up her career as a vet. There's: • The feral cat who becomes a creature out of a fable when he puts his trust in a young vet to heal his injured paw • The pot-bellied pig who grows too big to fit in the car but remains a cherished part of her family • The surprising colony of perfectly behaved ferrets • The beloved aging pet who gives her people the gift of accompanying them on one final family vacation • The dog who saves his owner's life in a most unexpected way Woven into Dr. Fine's story are, of course, also the stories of her own pets: the birds, cats, and dogs who have taught her the most valuable lessons—how caring for the animals in our lives can teach us to better care for ourselves, especially when life seems precarious.

In the post-Covid era, the U.S. veterinary industry is in crisis, facing a massive problem with employee retention which makes it increasingly difficult for pet caregivers to access quality healthcare for their companion animals. The veterinary professionals who remain also suffer from widespread mental health and quality of life issues. As a bastion of public health helping to ensure food safety and control the spread of infectious diseases, the veterinary profession is vital to society, and we all have a stake in its well-being, whether we are pet owners or not. This memoir examines the industry with a critical eye, using the narrator's experiences to illustrate why the pandemic is not entirely to blame for the profession's struggles, which are rooted in widespread poor management practices. This story also serves as a cautionary tale to pet caregivers so they can better navigate the animal healthcare system and avoid common pitfalls in obtaining care. Finally, it discusses potential ways to overhaul and reform the industry, such as enhancing the legal status of companion animals, creating veterinary "candy striper" programs, and supporting labor unions for veterinary professionals. Readers are invited to accompany the author on a journey which begins with idealism and traverses the depths of disillusionment before turning toward the future with a blend of trepidation and hope.

Get the Medical Info Your Family Needs When You Need It Most What do you do when you have a medical question regarding your children? Searching for answers online can be hit or miss. And can you trust the information you’re reading? With over 80 combined years of experience, doctors Robert Lesslie and Robert Alexander have been helping parents take good care of their kids for decades. Now, they want to share their expertise with your family. From common or controversial health issues to potential urgencies or emergencies, get practical and accurate advice at your fingertips to questions like these: Is my baby developing normally? What qualifies as a fever and what should I do about it? My one-year old isn’t walking yet. When should I worry and what should I do? What should I look for if I think my teenager has an eating disorder? Do immunizations pose a danger to my children? Perfect for new parents or as an additional resource for a growing family, this go-to guide will provide you with peace of mind when medical situations arise.

This groundbreaking book describes a completely new approach to the medical consultation, focusing on four key points: Behaviour, Aims, Room and Dialogue (B.A.R.D.).