The family-oriented medical record.

The usual form of the Problem-Oriented Medical Record is primarily focused on the individual, and thus has serious deficiencies for the family-oriented physician. This paper presents a practical, office-tested medical charting system that incorporates features of the Problem-Oriented Medical Record and allows the recording of aspects of the family situation that are of particular importance to the family physician. The essential features of the chart are described and the special features, advantages, and disadvantages are discussed. This record has been developed to avoid the gaps that appear when attempts are made to use individually-oriented record systems in a family-oriented practice.