Topics Map > Integrative and Whole Health Implementation > What An Integrative Health Visit Looks Like
What an Integrative Health Visit Looks Like Overview, Part 2
During the Visit, Part 1: The Parts of an Integrative Health Conversation
“It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.”
—William James
After Bob’s PHI has been reviewed, the next step is to have a conversation with him. A Integrative Health encounter requires clinicians to move beyond the “find it, fix it” model they are trained to use as students. As is reflected in the PHI, the focus shifts from “What’s the matter with you?” to “What matters most to you?” Of course, his clinician will still address health concerns and administer treatments as appropriate, but it happens in a different context; the conversation is changed.
There are five key elements to any conversation. You can move a patient visit in the direction of Integrative Health by focusing on any one of them.
- Who: The participants in the conversation
In this case, the participants are the clinician and Bob, the patient. Both have goals (agendas) for the visit. It is important to keep returning to the question of what Bob wants to get out of his time.
Having patients share during a health care visit has important health benefits. A 2003 review concluded the following: