HELPING PATIENTS TO CHANGE MINDSETS REQUIRES DOCTORS TO CHANGE MINDSETS FIRST!

The following advertisement was recently sent to me by a reputable nutritional business representing two companies. The intention of this ad was to create a win-win-win scenario. THESE COMPANIES would make money selling me (THE DOCTOR,) their quality products. I, in turn, would make money selling these quality products to THE PATIENT. The patient, in turn, would use these products to strengthen his or her immune system to avoid illness.

I have a great deal of respect for these companies and personally use several of their nutritional products.

WHERE IS THE PROBLEM?

The problem is based on the fundamental belief that supports the concept that:

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GOOD HEALTH IS ACHIEVED AND MAINTAINED BY SWALLOWING PILLS

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Whether the pill is naturally or synthetically derived (ex. nutraceuticals or pharmaceuticals,) its need and use should PRIMARILY be based on any balance required AFTER ONE IMPLEMENTS A REALISTIC HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. Health based nutraceuticals are NO MORE THE ANSWER (in and of themselves) than pharmaceuticals.

ALL doctors (regardless of their education and specialties) have a professional and ethical responsibility to make certain the patient clearly understands his or her personal responsibilities for achieving and maintaining GOOD HEALTH. It is the doctor’s responsibility to recognize the more LIMITED THEIR ROLE, (as a result of patient compliance with the NECESSARY components  for HEALTHY LIVING) the more EFFECTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL they are as physicians. Naturally there are those who will argue that this methodology will reduce the income for the physician. I disagree entirely. The physician capable of teaching their patient the necessary steps for healthy living and gaining their compliance would be compensated for this achievement. This will save the health care system billions of dollars while improving the health and quality of life for the average consumer. This becomes a TRUE WIN-WIN scenario. It is also important to realize:

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THIS METHODOLOGY DOES NOT REPLACE NUTRACEUTICALS OR PHARMACEUTICALS

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It places them back into their PROPER SUPPORTIVE ROLES instead of their ARTIFICIAL PRIMARY ROLES used today by BOTH PATIENT and DOCTOR.

This methodology creates a common ground for ALL DOCTORS to practice by. It reduces the stress they face today by rebalancing the working relationship between doctor and patient. The patient’s CORRECTED PERCEPTION regarding the doctor’s role as ADJUNCT rather than PRESCRIPTION PAD (for nutraceuticals or pharmaceuticals) will further EMPOWER THE PATIENT to pursue a lifestyle achieving a level of health THEY desire. Doctors will return to there traditional roles as HEALTH CARE SUPPORTERS (as practiced in the days of Hippocrates) rather than perpetuating their current roles as CHRONIC DISEASE CARE PROVIDERS.

All this becomes possible when the DOCTOR recognizes his or her CHANGE OF MINDSET is the

FIRST STEP

needed in producing better patient outcomes. It is only then that the patients, THEMSELVES, will begin accepting greater responsibility to commit to REALISTIC BALANCED LIFESTYLES to achieve and maintain GOOD HEALTH.

Tags: attitude, disease, doctor, health, health care, lifestyle, Quality of living, responsibility