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Dr. Marina Abdel Malak, MD, CCFP,

is a Family Physician in Mississauga, Ontario. She has served on several committees and groups, including The Primary Care Network and Collaborative Mental Health Network. She has a passion for medical education, patient empowerment, and increasing awareness about the relationship between mental, emotional, and physical health. Dr. Abdel Malak is highly involved in quality improvement initiatives, and her research interests include strategies to support physician wellness, patient self-management, and optimizing physician education.

CLINICAL TOOLS

Abstract: Family physicians may work in walk-in clinics (WICs), or choose to follow their patients as a family practice, also known as primary care (PCP). In some cases, there are differences between the roles of both physicians: generally WICs are seen as being for urgent issues, whereas primary care is seen as dealing with chronic conditions. However, with the rise in patients without family physicians, many have had to rely solely on WICs for their ongoing care. This article explores the differences—and similarities—between both models, and suggests some strategies for navigating any disparities.
Key Words: walk-in physicians, primary care physicians.
WICs and PCPs both help patients with health concerns, but usually WICs are reserved (ideally) for urgent concerns
Patients should be encouraged to develop a relationship with a PCP so as to ensure long-term care and chronic conditions are managed
Strategic and focussed resource allocation will allow our family physicians to properly care for populations, regardless of what model they practice in
WICs are usually – and ideally – reserved for urgent care issues
Primary care is focussed on health promotion and illness prevention
Ideally, long-term relationships among physicians and patients should be established so as to maintain a high standard of care
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Related Terms: Caregiving
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