wws@ukma.UUCP (Bill Stoll) (09/11/85)
Dear Mike,
My definition of a good Holistic Physician would include the
following:
#1 S/he is fully credentialed in conventional medicine (MD or
DO). Hopefully, teaches at the local medical school or,
failing that, at least regularly rotates some kind of health
care student through the practice (this would require being
on the teaching faculty of any medical school rotating
students through the practice.
#2 S/he is a member of the American Holistic Medical Association
or equally professional national organization whose purpose
is to promote educational opportunities in advanced
approaches to health care to health professionals.
#3 S/he regularly participates in community education of both
lay and professional citizens.
#4 S/he takes at least 100 hours of post graduate training
every year.
#5 S/he makes a point of providing copies of all medical records
to all of his or her patients.
#6 S/he maintains Board Certification is his or her specialty by
taking recertification examinations every few years (as
required by that particular medical board).
#7 S/he must be an expert in modern nutritional biochemistry,
exercise physiology and the application of modern stress
management techniques.
#8 S/he must be knowledgeable enough in the fields of Dentistry,
Chiropractic, Rolfing, "body work", acupuncture, Osteopathy,
Homeopathy, Chelation Therapy, Clinical Ecology & Psycho-
Spiritual counseling to know how (& to whom) to refer
appropriate patients for these COMPLEMENTARY diagnostic &
therapeutic approaches.
#9 S/he must be not only a willing supporter, but an active
advocate of "The Peoples' Medical Bill of Rights" as publish-
ed by THE PEOPLES' MEDICAL SOCIETY (sponsored by the
publishers of Prevention magazine). [Anyone interested in
belonging to the most powerful, fastest growing, citizens
lobby for patients rights, in this country today, should
contact the publishers of Prevention magazine for info.
#10 S/he must maintain sufficient rapport with the local medical
community to utilize all available medical specialists on a
referral and consultative basis; as well as maintain staff
privileges at the local hospitals.
These are the main qualifications that come to my mind just at the
moment. I'm sure I am leaving out some important (as well as a lot of
minor) ones. You could probably get more from the American Holistic
Medical Association in Annandale, Virginia. The 88 page "CLIENT
HANDBOOK & SELF-HELP BROCHURE", I give to each new patient at the
Holistic Medical Centre, has a whole section on this subject. We have
sent >1000 of these around the world, to interested lay and
professional people, for $5 to cover printing and postage. It has
proven to be a good example of what a productive relationship between
healer and healee can be. Another section in the "Brochure" details
the most effective method of choosing a new physician (conventional or
holistic)---if my patients move out of town, I want them to have the
best possible chance of choosing an excellent physician. The way
things have been, a person pretty much has to offer their body up to a
physician as an experiment to see how good s/he is. There are better
ways!
Happy hunting!
cbosgd!ukma!wws(Walt Stoll)
--
Walt Stoll, MD, ABFP
Founder, & Medical Director
Holistic Medical Centre
1412 N. Broadway
Lexington, Kentucky 40505