Embracing Lifestyle Medicine in Direct Care

Discover the benefits of Lifestyle Medicine and how to tailor services within the Direct Care model.

In today's fast-paced world, the quest for a healthier life has never been more important. At the heart of this journey is Lifestyle Medicine, a transformative approach that empowers individuals to take charge of their health through daily choices. Coupled with the preventive and personalized touch of Direct Care, this approach is reshaping the healthcare landscape.

Understanding Lifestyle Medicine

Lifestyle Medicine is about making informed, conscious decisions that nurture the patient’s body and mind. It focuses on the six pillars of health: 

  1. Nutrition
  2. Physical activity
  3. Stress management
  4. Restorative sleep
  5. Social connectedness
  6. Avoidance of risky substances.

Alicia Chitanand, Lifestyle Medicine physician and founder of Blissful Lifestyle Medicine, discusses her mission. 

“Lifestyle Medicine is a branch of medicine where we prescribe lifestyle changes such as nutrition, physical activity, and sleep medicine. Some people might say, 'Well, I already know that I'm supposed to be doing these things.' What we do is help patients overcome obstacles, meeting them where they are in a judgment-free way, and coming up with goals that are reasonable for the patient to improve their lifestyle. This way, we can prevent chronic medical conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, and really help with longevity and quality of life.”Dr. Alicia ChitanandLifestyle Medicine Physician

Today, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) has a vibrant community of over 11,000 members. Since its inception, ACLM has been at the forefront of empowering healthcare providers through specialized training programs designed to equip participants with the necessary skills to attain board certification in Lifestyle Medicine. Since the certification program's launch in 2017, 2,445 U.S. physicians and 946 non-physician health professionals have achieved board certification.

A Perfect Pair: Lifestyle Medicine + Direct Care

Incorporating Lifestyle Medicine into Direct Primary Care is an effective approach to wellness. By addressing the root causes of chronic diseases, this approach offers a beacon of hope for those seeking to improve their health outcomes without solely relying on medication. 

Example of a Lifestyle Medicine Practice in the Direct Care Model

Blissful Lifestyle Medicine, led by Dr. Alicia Chitanand, offers a holistic approach to wellness through Lifestyle Medicine, Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT), and Yoga. 

These services, offered in the Direct Care model, enable her to break free from insurance constraints, dedicating the necessary time and attention to every patient's unique needs. 

Her primary objective is to uncover and address the underlying causes of health issues, not just to treat symptoms. 

Packing Services Focused on Lifestyle Medicine combined with the Direct Care model

Dr. Chitanand offers three different packages related to Lifestyle Medicine: a 1 Month Intensive program, a Transformation Deep Dive program that takes 6 weeks, and an Intensive Deep Dive program that lasts 12 weeks.

At SigmaMD, we believe in the power of Lifestyle Medicine and Direct Care to transform lives. Our solution for Lifestyle Medicine and Direct Care practices includes a modern EMR, combined with communication tools, payments, scheduling, AI Copilot, and much more - all in one comprehensive package.

Join us in embracing a future where healthcare is not just about treating illness but about celebrating patient’s wellness. 

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