5 Tips to Choose a Good Integrative and Functional Medicine Doctor

how to choose functional medicine doctor

Integrative and functional medicine offers an alternate way to avoid conventional approaches to your medical issues. Traditionally, what happens is doctors will give you a short appointment where very little information is exchanged, and then send you home with a prescription for some medicine. Choosing the right doctor is the key to receiving best holistic care. Here I have discussed 5 tips for choosing an excellent integrative and functional medicine doctor to back you on your journey towards wellness.

Ask your Family /Friends for Recommendations

The practitioners that I’ve seen, most of them have come from references from family and co-workers. It is better to trust a known person than someone whom you don’t even know. Asking about doctors doesn’t have to be awkward. Reach out to the people whom you know have had health struggles.

Know the types of Medical Practitioners

I consider knowing the credentials of the person from whom you are taking medical advice is very essential.  Sadly, some unscrupulous individuals call themselves “doctor” without any credentials or basis, playing with the health of the general public.

Some of the main types of Functional Medicine Practitioners you should know are:

  • Medical Doctor (M.D.)
  • Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (N.D.)
  • Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.)
  • Nurse Practitioner (N.P.)
  • Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)

Each one of these practitioners comes with different assistances. Your condition will direct towards the type of doctor best for you.

I believe, at Integra Functional Internal Medicine, finding a doctor is an easy process. For any type of medical consultation, you are seeking you can book with them online. With their LivingMatrix technology, they will obtain your detailed personal medical history and required series of events, all done conveniently online. Their physicians will look at your past medical records and also your maintained LivingMatrix data and will provide all sorts of assistance needed in moving onward with your health goals. For more information visit Integra functional medicine and learn more about it.

Know your Requirements

Every individual’s health needs change with time. It is better that you do your homework in your interest area and specialties. For your certain specific condition, you can find a panel of doctors specified for that area. Narrow down the list and search the specific doctor’s name and be sure to check reviews about him/her.  You need to be clear about your requirements in your head before you make a final call for your appointment.

Don’t Be Afraid to Travel a bit for your Health

You don’t have to search for practitioners in your area alone but go beyond to find a specialized doctor for your condition. If for additional support you’re just layering on a specialist, don’t hesitate to work with someone as sometimes it is worth traveling far from your area. With Zoom, Skype, and other apps that connect people working remotely is becoming more convenient than it was before.

Key Traits of a Good Integrated and Functional Medicine Doctor

Check out these key characteristics of a good integrated and functional medicine doctor:

  • They outline your expectations from the treatment so you know what to expect at every appointment.
  • They don’t make unrealistic promises.
  • They are specialized and have experience and education in complex chronic conditions.
  • They don’t judge you or make you feel awkward or uncomfortable about your condition.
  • They help you with decisions such as testing or other adjustments that need to be made in your treatment.
  • They don’t rush your appointments and spend the time with you.

So, these are a few tips I hope you will find useful. You have lots of options out there for you, all you need to do is do thorough research and find the best fit for you.

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