If you’re suffering from a chronic illness or simply want to understand the root cause of your health condition, consider visiting a functional doctor. Functional doctors provide a multi-disciplinary approach to treating and understanding your illness.
With specialized training and access to providers in a variety of disciplines, you receive care that looks at all aspects of your life, not just your medical history.
At Monarque Health & Wellness in Ashland, Oregon, we care about your holistic health. Elisabeth A. Sturm, DNP, FNP; Lisa S. Morris, FNP-C, MSN; Kathryn Flynn, BA, BEd; and Suzanne Sanderson, FNP, specialize in all aspects of functional medicine.
Functional medicine is a health model designed to provide patient-centered and science-based care to the patient. Functional doctors work across multiple disciplines to get a detailed understanding of what is happening in the body.
A doctor may look at the patient’s genetic makeup and biochemical and lifestyle factors to put together a treatment plan that addresses the root cause of the condition.
When you choose to work with a functional doctor, you’re selecting an individual who has gone through traditional medical school and may have chosen to get additional certification from an organization such as The Institute for Functional Medicine.
Doctors then apply functional medicine teachings to their original field of practice. Additional training allows the doctor to form relationships with doctors across multiple disciplines.
A functional doctor completes a more comprehensive treatment plan by looking at the following factors.
Come prepared to answer in-depth questions about how you complete your daily activities, common stressors in your life, or how your diet impacts your mood.
Patients who see functional doctors can expect a wide range of benefits. These include:
Functional doctors get to know you as a person. They don’t simply look at your medical history. They take a comprehensive medical history and lifestyle assessment to see a complete picture of your health. We use this assessment to identify disease triggers, symptoms, and ultimately, a treatment plan that addresses the root cause.
Functional doctors support you through your entire wellness journey. In many practices, you have access to more than one provider. You may have access to a provider (physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner), registered dietitian, health coach, or a behavioral health therapist.
Working together, these specialists can address your holistic health from many angles.
Functional doctors are particularly helpful in treating chronic conditions. For example, they may treat:
Older adults are more likely than younger individuals to have complex health concerns and conditions, all of which can be addressed by a functional doctor.
While some doctors may prescribe traditional medication, you may also be offered alternative treatments like acupuncture, meditation, or herbal remedies. If you’re open to trying a variety of treatments that may also include lifestyle changes, a functional doctor may be the right choice for you.
If you’re looking for a new approach to treating your health conditions, consider a functional medicine doctor.
Call 541-326-4777 or use our convenient book online feature to schedule an in-person appointment or a virtual visit to discuss how functional medicine may benefit you.
