Feb 12, 2015 - by Ruschelle Khanna, LCSW
In one of my first visits to the Functional Forum, the Founder, James Maskell MD, said something I will never forget. He reminded the audience that the days of patients coming into an office and blindly taking the physician’s word as gospel are antiquated. Instead, he reminded us that today’s healthcare consumer is educated and seeking answers to chronic conditions. He went on to say that functional medicine is at the forefront of this because it focuses on finding the root cause of disease rather than masking symptoms. Unfortunately, many people are unfamiliar with the benefits of functional medicine.
As a psychotherapist specializing in the integrated healing of chronic disease and chronic mental illness, I couldn't have been happier. In ten years of clinical practice in nonprofits, I was far too familiar with physicians who were eager to over medicate and disregard the myriad ways we come to heal outside of pharmaceuticals. Due to my experience, I am an advocate of functional medicine as a starting point and an integrative way to heal both physical and mental disease. If clients come to me, genuinely seeking answers to their issues, some of my first questions begin with the relationship they have with their physician. Below are my top three tips to ‘know when to fire your physician’ and begin seeking an integrative healing professional.
As a psychotherapist specializing in the integrated healing of chronic disease and chronic mental illness, I couldn't have been happier. In ten years of clinical practice in nonprofits, I was far too familiar with physicians who were eager to over medicate and disregard the myriad ways we come to heal outside of pharmaceuticals. Due to my experience, I am an advocate of functional medicine as a starting point and an integrative way to heal both physical and mental disease. If clients come to me, genuinely seeking answers to their issues, some of my first questions begin with the relationship they have with their physician. Below are my top three tips to ‘know when to fire your physician’ and begin seeking an integrative healing professional.
- He/She doesn’t listen. It is difficult to expect to be healed if your physician’s visit consists of a 10 minute chat, reviews of tests, and a quick prescription. Your time is also valuable and you deserve to pay someone, who will hear your entire story. Whether you have insurance or are paying out of pocket, you are still a consumer. Improved quality of care begins with the willingness to pay certain providers over others.
- Treatment rationale is not explained. Does your physician expect that you listen to him/her without question? As more information is available to consumers, the physician can no longer assume that they know more about your body than you do. The market is moving toward a more collaborative approach to treatment. Some physicians offices even offer case management services to assist with care plans after you return home.
- Pharmaceuticals are his/her only reference. A quality physician understands that your lifestyle and attitude drastically affect healing. If your physician is unaware of other healing tools besides pharmaceuticals, you are receiving sub par care. A quality physician assesses and develops strategies to healing, that fit your lifestyle.
