Bridging the Gap: Choosing a Natural Medicine Primary Care Provider
Posted by Erica Steele on Wed, Jan 11, 2012 @ 09:36 AM
In this edition of Bridging the Gap: How to choose a Natural Primary Care Provider
10 Steps to Choosing a Natural Medicine Provider, comprehensive guide to a natural medicine clinic
1. Knowledgeable - Receiving quality care means that your primary care physician has knowledge of patient treatment from all aspects of care. Understanding conventional practices as well as natural ones is a fundamental aspect of quality care. Ensuring that the practitioner is able to advise on options from all levels and is not afraid to refer you out of their scope of practice.
2. Skilled - The practitioner you select should have an understanding and clinical training as well as experience in your condition. Asking your primary care physicians about specializations is helpful when determining which practitioner is going to be best address your needs.
3. Compassionate - In natural medicine it is imperative that your primary care provider be a good listener, understands your needs, and is able to assist you in your health goals in a loving and supportive manner. Often times natural health providers treat holistically which is consistent of emotional, spiritual, mental, as well as physical aspects of healing. One that will honor all aspects of self is imperative so that you are able to feel safe enough to get well.
.jpg)
4. Open Minded - It is important that your natural medicine primary care provider does not take an "us against them" stance. This is often why EWC does not like the term alternative medicine, because it lends itself to believe that you have to choose which aspect of care you receive. We work in conjunction with conventional medicine to bring you comprehensive integrative health care.
5. Based in Science - Just like conventional medicine, your natural medicine provider should base their findings on science. Surely, clinical application is just as important but without definitive evidence how is the best course of treatment determined? Advanced testing is what makes conventional medicine so powerful and the natural approach is what makes our approach integrative.
6. Convenience - When your child is sick and needs to get in to see someone quickly, where do they go that will serve them naturally? When you have a question about a product or ailment that is minor is it important to schedule or will an email do? Having a practitioner that has availability to suit your needs and can be available when needed is important especially one that serves natural medicine.
7. Affordability - Although price should never be a factor when choosing the right practitioner making sure your natural health care provider fits into your budget can provide a sense of security and feelings of encouragement throughout the whole process. In fact, if you feel as though you are enduring financial strain from the added expense this can be a henderance to your health. Looking at payment plans, cost depreciation, flex spending options, and the like can help offset some of the upfront expense of natural medicine.
8. Philosophy - If you desire to live your life a certain way the natural medicine doctor you choose should understand and respect your values and desire for treatment. Choosing a practitioner that understands and believes in how you choose to be treated and removes their ego as well as their own agenda from treating can help to encourage your personal growth and healing.
9. Comfort - Natural healing is hard, otherwise everyone would do it. Sometimes the processing can be difficult and emotions come up, set backs are made, and inevitably you may feel as though you are standing still instead of moving forward. Finding a practitioner that can recognize your impatience, can empathize with you, as well as be honest with you even if it is not easy in a gentle, loving, and supportive way can make a huge difference in your growth.
10. Bed Side Manner - This last variable lends itself to the 9th aspect of comfort, how is the practitioner at curbing their own issues while making way for yours to come through. Often in natural health things are mirrored to us in treatment (from a practitioner standpoint) being able to disconnect from the mirror to continue to help the patient rather than creating a role reversal is imperative in honoring your healing process as a patient.