What is a HOLISTIC PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN?
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In order to define a Holistic Primary Care Physician, I'll first clarify what it means to be a Primary Care Physician.
Primary Care Physician
Medical Doctors (M.D.) and Doctors of Chiropractic Medicine (D.C.) are the only two licensed healthcare providers that are considered Primary Care Physicians in the state of Florida.* This is because it has been determined that MD’s and DC’s have both received the necessary medical training to properly evaluate you and render a diagnosis.
In fact, the basic curriculum at medical and chiropractic schools are almost the same. The primary differences are that medical physicians take some courses in minor surgery and in prescribing medication; while chiropractic physicians receive additional education in x-ray diagnosis, and in chiropractic adjusting techniques.
Since they are both Primary Care Physicians, one can go to either a Medical or Chiropractic Physician for assistance and guidance for most non-emergency healthcare complaints. (Obviously, true medical emergencies should go directly to the emergency room.)
“Holistic” Primary Care Physician
To distinguish from a conventional or “traditional” Primary Care Physician, the description “Holistic” indicates that the physician has additional training in complementary or “alternative” healthcare practices.
Primary Care Physician
Medical Doctors (M.D.) and Doctors of Chiropractic Medicine (D.C.) are the only two licensed healthcare providers that are considered Primary Care Physicians in the state of Florida.* This is because it has been determined that MD’s and DC’s have both received the necessary medical training to properly evaluate you and render a diagnosis.
In fact, the basic curriculum at medical and chiropractic schools are almost the same. The primary differences are that medical physicians take some courses in minor surgery and in prescribing medication; while chiropractic physicians receive additional education in x-ray diagnosis, and in chiropractic adjusting techniques.
Since they are both Primary Care Physicians, one can go to either a Medical or Chiropractic Physician for assistance and guidance for most non-emergency healthcare complaints. (Obviously, true medical emergencies should go directly to the emergency room.)
Primary Care Physicians also have the authority to refer you to another healthcare specialty for evaluation and/or treatment, if he deems this to be necessary.
“Holistic” Primary Care Physician
To distinguish from a conventional or “traditional” Primary Care Physician, the description “Holistic” indicates that the physician has additional training in complementary or “alternative” healthcare practices.
Unfortunately, there isn't a clear-cut definition of "Holistic" when used to describe a practitioner's service and expertise.As a “Holistic” Primary Care Physician, I mean that:
- I view the body and mind as a whole, single entity, that is much more than just the sum of its individual parts.
- I acknowledge the intelligence that created and maintains our body/mind, through its inherent healing process.
- I utilize diagnostic and treatment approaches that respect Nature’s design, focusing on restoring balance and harmony from within
- I apply the principles of Functional Medicine, which focuses on looking below the "surface" where the true causes of illness originate. (Functional Medicine is personalized, science-based healthcare that deals with primary prevention and underlying causes of symptoms and chronic disease.)
A core aspect of my approach is to teach, inspire, and support you in improving your health and quality of your day-to-day living through the use of the most natural, safe, beneficial, and efficient health interventions, emphasizing the most authentic educational resources available today.
* In some states, Naturopathic Physicians are also licensed and recognized as Primary Care Physicians.
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Dr. Richard Powers
969 Central Parkway
Stuart, FL 34994
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969 Central Parkway
Stuart, FL 34994
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