Crisis Management in Primary Healthcare: The Essential Role of Family and General Physicians in Providing Immediate Care and Support

Abstract

Crisis management in primary health care is critical to ensuring the resilience of health care systems, especially in the face of unexpected public health emergencies. As the cornerstone of primary care, family physicians and general practitioners play a key role in providing immediate care and support during such crises. This review highlights the critical role played by family physicians in health crisis management. Family physicians are uniquely positioned to provide preventive, curative, and promotive care, address psychosocial support, and facilitate effective communication within the community and health care systems during crises. This article examines the roles, responsibilities, and challenges faced by family physicians in times of crisis and emphasizes the need for strategies to enhance their effectiveness, such as ongoing training, leveraging telemedicine, enhancing collaboration with hospitals and government agencies, and improving communication with the public.