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New vs Old Medical Paradigms

We all realize the current medical paradigm is broken but where to go? The following are some of my thoughts:

OLD PARADIGM:

One on one is only style of care(1 doctor:1 patient)

MD's are only source of care

Body is lone focus(not mind or spirit)

The food source is a primary source of disease(the American diet)

Disease is fought primarily in hospitals/clinics

Behavior change is encouraged by displays of will with pharmacologic support

Productivity is the ultimate goal in society and in healing

Profit is main driver

Pharmaceuticals are main therapeutic intervention

Eastern healing and other complementary approaches(psychology, hypnosis,chiropractic care, herbal medicine,etc) are kept outside of standard medicine

Specialty care rules




NEW PARADIGM:


Delivery of care is 1:10 to 3:50 for chronic conditions(delivered in group fashion harnessing the power of the group) and utizing other providers for support(nurses, complementary providers(ie eastern practitioners, nutritionists, exercise/movement coaches, psychologists, spiritual teachers) under supervision of MD. One on one visits are still the norm for acute care medicine.

Focus is broadened beyond the body to include mind and spirit

Societal support of health begins(change of the food supply;re-evaluation of priorities)

Complementary practitioners, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and nurses in general are elevated and incorporated in higher levels of care

Prevention and wellness are implemented on the community

Health care moves to the community(support is everywhere--schools, churches and temples, senior centers)

Health care moves to the home

Therapeutic interventions expand beyond pharmaceuticals alone to include a wide range of therapeutic interventions

Principles of complementary/alternative/Chinese medicine/psychology become woven into the package delivered by standard medicine

Focus of care becomes based in love, compassion and kindness

Specialty care assumes a supportive role to a much stronger, much more diverse and more broad primary care team

The new chronic care(group) model supports and connects intimately with the primary care team

Behavior change becomes a very real and very effective branch of medicine. A new approach to behavior change that is focused on changing core beliefs is disseminated widely and provides a route to true and lasting health and wellness. A language of change is developed that
makes change and health evolution both possible and doable.

Care, connection and community become the norms and goals

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