Do Low-Income Patients Need Behavior Modification?

At the Diabetes Summit in Baton Rouge, physicians admitted that 1)  the metabolic syndrome requires lifestyle changes in order to be managed and 2) motivating lifestyle change can not be done by MDs, one on one with their patients during a regular office visit.

This is progress.  In fact, the same admission be made for most chronic conditions from migraines to CHF.  Physicians (as much as they might like to) have neither the time nor the incentives to coach patients in healing themselves.   As is often said, ...in developed countries, 'We have traded mortality for morbidity.'  Acute conditions have given way to chronic conditions.  Surgery is being eclipsed by medicines and now perhaps by cognitive behavioral therapy.  We begin to let our diet and exercise be our medicine. But where does the physician fit in to this mega-trend?

Of course one is at the table or on the menu.  So, to be at the head of the table is the physician's best strategy.  Leading a team of professions in a Patient-Centered Medical Home will require a reconfiguration of our concept of medical practice.

Let MED+Works help you grow into a position of leadership in this practice of the future.