[The gynecologist as 'family doctor for women' - a model of the future?].

Obstetrics and gynecology is a unique field that combines preventive and primary care with highly qualified pelvic surgery as well as obstetrics and endocrinology. With the development of managed care, it has been a challenge to fit this field into the standard prima-ry-care paradigm. This approach suggests that to better meet the primary-care needs of both patients and society, obstetricians-gynecologists must continue to improve their skills in preventive care,diagnosis and treatment of self-limited conditions and diagnosis of serious nongynecologic conditions. This article describes a patient-oriented definition of primary care that suggests several issues that need to be addressed by obstetricians-gynecologists to improve their ability to meet the primary-care needs of both patients and society.