Functional Medicine at the Institute for Personalized Medicine
In today’s world, complex, chronic diseases—such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, mental illness, autoimmune disorders, and the rapid rise of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s—are affecting more people than ever. Yet, the conventional healthcare system remains focused on a “sick care” model. This approach, which centers on managing symptoms rather than treating root causes, is effective for short-term, acute issues but falls short in addressing the underlying factors contributing to chronic and complex conditions.
Why Do We Need Functional Medicine?
The conventional “sick care” model provides medications and treatments that target symptoms rather than investigating why those symptoms arise. Patients often receive medications for short-term relief but rarely see the full picture addressed. By middle age, many find themselves managing a list of chronic conditions with a range of medications from different doctors—none of which provide answers to the underlying health issues.
Functional medicine offers a transformative approach, one that emphasizes understanding the root causes of disease. This patient-centered model examines each patient’s genetic profile, lifestyle, environmental factors, and medical history to form a comprehensive picture of health. Functional medicine bridges the 50-year gap between cutting-edge research and everyday medical practice, providing the most effective solutions for today’s complex chronic conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases.
Patient-Centered, Preventative Care
Functional medicine is about more than the absence of disease; it’s about promoting long-term wellness and vitality. Our approach centers on the individual, engaging patients in a discovery process to address their unique health needs. At the Institute for Personalized Medicine, we practice proactive, preventative care, aiming to uncover the “why” behind each health issue instead of merely addressing symptoms.
Functional Medicine: A Healthcare Evolution
The Insurance Gap and Our Mixed Payment Model
Currently, insurance covers primarily acute care and symptom-focused treatments. This means that many of the more personalized, comprehensive services functional medicine offers—such as extended consultations, advanced testing, and lifestyle-centered interventions—are not yet covered by insurance. However, when possible, we do offer conventional lab testing and bill insurance, allowing patients to receive some reimbursement for essential diagnostic procedures.
At the Institute for Personalized Medicine, we are hopeful that insurance companies will evolve to cover functional medicine fully. In the meantime, we offer a mixed payment model that combines self-pay options with insurance-covered services where applicable, giving patients flexible access to the care they deserve.