By: Margaret Christensen MD, IFMCP, ABOIM
The Carpathia Collaborative Team is excited and proud to share with you an important study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association [JAMA}. Those of us who have been utilizing integrative and functional medicine over the past 2 decades KNOW it works–to have this validated in a prestigious conventional journal is a milestone! JAMA ‘s study looked at the outcomes and quality of life for patients receiving care at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine.
According to the Cleveland Clinic press release, the study found patients receiving care through the Center for Functional Medicine showed significant beneficial and sustainable improvements in their PROMIS global physical health. PROMIS provides a measure of patients’ global physical and mental health that can be monitored over time, measuring factors like fatigue, physical function, pain, gastrointestinal issues and emotional well-being
Carpathia is proud to boast the most number of Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioners (IFMCP) certified (or in process) practitioner’s outside of Cleveland Clinic! Just like Cleveland Clinic we have a collaborative team approach to our clients, including a naturopath, medical doctors, nurse practitioners, acupuncturist, a functional neurologic chiropractor and of course the frontline of our team are our functionally trained registered dietitians! We meet weekly as a team to help bring the best minds and different approaches together to aid in solving your challenging health issues. In addition we promote your best wellness and anti-aging lifestyle, including optimizing athletic performance, hormones, fertility and preventing cognitive decline. Other modalities include IV nutritional therapies, hyperbaric, massage therapy and craniosacral work, counseling, essential oils and meditation.
Below is a letter to the Institute for Functional Medicine Faculty about this historic landmark study. [Dr. Christensen is a national faculty member along with Dr.’s Hyman and Hanaway]:
Dear IFM Colleagues, Oct 29, 2019
I’m excited to share some news with you that marks an important milestone for both Functional Medicine and for IFM. As you know, since the release of the current Strategic Plan, IFM has highlighted the critical importance of research and patient outcomes data. Today, the Journal of American Medical Association — JAMA Network Open published the first ever retrospective cohort study of the Functional Medicine model from the Center for Functional Medicine at Cleveland Clinic.
According to the Cleveland Clinic press release, the study found patients receiving care through the Center for Functional Medicine showed significant beneficial and sustainable improvements in their PROMIS global physical health. PROMIS provides a measure of patients’ global physical and mental health that can be monitored over time, measuring factors like fatigue, physical function, pain, gastrointestinal issues and emotional well-being.
Dr. Mark Hyman, Head of Strategy and Innovation for the Center for Functional Medicine said, “We see the impact of Functional Medicine daily, and the results of this study provide evidence that our work is directly improving patient outcomes. I’m proud to work with this incredible team of people to deliver Functional Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic.”
Dr. Patrick Hanaway, an author and developer of the study said, “Functional Medicine focuses on the person, not on the disease. The results of this first-of-its-kind study represent a huge step forward – clearly demonstrating Functional Medicine as an evidence-based approach to address the underlying causes of complex, chronic disease and improve global outcomes.”
Dr. Michelle Beidelschies, Director of Research and Education for the CCCFM, says about the study results, “Functional medicine practitioners have suggested that their patients are improving with a systems-based approach to chronic disease. Now, they have evidence that their approach is associated with improved quality of life.”
In addition to the release of this milestone study, Crain’s Cleveland Business recently published an article marking the five year anniversary of the CCCFM, noting the “explosive growth” the center has seen since its opening. IFM Board Chairwoman, Laurie Hofmann responded to both the research and this article by saying, “Five years ago, the Institute for Functional Medicine and Cleveland Clinic recognized the need to make Functional Medicine available to patients in an institution setting. Today, we celebrate Functional Medicine patient care with peer-reviewed proof that a Functional Medicine approach to chronic disease works.”
I encourage you all to read both the study and the article and take a moment to celebrate the work we have all accomplished together to get us to this point today. Clearly there is strong momentum building for Functional Medicine and IFM as we move forward toward realizing our mission of ensuring the widespread adoption of functional medicine.
Yours in Service,
Amy Mack
CEO, Institute for Functional Medicine