Choosing a Healthcare Practitioner That's Right for You

The human body is complex, so many different systems working together to achieve some sort of balance while reacting to the outer world’s many different stimuli and threats.

You, as a person, have a basic understanding of what is going on, though it is based on the sensory input that your brain processes: pain. Pain tells you what is wrong with a particular area of your body, or the whole body. It is important to listen to those sensations as they are happening to you. The human body is unique so it may take more than one person to really get to the bottom of what is making you feel ill.

A few suggestions on creating your circle of providers include:

Build A Team That Treats The Whole Body

A healthcare team consists of a few different practitioners from several backgrounds. The human body is so complex and while you may not necessarily need a physical therapist, Chiropractor or Osteopath all the time, it may be useful when injuries or mobility issues become more prevalent. Knowing that you have someone who can answer your medical questions is important. This is why you have to build your healthcare support team, professionals in the healthcare world who have particular, specific knowledge related to the health issues that you have or risk getting.

Healthcare practitioners to consider, in addition to your primary care physician could be:

• Naturopathic Doctor
• Functional Medical Doctor
• Chiropractor
• Osteopath
• Acupuncturist
• Nurse Practitioner
• Exercise Physiologist
• Nutritionist
• Psychologist or therapist

Do Your Research When Choosing A Practitioner

Finding them can be sometimes challenging, as you want to be sure they are the right fit for you. Personal references from friends or family can be a good place to start, but do your own research. Online reviews can be helpful because they can give you an idea of what the practitioner is like when working with patients.

Online reviews are generally reliable sources of anecdotal, personal experiences that people have had with practitioners. Be aware of the fact that healthcare is personal, so online reviews may not reflect what you are seeking in a practitioner.

Most practitioners offer a 15-20 minutes free consultation to get to meet each other, so I highly recommend making an appointment to meet the person you are considering working with to make sure it’s a good fit for both of you.

The idea is to find someone who you feel comfortable with. Because communication styles vary between practitioners, some patients prefer a practitioner who does not sugarcoat bad news and gets to the point, while other patients prefer a practitioner with an easygoing, optimistic outlook on health. This is important because some individuals may not do well with a practitioner who lacks empathy. A supportive healthcare team can have an enormous impact on the health and recovery of a patient.

Picking your team with people that fight with you to help you heal is critical. The focus is to find someone that not only makes you feel healthy, but can also help you feel hopeful. The mental health aspect of optimism and positivity can be extremely beneficial in your journey to recovery.

Listen To Your Body & Communicate

Being a patient means listening to your body, and communicating what your body says to your healthcare provider. Some practitioners might have a hard time believing it for reasons that might seem confusing. Often, patients can have pain from a chronic illness that is misdiagnosed because the science has just not gotten to the point of an accurate diagnosis. This can limit the ability of a practitioner to effectively diagnose, treat, or develop a strategy to cope with the illness.

Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion. Gathering information from a diverse group of practitioners can contribute to a more holistic perspective. Perhaps there are alternative methods to that surgery that one doctor says you really need, or maybe physical therapy is all that is needed instead. It could be that the second opinion is the one you decide to listen to more often and include that practitioner into your team because you value their input.

Hopefully, these tips can shed some light on how you can best build a team that can help you live your life the healthiest way possible. You want to feel your best so you can enjoy life.