research Accounting for Social Risks in Medicare and Medicaid Payments Read Accounting for Social Risks in Medicare and Medicaid Payments
Research ABFM funds, conducts, and publishes research devoted to creating, evaluating, and maintaining cutting-edge certification methods, and to advancing the scientific basis of family medicine. Explore the Research Library Explore this section Visiting Scholars Program Research Library Featured Work External Collaborations National Family Medicine Residency Graduate Reports At-A-Glance Established in 2012, ABFM’s research department conducts rigorous research to support the continuous evaluation of Family Medicine Certification (FMC) by assessing the psychometric validity of our assessment programs, exploring the relationship between FMC and the quality-of-care family physicians provide, and discovering ways in which ongoing certification can be improved. The research staff further support ABFM’s mission by discovering a clear understanding of what comprises effective, high value primary care. Learn More Below 5 Areas of ABFM Research Expand All Collapse All Improving Family Medicine Certification The Characteristics & Value of the Family Medicine Certification Program ABFM aims to continuously adapt its methods of certification to improve the health of the public, to meet the needs of family physicians and their varied practices, and to anticipate the demands imposed by changes in patients’ needs and in the health care environment. Our research serves these aims by evaluating certification and its impact, as well as its foundations, and the performance of and engagement of Diplomates in specific programs. This work contributes to both organizational improvement and certification science. Role of Primary Care The Relationship Between Primary Care & Health System Organization & Delivery In order to advance the understanding of family physicians and primary care’s role in health system organization and delivery, we are committed to understanding and studying how to optimize the primary care function and the health system benefits as championed by the esteemed and accomplished researcher Barbara Starfield and others. Education & Training The Education & Training of an Effective Primary Care Workforce Medical education institutions and the primary care workforce face challenges to demonstrate their alignment with the needs of patients and populations, their relevance to societal priorities, and their measurable impact on health. Our research aims to understand and improve Family Medicine Graduate Medical Education (GME), to measure the outcomes of training, and to improve the social accountability of publicly financed GME writ large. What Family Physicians Do The Scope & Dimensions of the U.S. Primary Care Practice The scope and dimensions of family physicians’ work and practice continue to evolve in an environment shaped by healthcare consolidation, payment reform, and physician and patient preferences. Using the rich information provided by Diplomates via survey, as well as an increasing array of claims and registry data, our research aim to advance policymaker knowledge of the essential roles of family physicians, and to shape delivery and payment reform that supports family physicians’ ability to preserve foundational elements of their training in practice. Achieving Health System Goals Achieving the U.S. Quintiple Aim for Health Care In support of achieving a Quintuple Aim for the U.S. health care system, we explore dimensions of the family physician’s role in each of the five aims across all research pillars – high individual quality of care at lower costs, achieving equity in population health, while preserving clinician wellbeing. We dedicate ourselves to advancing each of these aims in unique ways in both research and the work of our Center for Professionalism & Value in Health Care, including value, measurement and mitigation of burnout, payment reform, and health equity. Through collaboration with other individuals and organizations, ABFM seeks to understand the ecology of family medicine, including changes in workforce demographics and scope of practice over time, as well as the environment in which family physicians deliver health care. Supported by robust datasets, the department has been prolific in its research productivity. The ABFM Research Team is based in both Lexington, KY and Washington, D.C., and includes clinical researchers, quantitative and qualitative investigators, as well as administrative staff. With diverse backgrounds among the team, their focus includes Measures That Matter for Primary Care, the integration of information technology into primary care, the impact family medicine certification has on the quality of care delivered by family physicians, and understanding the ecology of family medicine over time—what physicians do in practice and their contribution to high quality health care. Since 2012, the ABFM research team has published more than 400 articles in peer reviewed literature that address these topics. ABFM is committed to advancing family medicine research by offering exceptional opportunities for scholarship and mentorship. These programs support individuals at various stages of their academic careers, including students, residents, early-career faculty, and established investigators. Scholars have the opportunity to collaborate with ABFM staff at their office in Lexington, Kentucky, for a one-to-two-week period. During their stay, participants immerse themselves in examining pivotal issues that shape the future of the discipline, gaining a profound understanding of the challenges and prospects in family medicine. The ABFM Visiting Scholars Program has attracted a diverse range of accomplished family medicine researchers from across the United States, many of whom have worked closely with ABFM staff to publish groundbreaking articles that contribute to the advancement of the field. Through these initiatives, ABFM continues to foster a dynamic community of scholars committed to driving innovation and excellence in family medicine research. Quick Links Visiting Scholars Program Opportunities to learn more about ABFM and join in our research activities. Family Medicine Factbook A curated series of basic analyses providing a broad perspective on family medicine and family physicians themselves. External Collaborations The ABFM research team is excited to collaborate with your organization to further the ABFM mission.
Explore this section Visiting Scholars Program Research Library Featured Work External Collaborations National Family Medicine Residency Graduate Reports
At-A-Glance Established in 2012, ABFM’s research department conducts rigorous research to support the continuous evaluation of Family Medicine Certification (FMC) by assessing the psychometric validity of our assessment programs, exploring the relationship between FMC and the quality-of-care family physicians provide, and discovering ways in which ongoing certification can be improved. The research staff further support ABFM’s mission by discovering a clear understanding of what comprises effective, high value primary care. Learn More Below
5 Areas of ABFM Research Expand All Collapse All Improving Family Medicine Certification The Characteristics & Value of the Family Medicine Certification Program ABFM aims to continuously adapt its methods of certification to improve the health of the public, to meet the needs of family physicians and their varied practices, and to anticipate the demands imposed by changes in patients’ needs and in the health care environment. Our research serves these aims by evaluating certification and its impact, as well as its foundations, and the performance of and engagement of Diplomates in specific programs. This work contributes to both organizational improvement and certification science. Role of Primary Care The Relationship Between Primary Care & Health System Organization & Delivery In order to advance the understanding of family physicians and primary care’s role in health system organization and delivery, we are committed to understanding and studying how to optimize the primary care function and the health system benefits as championed by the esteemed and accomplished researcher Barbara Starfield and others. Education & Training The Education & Training of an Effective Primary Care Workforce Medical education institutions and the primary care workforce face challenges to demonstrate their alignment with the needs of patients and populations, their relevance to societal priorities, and their measurable impact on health. Our research aims to understand and improve Family Medicine Graduate Medical Education (GME), to measure the outcomes of training, and to improve the social accountability of publicly financed GME writ large. What Family Physicians Do The Scope & Dimensions of the U.S. Primary Care Practice The scope and dimensions of family physicians’ work and practice continue to evolve in an environment shaped by healthcare consolidation, payment reform, and physician and patient preferences. Using the rich information provided by Diplomates via survey, as well as an increasing array of claims and registry data, our research aim to advance policymaker knowledge of the essential roles of family physicians, and to shape delivery and payment reform that supports family physicians’ ability to preserve foundational elements of their training in practice. Achieving Health System Goals Achieving the U.S. Quintiple Aim for Health Care In support of achieving a Quintuple Aim for the U.S. health care system, we explore dimensions of the family physician’s role in each of the five aims across all research pillars – high individual quality of care at lower costs, achieving equity in population health, while preserving clinician wellbeing. We dedicate ourselves to advancing each of these aims in unique ways in both research and the work of our Center for Professionalism & Value in Health Care, including value, measurement and mitigation of burnout, payment reform, and health equity.
Improving Family Medicine Certification The Characteristics & Value of the Family Medicine Certification Program ABFM aims to continuously adapt its methods of certification to improve the health of the public, to meet the needs of family physicians and their varied practices, and to anticipate the demands imposed by changes in patients’ needs and in the health care environment. Our research serves these aims by evaluating certification and its impact, as well as its foundations, and the performance of and engagement of Diplomates in specific programs. This work contributes to both organizational improvement and certification science.
Role of Primary Care The Relationship Between Primary Care & Health System Organization & Delivery In order to advance the understanding of family physicians and primary care’s role in health system organization and delivery, we are committed to understanding and studying how to optimize the primary care function and the health system benefits as championed by the esteemed and accomplished researcher Barbara Starfield and others.
Education & Training The Education & Training of an Effective Primary Care Workforce Medical education institutions and the primary care workforce face challenges to demonstrate their alignment with the needs of patients and populations, their relevance to societal priorities, and their measurable impact on health. Our research aims to understand and improve Family Medicine Graduate Medical Education (GME), to measure the outcomes of training, and to improve the social accountability of publicly financed GME writ large.
What Family Physicians Do The Scope & Dimensions of the U.S. Primary Care Practice The scope and dimensions of family physicians’ work and practice continue to evolve in an environment shaped by healthcare consolidation, payment reform, and physician and patient preferences. Using the rich information provided by Diplomates via survey, as well as an increasing array of claims and registry data, our research aim to advance policymaker knowledge of the essential roles of family physicians, and to shape delivery and payment reform that supports family physicians’ ability to preserve foundational elements of their training in practice.
Achieving Health System Goals Achieving the U.S. Quintiple Aim for Health Care In support of achieving a Quintuple Aim for the U.S. health care system, we explore dimensions of the family physician’s role in each of the five aims across all research pillars – high individual quality of care at lower costs, achieving equity in population health, while preserving clinician wellbeing. We dedicate ourselves to advancing each of these aims in unique ways in both research and the work of our Center for Professionalism & Value in Health Care, including value, measurement and mitigation of burnout, payment reform, and health equity.
Quick Links Visiting Scholars Program Opportunities to learn more about ABFM and join in our research activities. Family Medicine Factbook A curated series of basic analyses providing a broad perspective on family medicine and family physicians themselves. External Collaborations The ABFM research team is excited to collaborate with your organization to further the ABFM mission.
Visiting Scholars Program Opportunities to learn more about ABFM and join in our research activities.
Family Medicine Factbook A curated series of basic analyses providing a broad perspective on family medicine and family physicians themselves.
External Collaborations The ABFM research team is excited to collaborate with your organization to further the ABFM mission.
