PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Kannai, Ruth
AU  - (Alon), Aya Rice
TI  - Telemedicine Could Reduce the Role of Family Physicians to Case Managers
AID  - 10.1370/afm.3049
DP  - 2024 Jan 01
TA  - The Annals of Family Medicine
PG  - 63--64
VI  - 22
IP  - 1
4099  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/22/1/63.short
4100  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/22/1/63.full
SO  - Ann Fam Med2024 Jan 01; 22
AB  - The COVID-19 pandemic led to the widespread and continuing use of telemedicine in primary care. Despite telemedicine’s benefits, it threatens to reduce the role of family physician to that of gatekeeper and case manager, nullifying decades of experience and medical intuition that is more difficult to develop and apply virtually. Additionally, many values of family medicine have eroded during this global process. The narrative presents 3 vignettes that illustrate different ways in which we contend with this complex issue. The challenges presented by telemedicine require us to re-examine our professional and personal values such as maintaining the centrality of the therapeutic relationship with patients. The greatest concern, however, relates to the future of the profession and the ability of new family doctors to overcome the challenges of telemedicine in an increasingly digital world.