The FoundationMED Approach
FoundationMED utilizes a bottom-up approach that allows us a method to weave our way through the complex maze of events that is human physiology, with the goal being to allow for normalization of your imbalanced physiology and help you on your way to improved health and wellness.
Human physiology is incredibly complex, interconnected, and interdependent. In addition, while the granular details of these complex processes are still being teased out, it is quite clear that there is much we still do not fully understand. One would wonder how anyone can adequately address such a wonderfully complex system. Indeed!
Our core methods require that we work closely, and in concert, with our patients. In fact, the best results require that our patients become fully engaged in the process – this is the very basis of a bottom-up/root-cause approach! Your success as a patient is very much linked to your participation and engagement in the therapeutic process. This is not a passive process where we prescribe a pill or a supplement and all is well.
We do not ascribe to a “treat and street” mentality, nor to a “pill for every ill” because in the VAST majority of time, this simply does not work. No… that method in and of itself has shown itself to be insufficient as shown by the continuing poor ability of traditional medicine to address chronic disease.
Sadly, traditional medicine has become a time constrained, 15 minute visit that focuses on hoping to name a disease and thence prescribe a medication. But what happens if you don’t happen to fall into a neat disease category OR if the prescription offered doesn’t really solve the problem? Well, too many times you are either rotated through a variety of medications, specialists, or even more commonly you become the problem. Frankly, traditional physicians simply do not have the time to explore the underlying physiology (ie the “root cause”) that is driving your problems.
Often the attitude of traditional physicians is to dismiss many addressable problems/complaints as “aging” or “there is nothing wrong with you”.
FoundationMED starts with the conceptualization of full patient engagement and involvement with their treatment. Patients learn about the “5 boxes” of lifestyle concepts (Nutrition, Toxins, Movement/Exercise, Sleep Dynamics, Stress/Stress Management) that have an incredibly powerful impact on their underlying health, well-being AND recovery.
These 5-boxes are the primary focus of our patient’s efforts, and is where they can directly maximally impact basic health and well-being. This is, In fact, a key element for success.
Each and every one of the “5 boxes” themselves have considerable levels of complexity and detail (ie, the boxes are very much interconnected and interdependent). Indeed, it can become a challenge as to how to best direct your efforts. It is here where our superb Health Coach team can have great positive impact with implementation of the therapeutic plan as it relates to the 5 boxes.
Concurrently, our physicians are working to better understand your personal underlying physiology and to address the blockers/confounders to your health recovery or maintenance. Ordering tests is not difficult – anyone can do this. Having a deep understanding of the results of complex laboratory tests (by understanding the underlying physiology on which those tests are based) is another thing altogether – and is something FoundationMED physicians strive to achieve. At the same time, they are working to integrate relevant advanced testing methods that become available.
Our physicians then work to develop a therapeutic plan that integrate multiple layers of information/data in order to basically “remove confounders” and optimize physiology and simultaneously reduce risk. What this means is that issues/processes that serve to inhibit or disallow proper physiology are identified and addressed appropriately.
By using a deep understanding of appropriate advanced testing, along with advanced training and insight through extended patient visits, our physicians work to move/nudge complex physiology to more optimized baseline functioning – with the goal of your improved health and wellbeing!