The president - elect of the American Academy of General Practice said people today "want a doctor who can treat their souls as well as their colds."
Dr. Julius Michaelson, of Fo-le*y, Ala., said on ail sides a hue and cry is being raised for a return of the general practitioner.
"But the sad part about it," he added, "is there aren't enough GPs to go around. Only one out of five medical school graduates become GPs. The percentage should be completely reversed."
Dr. Michaelson, who addressed the student body of the Louisiana State University^ Mecficar School Wednesday, said people today want one doctor who can manage their overall medical problems.
"They don't mind going to a specialist if one is needed, of course," added the visiting physician. "But they want a family doctor on whom they can depend, a GP who will help guide them through the maze of specialists."
'SMART THINKING'
Dr. Michaelson said a survey carried on two years ago by the American Adademy of General Practice showed that 75 per cent of the people in the United States today call a GP first when they need a doctor.
"This is smart thinking," he added, "since 80 per cent of the patients in the nation can be treated by a GP."
Dr. Michaelson said since there are 51 medical specialties and sub-specialties in existence today many medical students get petrified at the idea of going into general practice.
"These students should realize it is not necessary to be competent in all of these specialties in order to be a good general practitioner," the visiting physician added. "They need a good knowledge of only the top specialties."
And because such knowledge makes for a more efficient GP, said Dr. Michaelson, the new idea of a two-year post graduate course for general practitioners is gaining momentum.
UNIQUE STEP
The physician said the American Academy of General Practice is exceedingly pleased with the interest being exhibited by the Louisiana State University Medical School in facing up to this problem.
"LSU has taken a unique step in having Dr. Rafael Sanchez
serve as coordinator m Louisiana for a continued educational program for the GP," the phy-1 sician added.
Dr. Michaelson said in the medical school of the future two years of post-graduate training will be practically a "must" for a well-trained GP.
"During these two years the student will receive additional training in such things as surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, gynecology and pediatrics," the physician explained.
Dr. Michaelson said when a patient with a heart ailment develops a sore throat all he has to do is go to his GP's office. HOUSE CALLS
"The GP will listen to his heart, take his blood pressure, give him an electrocardiograph and examine his throat," he explained. "And the GP will always be ready to make house calls when they are needed, which of course gives the patient a greater feeling of security."
Dr. Michaelson said the American Academy of General Practice has a membership of 28,-000; that it is second in size only to the American Medical Association.
"And these 28,000" he added, "represent only 47 per cent of all the general practitioners of the nation. But they're the best! of course."
Dr. Michaelson, who was graduated from LSU Medical School in 1944, conferred following his arrival with Dr. William W. Frye, dean of "the medical school; with Dr. Francis Nicolle, president-elect of the Louisiana Academy of General Practice; with Dr. J. William Crookshank, a regional advisor for fhe American Academy in the Southern section; and Dr. Sanchez, director of the continuing education program for GPs being sponsored jointly by LSU and the American Academy. PHOTO: DR. JULIUS MICHAELSON of Foley, Ala., president-elect of the American Academy of General Practice, confers with other doctors at the Postgraduate Course of the American College of Physicians at the Louisiana State University School of Medicine Wednesday. From left are Dr. Rafael Sanchez, director of the continuing education program for gen-
—Photo by The Times-Picayune.
eral practitioners sponsored jointly by LSU and the American Academy; Dr. Francis Nicolle, president-elect of the Louisiana Acad-e:p.v of General Practice; Dr. Michaelson, znd Dr. J. William Crookshank, regional advisor for the American Acadeny in the Southern Section,
