Integrating Traditional and Functional Medicine Approaches to Medical Care

Whole Heart Family Medicine (WHFM) was established as a place where patients can receive advanced, integrative, and compassionate healthcare. We are a family practice providing routine medical care for adults and children ages 12 and up, but we offer more testing and treatment options than a standard primary care office.

We believe the best medical care is based on good science, but open to new paradigms. We know there is not a “one-size-fits-all” model of medical care, so we often combine holistic and traditional approaches, tailoring treatment plans to each patient’s specific needs and preferences. At WHFM, we emphasize dietary and lifestyle modifications as a key foundation of managing illness and achieving optimal health. We recommend both natural supplements and pharmaceutical medications in our treatment plans, but instead of just prescribing a “pill for every ill,” we aim to target the source of the problem. In this way, we practice with a functional medicine approach to care.

At WHFM we carry a particular passion and expertise for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Since heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in this nation (despite guideline-driven medical care) 1, we perform comprehensive work-ups aimed at detecting hidden risk factors and root causes of disease at the early stages. By doing this, we can aggressively target these problems before it is too late. We currently have the tools available in medicine to beat cardiovascular disease, but only if we are willing to think outside the box and reach beyond the current medical guidelines.

At WHFM, we believe in the prevention and reversal of disease (not just disease management). Since inflammation is the driving force behind most diseases, we assess biomarkers that can identify hidden inflammation in our patients. We also examine advanced lipid measurements, key nutrient deficiencies, and early markers of pre-diabetes and insulin resistance (since the damage from elevated insulin and blood sugars starts years before someone actually becomes a diabetic). If warranted, we may recommend additional testing to evaluate genetics. After gathering this information, we personalize a treatment plan based on the identified risk factors.

At WHFM, we are committed to changing the statistics for our patients. With proper testing and treatment, no one should fall victim to a heart attack or stroke, or suffer from the gradual decline of health from vascular diseases such as chronic kidney disease, erectile dysfunction, and dementia. We want you to be around to enjoy your loved ones and experience the fullness this beautiful life has to offer!

You really do matter to us.

We are not a dedicated functional medicine practice. The providers at WHFM have received some functional medicine training and love to incorporate these tools with patients when applicable, but they are not certified functional medicine providers, and this is not their main focus. At WHFM, we believe in focusing our time and energy where it can be most helpful, in our areas of expertise (cardiovascular, metabolic, and mental/cognitive health). When needed, we will gladly collaborate with other medical providers who specialize in other areas. In this way, our patients can receive the best possible medical care available, tailored to their unique needs.

Patients who are seeking a functional medicine provider due to more advanced, chronic, or unexplained symptoms may want to seek medical care elsewhere. We are happy to see any patient interested in our advanced work-up and care, as most patients improve their health as they work with us, but we do not offer in-depth functional medicine testing or treatment protocols. We have compiled a list of local holistic and/or certified functional medicine providers in the area that we are happy to share with anyone interested.

The name of our practice has a three-fold meaning. First, practicing medicine is not just a business to us -we wholeheartedly care about you. Secondly, we care about your literal heart health – one of our niches is aggressively identifying and eradicating cardiovascular disease . . . thus making your heart healthy and whole. Lastly, we believe optimal health encompasses more than just your physical health, but also your emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being.

We love to restore hope by offering encouragement to you throughout your journey to wellness, helping your heart find the figurative wholeness it needs along the way. This starts with us listening well and taking your concerns seriously, but it may also mean connecting you with other sources of support in the community, so you are equipped with the resources you need to truly thrive.

At WHFM, you are never just another “number” to us. We genuinely care about the well-being of every single patient and consider it a privilege to partner with you in your journey to optimal health and well-being.

REFERENCES

1 - Mozaffarian D, Benjamin EJ, Go AS et al. Circulation. 2015;131:e129.