Dekalb Family Medicine on Candler (DFMOC)
Our Approach to Medicine as Physicians and skilled clinicians.

As a Family physician practice, our focus is to demonstrate a strong competence in the patient-centered clinical method where; we integrate a sensitive, skillful, and appropriate search for disease. We concentrate our efforts to demonstrate an understanding of patients' experience of illness (particularly their ideas, feelings, and expectations) and of the impact of illness on patients' lives.
Our physicians use their understanding of human development , the family and other social systems to develop a comprehensive approach to the management of disease and illness in patients and their families.
DFMOC physicians are also adept at working with patients to reach common ground on the definition of problems, goals of treatment, and roles of physician and patient in management. They are skilled at providing information to patients in a manner that respects their autonomy and empowers them to "take charge" of their own health care and make decisions in their best interests.
DFMOC physicians have an expert knowledge of the wide range of common problems of patients in the community, and of less common, but life threatening and treatable emergencies in patients in all age groups. Their approach to health care is based on the best scientific evidence available.

DFMOC is based in the community and is significantly influenced by community factors. As a member of the community, DFMOC is able to respond to people's changing needs, to adapt quickly to changing circumstances, and to mobilize appropriate resources to address patients' needs.
Clinical problems presenting to a community-based family physician are not pre-selected and are commonly encountered at an undifferentiated stage. DFMOC physicians are skilled at dealing with ambiguity and uncertainty. They will see patients with chronic diseases, emotional problems, acute disorders (ranging from those that are minor and self-limiting to those that are life-threatening), and complex biopsychosocial problems. Finally, the family physician may provide palliative care to people with terminal diseases.
Most of the patient will be seen by our physicians in the office, however visit to the hospital (including the emergency department), other health care facilities, or the home does occur every now and then. DFMOC physicians see themselves as part of a community network of health care providers and are skilled at collaborating as team members or team leaders. They use referral to specialists and community resources judiciously.

DFMOC physicians have an understanding and appreciation of the human condition, especially the nature of suffering and patients' response to sickness. They are aware of their strengths and limitations and recognize when their own personal issues interfere with effective care.
Our physicians respect the privacy of the person. The patient-physician relationship has the qualities of a covenant - a promise, by our physicians, to be faithful to their commitment to patients' well-being. DFMOC physicians are cognizant of the power imbalance between doctors and patients and the potential for abuse of this power.
Our physicians provide continuing care to their patients. They use repeated contacts with patients to build on the patient-physician relationship and to promote the healing power of interactions. Over time, the relationship takes on special importance to patients, their families, and the physician. As a result, Our DFMOC physician are advocates for their patient.