Whole person care vs. sick care
- lori563
- Apr 22
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 23
Joanne suffered from chronic headaches for years. Then a visit to a whole health clinician turned out to be a game changer. Rather than prescribing yet another drug, Joanne’s provider helped identify the cause(s) of her headaches: food sensitivities, with stress as a contributing factor. After adjusting her diet and working with a therapist, Joanne is now experiencing mostly headache-free days.
When you feel bad, you can count on your health care provider to treat your illness. But should you expect more?
What if they looked beyond your symptoms to the whole YOU?
The benefits of a whole health approach
Clinicians who take a whole health approach focus on the entire person in front of them — their lifestyle, their relationships and their mental health, for example — instead of just the symptoms that person is experiencing.
This mindset recognizes that good health encompasses more than individual points of care. By considering physical, mental and emotional factors affecting a patient, clinicians can better understand all the things that impact your health and well-being — and make treatment recommendations accordingly.
This approach changed everything for Joanne. Lisa Ann had a similar experience after suffering with multiple orthopedic issues.* A deeper dive by her orthopedist, who takes a whole health approach, revealed that a systemic problem might be causing her pain. A blood test confirmed that a connective tissue disorder was at the root of her problems. Instead of joint surgeries or procedures, her doctor recommended holistic treatments for the disorder, which, in combination with medication, significantly reduced her pain.
A whole health approach comes with a host of benefits. It:
Personalizes care to your specific needs and goals
Emphasizes the importance of lifestyle, such as diet, exercise and stress management, in achieving overall wellness
Supports a sustainable approach to care that can help you achieve the good health you want
Helps build stronger, collaborative relationships between you and your provider
Whole health at the MNPS Employee & Family Health Care Centers
At the MNPS Employee & Family Health Care Centers, that’s exactly what we do. Our clinicians consider lifestyle, mental health and holistic well-being in addition to treating illness. This approach helps them — and you — better understand and address factors that influence your overall well-being.
Our clinicians are committed to this whole health approach to patient care. By taking time to know and understand you, they can provide a wide variety of appropriate treatments and recommendations.
In addition to traditional care options, they may recommend whole health solutions. For example, they might suggest participating in Virta, a non-pharmaceutical approach to diabetes management that is included in your benefits package. Or they might prescribe walking regularly to help reduce stress and the effects it has on your physical health.
Ready to get started on a journey to better, whole health?
Schedule an appointment with your primary care provider at the MNPS Health Care Centers. Not a clinic patient yet? We can serve as your PCP if you need one. Call 615-259-8755.
* Names have been changed to protect privacy.