ABPS Family Medicine (BCFM) case studies
ABPS Family Medicine (BCFM) · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The ABPS Family Medicine (BCFM) certification is a board credential for physicians who practice comprehensive primary care across the lifespan. It is offered by the American Board of Physician Specialties and is typically pursued by family physicians seeking board certification through that pathway, including those in ambulatory, hospital, and urgent care settings. The written exam samples the full breadth of family medicine: adult medicine, pediatrics and adolescent care, women's health and obstetrics, geriatrics, behavioral health, preventive and community medicine, emergency and urgent care, office procedures, musculoskeletal and sports medicine, and practice management and professionalism. Expect a multiple-choice, computer-based written examination that rewards breadth over depth. The ABPS Family Medicine (BCFM) case studies are 5 cases and about 1,620 words.
1Chest Pain in a Young Adult: When to Escalate
A 28-year-old man presents to the urgent care clinic with a 2-hour history of sharp, left-sided chest pain that worsens with deep breathing and lying flat. He describes a recent upper respiratory infection.
338 words, about 2 min2Failure to Thrive in a 9-Month-Old
A 9-month-old girl is brought to your clinic for a well-child visit. Her weight is 6.8 kg (below the 3rd percentile, down from the 25th percentile at 6 months), length is 68 cm (10th percentile), and head circumference is 43 cm (25th percentile).
328 words, about 2 min3Perimenopausal Bleeding: Sorting Out the Cause
A 47-year-old woman presents with 3 months of irregular, heavy menstrual bleeding. She reports periods every 2-3 weeks, lasting 7-10 days, with clots and flooding.
384 words, about 2 min4Falls and Polypharmacy in an 82-Year-Old
An 82-year-old woman presents after a fall at home. She tripped on a rug and landed on her hip, but X-ray is negative for fracture.
290 words, about 1 min5Adolescent with Anxiety and School Refusal
A 15-year-old boy is brought by his mother due to 2 months of school refusal. He reports feeling anxious and nauseous every morning before school and has missed 15 days of school.
280 words, about 1 min