Abstract
BACKGROUND: There exists little research elucidating the benefits of family medicine clinics for community with ample specialist healthcare resources. METHODS: We conducted mixed-methods research. Within the inaugural family medicine clinic, the following data was collected during the initial 2 months: (i) newly identified healthcare needs among scheduled outpatients; (ii) management of outpatients with complex health and social needs; and (iii) provision of home-visit care. Newly detected health care needs were summarized qualitatively using a summative content analysis. Patients' complexity was quantitatively scored using the Japanese version of the Patient Centred Assessment Method. RESULTS: Physicians identified 156 new needs and 13 complex cases. The complexity of patients receiving home-visit care was high. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that an inaugural family medicine clinic adeptly addressed a diverse spectrum of patients' healthcare needs.