Textbook of Family Practice

This is a very impressive and now classic book on family medicine by professor Robert E Rakel from the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. The book has 131, all American, contributors from the field of family medicine, but also other fields, but always matched with a family physician to ensure the relevance to family medicine. It is divided into five parts with 67 chapters: Principles of family medicine, Family medicine in the community, Communication, Practice and Management. The chapters are extensive both in detail and scope with relevant issues, such as bioterrorism. Evidence based medicine is discussed as well as practice based research, but we missed a chapter on persons with intellectual disability or mental retardation in family medicine. This is because more and more persons are now living in the community and the family physician will be the primary care taker with very few medical schools having this subject in their curriculum. Maybe a chapter on the future of family medicine should be prepared for the next edition. We have looked at many chapters and found useful information in a clear and straightforward language. Also useful information on pediatric and adolescent issues for the family physician. The index was also helpful and extensive. This is an important book that should be found at the office or library of every family physician...

You will never need to read or consult any other references, it is really the best. Easy to read, full details and dependable.