This is what you can expect from an integrative (internal) medicine specialist:

• Regards the patient as an active partner who takes personal responsibility for health
• Focuses on a good doctor patient relationship
• Develops an understanding of the patient’s culture and beliefs
• Focuses on the unique characteristics of the individual based on interaction of mind, emotions, body and spirit
• Focusses on prevention and maintenance of health with life style choices including nutrition, exercise, stress management, and emotional wellbeing
• Uses natural, less invasive interventions first, when possible
• Uses an evidence-based approach from multiple sources to integrate the best therapy for the patient be it conventional or complimentary
• Accepts that health and healing are unique to each individual and may differ for two people with the same disease
• Works collaboratively with the patient and the multiprofessional team supporting the patient
• Maintains that healing is always possible, when cure is not