The Role of Family Physicians in the Control and Prevention of COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Recently, COVID-19 has spread throughout China with new cases increasing abroad. Family physicians, a major provider of community medical services as well as the gatekeeper of residents' health, also play a vital role in the control and prevention of COVID-19.As their duties and working mechanism in combating COVID-19 are not completely clear yet, we tried to develop a sound working mechanism by comprehensively discussing and summarizing the deployment and role of family physicians in combating the epidemic, hoping to give full play of their role in doing the work based on maintaining sound physical and mental health with scientific self-protection, such as collaboratively identifying the suspected cases by screening the priority groups, standardizedly managing the isolated observational cases while managing contracted residents, and delivering individualized health education of COVID-19, by strengthening administrative management, clearing their duties, formulating a working procedure, strengthening the training before combating the epidemic, and caring for their physical and mental health. Copyright © 2020 by the Chinese General Practice.