Our healthcare system is ever evolving for numerous reasons. We are, as humans, constantly changing physically, adapting to our environmental changes and experiencing new illnesses. There are also new discoveries and interventions improving the possibilities of better health and there are new threats too such as viruses, weakened drug therapies and contamination such as hospital-acquired infection diseases.
MUPS: Who Do You Know with MUPS?
Many of us know of one or more people who have serious symptoms that the healthcare experts are unable to determine a diagnosis. These conditions are known as “medically unexplained physical symptoms” or MUPS. It is estimated that some 20 to 30% of active case loads in primary care patients are MUPS. And for specialty physicians, the report rates are as high as 66% of new visits. (Claassen-van Dessel’s a Patients’ perspectives on improvement of medically unexplained physical symptoms: a qualitative analysis. Ment Health Fam Med2015;11:42–5.)
This startling information requires all of us to rethink our personal health. For decades, patients have been willing to leave his or her health in the hands of the healthcare professionals. Going to a physician’s office and expecting to leave with a prescription that will cure all ailments within a few hours. Yet the times are changing.
Whole Person Care
Patient Partnership with Healthcare Team:
As our healthcare system evolves, patients are now becoming advocates for his or her own personal health. Patients are seeking answers to the symptoms that persist, often declining the use of prescription drugs and now seeking healthcare partners who will offer approaches from a holistic perspective or “whole person” care.
The whole person care concept has the patient as the primary expert and a team is built from there to help and assist. The patient has the most credible information about his or her situation. The patient knows his or her body better than anyone else. And importantly, the patient knows intuitively when things are going correctly or when things are a bit off.
Determining Your Personal Team:
The patient then considers what feels best to them moving forward. The person still has a medical doctor, usually an integrative medicine doctor. They work in collaboration with their team and determine who they want to support their health with guidance for the physician. Among the possibilities include:
- Integrative medical doctors;
- Naturopathic doctors;
- Holistic nurses;
- Acupuncturist;
- Nutritionist;
- Integrative psychiatrists;
- Holistic dentists;
- Biofield therapies such as Reiki, healing touch, Qigong and polarity therapy;
- Massage therapists;
- Yoga practitioners;
- Spiritual directors;
- Hypnotherapists;
- And more.
The goal is for the individual to help optimize their health and well being as a whole person. This means not just considering the physical implications but rather the mental, emotional and spiritual – in whatever way the person wishes to define “spiritual.”
Identifying Your Personal Team:
“In your quest to become as healthy as possible, may I suggest that you secure the best team of physicians that you can find; keep abreast of all new research related to your illness; find a yoga or meditation teacher to help you learn to balance and center yourself; explore and examine any and all spiritual issues related to healing (such as forgiveness, anger, letting go, fears, change, etc.); and, perhaps most importantly, do not blame yourself for your illness.”
– Carolyn Myss
Who is your team? What experts are working with you to support your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects? Whether to support you through an illness or chronic condition or to support your wellness, its important to take time now to develop a team. For additional information on integrative healthcare, visit GW Center for Integrative Medicine.