Family medicine
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Conducted by a task force of the Association of Departments of Family Medicine, this study defines current issues in the clinical practice of academic departments of family medicine in US medical schools. ⋯ Departments of family medicine are increasing their practice activities, perhaps to the detriment of teaching and research. The clinical practice autonomy of departments of family medicine is being diluted by increased institutional control and by mergers with the practices of other primary care disciplines. These changes give rise to a reasonable concern that academic departments of family medicine and their faculty may give up control of their clinical practice and lose their identity through conversion to "generic" primary care departments and providers.