The Polish Society of Family Medicine (Polskie Towarzystwo Medycyny Rodzinnej - PTMR) is an interdisciplinary organisation bringing together physicians (family medicine specialists, other specialists with interest in family medicine) and other primary health care professionals. The PTMR’s mission primarily focuses on education and supporting collaboration between various medical professionals centred around primary health care. The Society contributes in multi-level discussion about the Polish healthcare system and develops recommendations and guidelines in the area of family medicine.
As part of the educational mission, PTMR conducts more than 50 webinars per year. So far, more than 12 000 doctors and nurses have taken part in all editions of online seminars and lectures. Among the most frequently attended were: ‘Resident Academy’ and ‘Coordinated Care Training Course’. PTMR’s Resident Academy is an interactive online course that raises the most important problems from the family medicine residents perspective combined with an online database of specialisation exam questions and answers.
A crucial part of the Society’s activity is coordinated care implementation. This care model was introduced in Poland in 2022. PTMR is involved in adapting it in a number of primary healthcare facilities. Coordinated care focuses on prevention and early diagnosis. The new system is created in the hope of strengthening collaboration between medical specialists to provide the patient with holistically better care. Numerous initiatives have been carried out, including meetings with medical professionals and online courses.
Beyond coordinated care, PTMR created a number of tools in order to facilitate better patients’ care. The projects included: adult vaccination calendar and opioid calculator, which allows for easier conversion of painkillers doses. Search engine “find a wound dressing” helps selecting the appropriate fit depending on the wound type and other properties. In association with Polish Society of Palliative Care, PTMR co-authors opiekapaliatywna.info service which assists during the referral to palliative care.
Since PTMR is a scientific society, it is supporting the family medicine research area development. Specific assistance for members includes scientific research and medical writing training, organisation of Scientific Session during the PTMR Congress https://ptmr.info.pl/kongres2024-abstrakty/ as well as possibility of opening a doctoral thesis.
The Society also carries out projects for patients by providing educational materials such as Patient Navigator. The medicalhelp.pl website was established after Ukrainian refugees influx to Poland to help find appropriate medical help.
PTMR invites everyone interested in international cooperation! Contact us: global@ptmr.info.pl