Chronic care education in medical school: a focus on functional health and quality of life.

The healthcare system is faced with a rapidly increasing number of individuals with chronic conditions and disabilities. The need for a chronic care model of health care with interdisciplinary treatment involving the patient and family with a focus on functional health is recognized but not fully established in the medical community. The education of medical students in a chronic care model is essential so that physicians in all specialties may provide effective and efficient care to their patients. Physiatrists and physicians trained in the specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation are uniquely situated to be leaders in the education of medical students in the appropriate care for individuals with chronic conditions and disabilities. Academic physiatrists must be involved in the education of medical students. This involvement will result in a higher level of patient care for all patients with chronic conditions and disabilities. In 2007, the Association of Academic Physiatrists formed a task force to evaluate educational models and make recommendations regarding the education of medical students in the management of individuals with chronic conditions and disabilities. The task force also evaluated opportunities for physiatrists to participate in the education of medical students. This article summarizes the work of the task force.