by Caryn McAllister, PT, DPT / President & CEO of High Quality Home Therapy
According to the World Health Organization, health is “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease.” (who.org)
In this day and age anyone can obtain online certifications & claim to be an expert in health and wellness. This makes it tricky for people to navigate through the murky waters of legitimate healthcare. How do we know what’s legit versus just the latest fad selected by GOOP, Dr. Oz or any self-proclaimed health guru in the $4.7 trillion wellness industry?
I’m not insulting Gwyneth Paltrow nor Dr. Oz and confess that I’m a huge GOOP fan. However, I chose them simply because everyone knows who these celebrities are and I want to drive home a point. Due to competing interests, it’s very difficult for healthcare consumers to know what’s skewed in the direction of profit for others.
Healthcare is something that shouldn’t be compromised or entrusted to just anyone.
Our current typical healthcare system is anything but holistic. If you have a female medical issue, you head to your OB-GYN. If you have shortness of breath or chest pain, you make an appointment with a cardiologist. Foot pain? Find the best podiatrist and limp to her office! You get my point. Within this model of care, a generalist (called an internist), guides you to these specialists to manage your health. Thanks to local mom groups on social media, we can find the best in the area! But imagine if there was a system that actually supported our health and wellness proactively instead of reactively…
Webster defines holistic as “relating to complete systems.” (merriam-webster.com)
Holistic healthcare:
- addresses the whole person, taking into account the physical, mental, emotional, social and environmental factors.
- focuses on lifestyle instead of specific parts of the body or illness.
- emphasizes the connection between the body, mind and spirit.
- includes medicine as necessary as well as lifestyle modifications to maximize health and wellness.
Dimensions of Holistic Health. As simple as it sounds, health requires balance between the physical, emotional, social, intellectual and spiritual.
Every body’s “right balance” is unique, one reason why true holistic healthcare requires strong relationships, plus time to develop them. Health care providers need to understand patients’ individualized needs, desires and goals. 10 or 15-minute provider visits doesn’t allow the time needed for establishing a strong relationship.
It really comes down to the basics! Any provider you select to be involved in your personal health journey should address all of you to help your body gain better balance.
How can you find the right holistic health care provider?
- Interview different providers to find the best fit.
- Ask for credentials & be sure your provider has had legitimate training.
- Check with the department of public health (dph.org) to ensure you are working with a licensed professional.
- Be wary of providers who push enzymes, vitamins or other products.Your health care provider should never hard sell you on anything she / he will profit from.
- Read online reviews.
I have practiced physical therapy for the past 25 years with specialties in pain management, complex medical conditions, headache, spasticity and advocating for patients against insurance companies and school systems. I own High Quality Home Therapy, a unique therapy company that offers holistic relationship & customer service driven healthcare in a spa-like medical office in Stamford and in homes throughout Connecticut & Westchester, New York. With over 200 physical, occupational, speech and massage therapists, social workers, and personal trainers, we partner with gyms, medical doctors, nurses & home health agencies to provide individual services to families in an unconventional manner. People can bring their children for pediatric therapies, and simultaneously work with any of our pelvic floor rehab specialists, Pilates instructors (who are also physical therapists) and / or medical massage therapists. In addition, we offer group therapy sessions in our office and in gyms throughout the states.
At High Quality Home Therapy, we maximize insurance coverage and minimize out of pocket expense in order to reduce your stress in obtaining the best holistic care.
You deserve the best care for your family.
(This post is sponsored by High Quality Home Therapy. Photos provided by High Quality Home Therapy.)
Opinions in this article do not reflect those of The Local Moms Network.