Celebrate Your Family Doctor for Family Doctor Week

EDMONTON, Oct. 31, 2013 /CNW/ - The Alberta College of Family Physicians (ACFP) is proud to celebrate Family Doctor Week in Canada, November 4 to 9.  During this special week, we celebrate the outstanding contributions of Canada's family doctors for their commitment to practising and advancing excellence in primary care.

More than 4000 family physicians in Alberta and more than 30,000 across Canada are committed to patients and the delivery of high quality health care in many settings including clinics, hospitals, universities, and long-term care facilities, and have an essential role in health care resulting in positive health outcomes. As health care continues to evolve in Alberta and throughout the nation, family physicians remain unwavering in their dedication to the health and well-being of their patients and families in the communities.

"More than 85% of health care is delivered in the community," says Dr. Cathy Scrimshaw, President of the Alberta College of Family Physicians. "It's where the intimate bond between family doctors and patients develop over time—many becoming important, lifelong relationships based on trust, caring, and loyalty."

The 10th Annual Family Doctor Week in Canada presents an opportunity:

• for Albertans to celebrate family doctors for their dedication and compassion
• for patients to say thank you to their doctor or express with a note
• for medical clinics, pharmacies, and/or hospitals to download Family Doctor Week posters to display and help celebrate the role family doctors play in our lives

The Alberta College of Family Physicians encourages Albertans to celebrate their family doctor and tell them they rock!  Patients can also share their experiences about how their family doctors have contributed to their lives at www.familydocsrock.ca. Family physicians can participate by featuring the ACFP's series of 2013 Family Doctor Week in Canada commemorative Family Docs Rock posters at their worksite, downloadable at www.acfp.ca.

About the Alberta College of Family Physicians

The Alberta College of Family Physicians (ACFP) is a professional, voluntary organization with a membership of more than 3,700 family physicians in Alberta. Established more than 50 years ago, the ACFP strives for excellence in family practice through advocacy, continuing medical education and primary care research. The ACFP is a chapter of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), a nationwide organization with more than 30,000 members. For more information on the ACFP, visit www.acfp.ca.

SOURCE: Alberta College of Family Physicians

For further information:

Media Contact:
Wendy Steele
Coordinator, Communications & Events
Alberta College of Family Physicians
780-488-2395 or 1-800-361-0607