AAFP Foundation Establishes COVID-19 Relief Fund                     

Today the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation announced the establishment of its COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund to support family physicians and patients as they continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Donors and supporters have reached out to the Foundation, asking how they can help,” said Julie Anderson, MD, president of the AAFP Foundation. “Donations to the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund can be designated to support specific Foundation programs or be applied to meet the most pressing needs of family physicians working on the frontlines.”

Those needs, according to Dr. Anderson, are changing as the COVID-19 situation evolves, so flexibility in funding capabilities is vital. One example is telemedicine, which has become essential to protect both patients and physicians from the potential spread of infection through person-to-person contact.

“We want to be prepared to tackle challenges as they arise,” Dr. Anderson said. “We already see a clear need to support and enhance efforts by the AAFP to expand telemedicine services to small, independent and rural practices that lack the resources to implement this important service for patients.”

Money raised through the COVID-19 Emergency Relief fund will enhance the ability of family physicians to provide safe and high-quality care to patients during this pandemic and well into the future.

Donations can be made at aafpfoundation.org/covid19relief.

About the AAFP Foundation
The Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Its mission is to advance the values of family medicine through humanitarian, educational, and scientific philanthropy dedicated to improving health.