July 2024 Message from Dr. Younglove
July 2024 Newsletter
Transforming Our Healthcare System: From “Sick-Care” to True Health-Care
Key Points:
- Current system manages sickness; true health-care should prevent it.
- Clinicians need to be health partners, not just emergency fixers.
- Influencer health advice can be risky; trust professional guidance.
- Celebrate your proactive health approach and share your journey with others.
- Remember our referral program: refer a friend, and you could win a prize!
What is “sick-care” versus healthcare?
Today, I want to talk about a topic that’s been on my mind a lot lately: the difference between our current healthcare system and what we might call a true health-care system.
You see, the way things stand right now, our healthcare system is more like a “sick-care” system. What do I mean by that? Well, it’s designed to take care of us when we’re already sick. The goal is often to manage sickness, not necessarily to prevent it. This means that when we do enter the healthcare system, the focus is on managing symptoms rather than addressing root causes to truly eradicate disease.
Being healthy shouldn’t be lonely.
Think about it: health is something we’re expected to handle on our own. We’re supposed to eat right, exercise, manage stress, get enough sleep – and only when something goes wrong do we see a doctor or a nurse practitioner. This mindset sets up a scenario where we’re constantly playing catch-up, dealing with issues after they arise instead of preventing them in the first place.
Managing diseases vs treating disease
I’ve talked quite a bit this past year about the difference between managing disease and treating disease. Managing disease often means medicating symptoms to make life more bearable. Treating disease means digging deeper to find the root causes and addressing those to eliminate the disease entirely. This shift from a management mindset to a treatment mindset is essential for true health, but it’s going to be challenging if health remains a DIY project.
This brings me to an important point: clinicians, whether they’re doctors, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants, need to see themselves as partners in their journey to health, not just fixers when things go wrong. Unfortunately, many clinicians still operate under the assumption that health isn’t their problem to solve. They might say, “Come back when you have a problem,” instead of, “Let’s work together to keep you healthy.”
Influencers and your health
This gap has opened the door for influencers to step in and become “health-evangelists.” These are individuals who might not have any formal medical training, but they look healthy, and they speak confidently about what works for them. And because our system hasn’t emphasized that clinicians should be at the forefront of health creation, people turn to these influencers for advice.
One of the areas where this is most evident is in weight loss. Social media is flooded with influencers giving tips and advice on how to lose weight, which medications people should take, where to get them, how to manage side effects, etc. While some of their advice can be helpful, the reality is that weight management is complex and deeply personal. What works for one person might not work for another, and without a proper medical understanding, influencers can sometimes give advice that’s not just ineffective, but potentially harmful.
This becomes even more problematic when clinicians aren’t aware that their patients are following these influencer-led regimens. The potential for harm is significant because non-medical people addressing medical issues can lead to missed diagnoses, inappropriate treatments, and a lot of frustration for patients.
We want to applaud you
Now, I want to take a moment to applaud all of you here today. You are the exception to this general rule. You’re working on your health with a clinical team, and that’s something to be incredibly proud of. By doing this, you’re taking a proactive approach to your health, addressing root causes, and working towards true wellness.
Your dedication sets an example, and without saying it outright, I hope you’ll share your experiences with others. Let them know the benefits of partnering with a clinical team for their health journey. This not only helps them but also supports a shift towards a system where health is created, not just sickness managed.
Referrals are the greatest compliment
Speaking of talking to others, July 1st marks the official beginning of the third quarter of the year. This means it’s time for us to give away our referral prizes! Remember, every time a new patient comes in and drops your name as the person who sent them to us, we put your name in a jar. At the end of the quarter, we draw a few names out of the jar and give those people something. Why? Because we want to encourage referrals. Not just for our sake (although we love new people) but because people who create a community of others around them do better. We want you to bring your people with you on your health journey. We want you to succeed! After hearing from some of you and your wants and needs, we changed it up a bit this time. We chose two big giveaway gifts rather than four small ones. As always, we will reach out to you directly if your name is drawn. You are welcome to brag about it (“My doctor’s office gave me this!” but we will never publish it. Privacy is super important to us.
Yoga
As I mentioned last month, Yoga is ongoing at Advent – happening every Thursday. The last session was full but I’m pretty sure this next one has an opening or two left. We’ve put the link at the bottom.
We appreciate you
Thank you for being here, for your commitment to your health, and for trusting us to be part of your journey. Together, we can work towards a future where our healthcare system truly becomes a health-care system.