At Married to Health, it is our mission to bring together the best in medical nutrition therapy to bridge the gaps in health maintenance, disease prevention and even disease reversal. This unique approach keeps the patient at the center of care and allows for the opportunity for other members of the healthcare team to contribute their areas of expertise to treat the whole person.
When it comes to working with an interdisciplinary healthcare team, these traits can help streamline the process. Here is what to look for in your care team:
1. Clear values and direction
2. Mutual respect and understanding
3. Good communication skills
4. A culture of trust
5. Variety of skills and competencies
6. Patient-centered focus (you are the boss)
7. Training and development to further knowledge
8. Mutual goal of patient success!
Because an interdisciplinary team is made up of a variety of medical specialties, there are many benefits that can come from this type of environment for patients. First, a lasting effect is often produced for the patients involved as their care becomes multi-faceted and synergistic through the strengths of different specialists. Because several areas of their health and wellness have been addressed, a big picture is better able to be created to really understand the underlying problems, rather than just focusing on one area. This then leads to a second benefit that through this bigger picture, better patient care and treatment outcomes may be produced due this more holistic approach. And finally, because there are several team players involved, it combines the strengths of several providers rather than pushing the limitations of just one provider. This again can lead to overall better patient care and treatment outcomes because team members communicate together, rather than work on separate pieces alone.
How a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist can contribute to the healthcare team:
The foods we choose to fuel our bodies with have a substantial impact on our overall health, both in the short term and in the long term. Seeing a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) as part of your healthcare team allows for the opportunity to really dive in and assess what you are eating and how that may be affecting you. RDNs can have a wide variety of specialties, from renal, to gut health, to pediatrics and so much more. Because they are highly trained in the impact that food and nutrition has on us, they are experts when it comes to making lifestyle choices to increase health and wellness using food. An RDN can also help to increase your overall understanding of nutrition as well as assist in managing chronic diseases such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Reflux, & more. This can also be great when it comes to navigating tricky situations when it comes to food, such as allergies and sensitivities, body image and developing & maintaining a healthy relationship with food.
If you are interested in working with an RDN, we would love to support you! You can schedule a personalized visit with us and we would love to collaborate with you on your journey! We see clients from all over the world.
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