The words "curative intent" are seldom used by internal medicine docs as they are the managers of chronic illness and disease. I am an internal medicine doctor by training but have become interested in these words and the power behind them as I build my new practice.
A friend introduced me to a different perspective as we discussed my frustrations with modern medicine. He spoke of "curative intent" and of patients getting radically better--getting cured. It really was a foreign concept to me when we first started talking about it but since it has become front and center in my mind and in my heart.
Other than surgeons, I don't believe many docs focus on cure. Disease management and chronic care are much more the common goals in this day and age. While these are noble pursuits and important, these objectives may very well sell the patient short and NOT be in their best interest. The medical system is geared for chronic disease management: the reimbursement scheme and the priorities of the system favor chronic care. However, when an individual becomes labeled with a disease diagnosis, I would argue, they are put in a box that is very hard to get out of and is extremely limiting. First and foremost, if an individual buys into this thinking, they forever think of themselves as sick or infirm. "I'm a heart patient" or "I'm a diabetic" or "I have MS" all quickly define the individual and limit their power, strength and belief in themselves. With those few words, the listener is warned right away, "be careful, this person is vulnerable".
Now, I am not trying to put up a wall of denial for me as a patient or as a doctor. I just believe that there is a tremendous advantage to seeing oneself as well vs. seeing oneself as sick. Our thoughts become our life and if we start each day with the thoughts that "I am weak" or "I am unwell" in whatever form or fashion, we are imposing limitation on ourselves. Limiting thoughts beget limited life and therefore are injurious to the thinker.
On the other hand, if we approach life with curative intent (either as a doctor or as a patient), we just might end up getting well. Some examples:
(1) Type 2 Diabetes
Standard medical approach: Take your medicines, watch your weight, try to exercise, go to the doctor every 3 months for a check-up, and fully expect that this condition will be with you for your entire life
Curative Intent approach: Uncover the belief which has the person over-eating and not exercising; replace it with a new, more healthy perspective and belief and watch the individual do whatever they need to do to reverse and eliminate the diabetes(and the conditions which often go with it).
(2) Coronary artery disease
Standard medical approach: Take aspirin, plavix, your blood pressure medicine(s) and a cholesterol lowering drug and we (your medical team) will use angioplasty and stents whenever you need tuning up
Curative Intent approach: Radically change your diet to a health giving, flow-enhancing
one, exercise daily, take a deep, honest look at your life and make the necessary changes so that you become truly healthy and happy, and live with a truly open heart.
(3) Fibromyalgia
Standard medical approach: Take your medicines as directed, try to exercise, and accept your limitations. Fully expect to be limited by this condition forever.
Curative Intent approach: Look into the core beliefs that you are holding onto which support you as being ill and debilitated, replace these beliefs with healthy, life-giving ones, exercise every day, eat for maximum health and learn to acknowledge and express your emotions with strength and power.
I fully realize that these are bold and somewhat radical suggestions. I am not suggesting just dropping standard therapies or regimens that you may be taking at current. However, I am suggesting that there are options and alternative paths to follow which may break one out of his or her box and have the potential to set one free.
The medical system is just that -- a system which is designed to help people but often can "keep people down" and stuck in the system. There is a whole other world out there which is characterized by freedom that is available upon request.
A friend introduced me to a different perspective as we discussed my frustrations with modern medicine. He spoke of "curative intent" and of patients getting radically better--getting cured. It really was a foreign concept to me when we first started talking about it but since it has become front and center in my mind and in my heart.
Other than surgeons, I don't believe many docs focus on cure. Disease management and chronic care are much more the common goals in this day and age. While these are noble pursuits and important, these objectives may very well sell the patient short and NOT be in their best interest. The medical system is geared for chronic disease management: the reimbursement scheme and the priorities of the system favor chronic care. However, when an individual becomes labeled with a disease diagnosis, I would argue, they are put in a box that is very hard to get out of and is extremely limiting. First and foremost, if an individual buys into this thinking, they forever think of themselves as sick or infirm. "I'm a heart patient" or "I'm a diabetic" or "I have MS" all quickly define the individual and limit their power, strength and belief in themselves. With those few words, the listener is warned right away, "be careful, this person is vulnerable".
Now, I am not trying to put up a wall of denial for me as a patient or as a doctor. I just believe that there is a tremendous advantage to seeing oneself as well vs. seeing oneself as sick. Our thoughts become our life and if we start each day with the thoughts that "I am weak" or "I am unwell" in whatever form or fashion, we are imposing limitation on ourselves. Limiting thoughts beget limited life and therefore are injurious to the thinker.
On the other hand, if we approach life with curative intent (either as a doctor or as a patient), we just might end up getting well. Some examples:
(1) Type 2 Diabetes
Standard medical approach: Take your medicines, watch your weight, try to exercise, go to the doctor every 3 months for a check-up, and fully expect that this condition will be with you for your entire life
Curative Intent approach: Uncover the belief which has the person over-eating and not exercising; replace it with a new, more healthy perspective and belief and watch the individual do whatever they need to do to reverse and eliminate the diabetes(and the conditions which often go with it).
(2) Coronary artery disease
Standard medical approach: Take aspirin, plavix, your blood pressure medicine(s) and a cholesterol lowering drug and we (your medical team) will use angioplasty and stents whenever you need tuning up
Curative Intent approach: Radically change your diet to a health giving, flow-enhancing
one, exercise daily, take a deep, honest look at your life and make the necessary changes so that you become truly healthy and happy, and live with a truly open heart.
(3) Fibromyalgia
Standard medical approach: Take your medicines as directed, try to exercise, and accept your limitations. Fully expect to be limited by this condition forever.
Curative Intent approach: Look into the core beliefs that you are holding onto which support you as being ill and debilitated, replace these beliefs with healthy, life-giving ones, exercise every day, eat for maximum health and learn to acknowledge and express your emotions with strength and power.
I fully realize that these are bold and somewhat radical suggestions. I am not suggesting just dropping standard therapies or regimens that you may be taking at current. However, I am suggesting that there are options and alternative paths to follow which may break one out of his or her box and have the potential to set one free.
The medical system is just that -- a system which is designed to help people but often can "keep people down" and stuck in the system. There is a whole other world out there which is characterized by freedom that is available upon request.
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