WONCA Special Interest Group: Emerging Practice Models for Family Medicine

Emerging Practice Models for Family Medicine

The WONCA Special Interest Group on Emerging Practice Models of Family Medicine (SIG EPMFM) was established by the WONCA Executive Committee in November 2019.

Everyone deserves high quality, personalised health care. Around the world, family doctors are exploring new ways to organise care, including premium or concierge-style services, special needs medical services, and other contract-based or managed care models.

These approaches often promise more time with patients, stronger prevention and holistic care, and a clearer gatekeeping role for family doctors. They may also draw on tools such as electronic health records, mobile telephony, web-based information, digital health, and AI.

At the same time, there are real questions about equity, ethics, and how these models fit with Universal Health Coverage. This SIG aims to support thoughtful discussion, build consensus, and help develop shared standards of good practice.

What we focus on

Comparing emerging practice and payment models across regions
Identifying the most important features of premium and concierge care
Understanding what patients value most in these models
Exploring how innovation can strengthen quality without widening gaps in access

Find out more about Why we need a SIG on Emerging Practice Models of Family Medicine

General membership is open to interested family doctors. For more information email convenor.

Join our SIG

Convenor / Chair

Lu Yanwen MD

Professor Yanwen Lu is the Deputy Director of Huashan Worldwide Medical Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University. She is a Chief Physician, a specialist in Family Medicine. Dr. Lu was elected as the Honorable Chair of the Society of International Medicine, Shanghai Medical Association and also as the Vice Chairman and Secretary General of International and Premium Medicine of Cross-Straits Medicine Exchange Association.

Over a 40-year career, she has concentrated on medial and administrative work in international general practice, with recent research dedicated to innovative models in the field and the standardization of international medical services in Shanghai.

Email: practicemodels@wonca.com

Co-Convenor or other office bearers

Executive Members

Dr Donald Li - Hong Kong, China
Dr Anna Stavdal - Norway
Prof Mehmet Ungan - Turkey
Dr Alan Ping Foo Wong - Malaysia
Prof Shanzhu Zhu (祝墡珠) - China
Prof Sunfang Jiang (江孙芳) - China
Prof Zhigang Pan (潘志刚) - China
Dr Ling Qiu - China
Dr Pu Zhou - China
Dr Yanwen Lu (卢燕雯) - China
Dr Xuejun Zeng (曾学军) - China
Dr Jing Wu (吴京) - China
Dr Timothy Noel Stephens - USA
Dr Yuqing Zhu (朱宇清) - China
Dr Zhenya Song (宋正亚) - China
Dr Jinwen Gu (顾静文) - China

Advisers

Prof Amanda Howe - UK
Prof Richard Roberts - USA

Membership Open?

Vision and Mission of WONCA SIG on Emerging Practice Models for Family Medicine

Aims

a) Ensure strong, diverse member engagement with representation from all WONCA regions which Premium Family Medicine and Concierge Medicine is being practised.

b) Organise Premium medicine / Concierge Medicine sessions/workshops at WONCA conferences with discussion on practice models, standards of care, ethical issues, produce guidelines , discuss equity issues and share experience.

c) Collaborate with WONCA members to develop guidelines/approaches relating to Premium Family Medicine and Concierge Medicine based on community need, market situations which are adaptable based on local resources available.

d) Design and produce courses in Premium Family Medicine and Concierge Medicine and assess , accredit existing courses (already in China for example) that train family doctors to upgrade their care for patients through premium and concierge services.

e) Liaise with other WONCA working parties and SIGs to collaborate on overlapping principles such as quality and Safety and Educational training.

f) Investigate and collaborate on adoption of new technologies to aid in quality care delivery in Emerging Practice Models of Family Medicine. e.g. Digital Health, point of care testing and care such as ultrasound to optimise patient care and augment diagnostic abilities of general practitioners.

g) Assist WONCA in policy and advocacy activities as Emerging Practice Models of Family Medicine may relate to quality Care and care associated with financial arrangements. Advocate for quality family medical services which can command fair reimbursement and are equitable and accessible.

h) Study different primary care healthcare financing models / influence behaviour of Insurance companies

i) Determine which organizational structures, services, tools, and methods of payment are most valued by patients and physicians, and how those that are most valuable might be applied to all populations.

Objectives of the WONCA SIG on Emerging Practice Models for Family Medicine

News

WEBINAR: YDM/SIG Emerging Practice Models for Family Medicine

Collaborative Webinar with SIG Emerging Practice Models for Family Medicine

Publications & Documents

Activities

Plans of SIG on Emerging Practice Models for Family Medicine

1. Organise workshop in WONCA World Conference in Abdu Dhabi. Huashan Hospital and Jiahui Health in Shanghai has constructed a higher training family medicine course for Family Doctors named “Huashan / Jiahui Family Medicine Enhancement Fellowship training Program ” (HS JH FMEFP) which will commence Jan 2020. This course will undergo assessment by the WONCA WP on Education, for accreditation in March 2020. Dr Gu and Dr Qiu can start discussion with an introduction of the core elements and objectives of the course. They can also lead discussions on premium medical services in China followed by presentation by Prof Roberts or Michael Coffey of US on the emergence of Concierge Medicine in the USA. We can then have a panel discussion with contribution form Prof Mehmet Ungan, Turkey and Dr Raman Kumar, India.

2. discussions on emerging practice models around the world and start taking stock and create a glossary.

3. comment on the HS JH FMEFP when the organisers share it with us.

4. take note of comments of the WONCA WP on Education when they do accreditation.

Collaboration with established WONCA Working Parties (WPs) and Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

Link up with WP on Education and WP on Quality and Safety to set up accreditation systems. This will be a good business model for WONCA. As more and more practice models, premium medical services and Concierge medicine plans emerge globally, there will be huge demand for accreditation.

Link up with WP on eHealth: the role of Digital Health, IT, AI will enable efficient premium services with assured quality.