Author:
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Dr.
Waris Qidwai F.C.P.S (Pak)
Associate Professor
Family Medicine Department
Aga Khan University, Karachi
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Correspondence:
Dr. Waris Qidwai
Associate Professor, Family Medicine
The Aga Khan University
Stadium Road, P.O. Box: 3500, Karachi 74800,
Pakistan
Fax: (9221) 493-4294, 493-2095
Telephone: (9221) 48594842/ 4930051Ext. 4842
E-Mail: waris@akunet.org
Key words:
Patient Care Team, Medical care team,
Health care team
Abstract
There is a need to integrate medical care at the primary,
secondary and tertiary levels. Failure to do so can result
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is serious adverse
consequences for the patient. A 52 year-old businessman who had laryngectomy,
followed by neck irradiation in the middle of 2001, was on regular
follow-up of Oto-rhino-laryngologists. He was seen in Family Medicine
Clinic after almost two years, for the evaluation of un-explained
weakness. He was found to have hypothyroidism, hyperurecaemia, macrocytosis
and a raised serum creatinine. Such cases should be followed up jointly
by Oto-rhino-laryngologists and the Family Physician.
Introduction
There is evidence to support the need for a strong primary health
care team with well trained family physicians and trained health professionals
as primary care practitioners to provide services on health promotion;
curative; rehabilitation and supporting services1. In healthcare delivery
systems that lack proper coordination between primary, secondary and
tertiary healthcare delivery services, there is room for deficiency
in providing appropriate care to the patient. The point in question
is illustrated through a case report.
 
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