What is a Holistic Health Clinic?

According to Willard Dean, M.D. and Pamela Barich, M.S., R. N., C. S., pioneers in the holistic health center field, ” a holistic health center is a group of various health care practitioners functioning collectively (at the same location), to offer quality health care addressing the holistic paradigm:

1. Treatment of the individual as a whole which includes the physical, ental/emotional, spiritual, social, environmental, and other aspects of the total person.
2. Patient interaction, which is time intensive, emphasizing the individual and the underlying cause(s) of disease rather than symptoms.
3. Assists in the empowerment of the patient to accept responsibility for decision making in their health care and well being, utilizing the team approach of patient and practitioner as co-equals.
4. Concentration on patient education stressing prevention and wellness enhancement, aimed at balance in their lives, through necessary lifestyle changes, with the primary health care provider acting as teacher, guide and facilitator.
5. Use of both allopathic and alternative modalities–selecting the most appropriate, given the individual and his/her circumstances.
6. Recognition of the triad of health as diet/nutrition, exercise/activity, and mental outlook.
7. Focuses on the art of medicine rather than the science.
8. Cooperation of all member of the health care team for the betterment of the patient.
9. Developing consciousness toward a global perspective, and the recognition of oneness with all things.”