Personalized medicine is a form of healthcare that centers on a patient's specific needs, health status, background, and genetics. In other words, it is healthcare that physicians personalize to each patient. This approach has many benefits, from attentive care to improved health outcomes.
Since personalized medicine is custom for each patient, most find it beneficial to their health. The team at a wellness center will consider one's genetic makeup in developing a treatment plan tailored to their health condition. This is known as targeted treatment. Since the goal is to provide effective treatment with minimal trial and error, patients can save themselves time, money, and physical and mental pain.
Physicians may use targeted treatments to help a patient improve physical health, mental health, skin appearance, nutrition, or overall well-being. It depends on the wellness center, however. Those run by licensed physicians may offer targeted treatments for serious medical conditions, from substance use disorder to osteoarthritis to cancer.
A patient does not have to be ill to benefit from personalized medicine. One of the primary advantages of personalization is that patients gain access to preventive treatments rather than waiting until a condition develops and requires reactive care. Wellness center providers will work to determine the patient's risk factors for various illnesses and provide recommendations and treatments to help reduce these factors.
Preventing heart disease and diabetes through proper nutrition, diet, and exercise is a common example. Preventive Botox® to limit signs of aging is another. Again, the type of preventive care will depend on the wellness center's specific focus.
In addition to avoiding pain and costly medical bills associated with certain conditions, personalized medicine may also save the patient from experiencing avoidable side effects. The provider will not only consider a patient's allergies and medical history but also dig deeper into the patient's condition and past experience. For instance, they will look at known side effects of common medications and the patient's past experience with other medications to find a workable solution.
Some patients become more invested in their healthcare with personalized medicine since they feel empowered when a provider attentively listens to their concerns and recommends something other than a one-size-fits-all approach. Personalized medicine will also emphasize patient education, helping patients learn about their health and risk factors from a medical standpoint. As a result, they will be well-equipped to make decisions regarding lifestyle, disease prevention, and more between appointments.
Due to all the benefits listed above, personalized medicine has a strong chance of producing better health outcomes in the wellness center's area of focus. Preventive care can stop serious issues from occurring, while customized treatment will work to resolve issues early on. Additionally, patient empowerment means the patient is more likely to listen to the provider and return for follow-up appointments.
Like anything, personalized medicine has some cons. Patients are highly encouraged to disclose personal information to providers to help promote the treatment and experience. This information is kept confidential; however, some patients find it uncomfortable to talk about. At our wellness center, we strive to create a comfortable but always private environment where patients can feel more at ease sharing this information.
Note that it can also take more time to receive this type of care, as patients will spend longer discussing their own and family history. The providers will spend more time curating a customized care plan, as well. Unfortunately, this means the team can fit fewer appointments into a single day.
The benefits of personalized medicine often outweigh these disadvantages. If they are a point of contention for a patient, there are ways to minimize their effects. For one, patients may find it easier to disclose personal information through written forms rather than verbally during an intake appointment. Secondly, patients may schedule visits well in advance to avoid delaying care due to a lack of appointment slots.
Personalized medicine is a more holistic approach to healthcare than traditional medicine—and one that does not require a patient to forgo traditional treatments altogether. If you would like to learn more, schedule a consultation with our team at Optimal Medical Group. Our wellness center proudly serves patients in Fresno and the surrounding areas.
Request an appointment here: https://omgwellnessmd.com or call Optimal Medical Group at (559) 425-1118 for an appointment in our Fresno office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
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