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The Future of Family Medicine from Family Physicians’ Perspective

Michal SHANI, Limor ADLER, Shlomo VINKER, Yochai SCHONMANN, Galia ZACAY, Ilan YEHOSHUA, Robert HOFFMAN, Jossef AZURI and Haymann ANTHONY

Primary care faces numerous challenges, including an aging population, physician shortages, evolving roles of medical staff, increasing bureaucracy, and the growing impact of telemedicine and artificial intelligence. These changes raise critical questions about the future role of family physicians.To evaluate the perceptions of family physicians about the future of family medicine.We conducted focus group discussions using a semi-structured interview developed by the TLV-GPRN (Tel Aviv General Practitioner Research Network). Discussions explored key themes related to the future of family medicine. The meetings were transcribed and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach.Three focus groups were conducted: two with young family physicians and one with senior family medicine leaders. A total of 18 practicing family medicine specialists participated. The interviews were held via Zoom between October and December 2024. Family physicians expressed confidence in their ability to adapt to future challenges while maintaining comprehensive patient care. They emphasized the importance of adopting new technologies to enhance diagnosis, patient management, and efficiency while minimizing administrative burdens. A key concern was balancing their broad expertise with increasing topic specific specialization demands. Participants highlighted the need for structured support to integrate AI and digital tools into daily practice while preserving the physician-patient relationship.Family physicians feel prepared to evolve with the healthcare landscape but emphasize the need for strategic technology implementation and role adaptation.Policymakers should incorporate their perspectives when designing future healthcare systems to ensure that changes align with primary care needs and patient-centered care principles.