You might have been feeling tired, stomach problems, hormone imbalances or any other kind of persistent symptoms that your regular physician or GP couldn’t resolve, and have begun to seek information on the term functional medicine practitioner. Functional medicine not only investigates single symptoms, but actually seeks the cause of disease by bridging all of the gaps between factors such as dietary and lifestyle habits, genetics, and environment.

However, not all practitioners who offer functional medicine are trained, philosophically aligned or approach things the same. This can mean the difference between a complete health transformation that’s life changing or another frustrating dead-end. Here, we’ll explore just what a functional medicine doctor does, the kinds of credentials that are important, and how to find and evaluate a good functional medicine doctor if you are interested in using them.

What Is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine is patient-centred medicine based on finding and correcting the root cause of disease, not merely treating the symptoms. If you’re new to it, go to our comprehensive [what functional medicine is and how it works →]

What Does a Functional Medicine Practitioner Do?

What’s something a functional medicine doctor does differently from other doctors? The functional medicine practitioner’s visit will include:

• During appointments, please allow a lot more time for our health assessment, typically 60-90 minutes for a first appointment
• Have a detailed history of your diet, lifestyle, stress levels, sleep and environmental exposures
• Request special lab work to be done on hormones, gut health, nutrients and inflammation markers
• Develop an individualized treatment strategy, such as eating changes, supplements, stress reduction, and lifestyle changes
• Work with you as an active member of your health care team instead of prescribing a quick fix

In a nutshell, a functional medicine doctor is a sort of health detective, uncovering the real cause behind the issue by considering symptoms from various systems.

Functional Medicine Doctor vs. Functional Medicine Provider

A functional medicine doctor versus functional medicine provider is a confusing distinction to many patients. The terms are used interchangeably but there is a difference that you need to understand.

A functional medicine doctor is almost always an MD or DO that has finished traditional medicine school and residency, and then obtained further training and certification in functional medicine. The more general term is a functional medicine provider; which can be a nurse practitioner, PA, chiropractor, naturopathic doctor, or registered dietitian who has been trained in functional medicine principles as well.

Both are great options depending on your health concerns. A balanced, complex medical condition may benefit from working with a functional medicine physician since they may have a better understanding of managing medication. It is worth noting that your primary practice might be nutrition or lifestyle coaching or a less complex area-at this point, a functional medicine health practitioner past this clinical realm may work to ensure that you as well.

What Qualifications Should a Functional Medicine Practitioner Have?

Credentials are all-important since “functional medicine” is not a profession that is regulated by the state like “physician” or “nurse practitioner. But what should a functional medicine practitioner be qualified in?

Here are some of the minimum features to search for:

• A base clinical license – MD, DO, NP, PA, DC, ND, or RD/RDN. This guarantees that the individual has medical training or clinical training at the basic level.
• Certification by a recognized training institution in functional medicine, typically from the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) that grants a functional medicine credential called the IFM Certified Practitioner (IFMCP).
• Continued learning is important as the field of functional medicine is evolving rapidly with new research emerging all the time.

One of the best indicators of legitimate training is the IFMCP credential, which is a rigorous course, clinical case study and application process completed by a certified functional medicine practitioner.

What Training Does a Functional Medicine Practitioner Have?

The more familiar you are with what a functional medicine practitioner has been trained to deal with, the more prepared you’ll feel to work with them regarding your unique issues. Most good practitioners will have:

1. The basic clinical education training came from medical school or nursing training, chiropractic school or a nutrition degree depending on what area they are initially licensed in.
2. Courses specific to working In functional medicine that focus on gut health, hormones, detoxification pathways, and immunity.
3. Training in advanced lab Interpretation is important because functional medicine involves certain lab testing not routinely performed in traditional medicine.
4. Continuous clinical mentorship  And or case review, particularly as related to certification in IFM.

If looking for a provider, be certain enough to ask whether they have education and qualifications in early childhood development or learning. Be sure a practitioner is knowledgeable and honest about his or her training.

How to Choose the Right Functional Medicine Practitioner

So, the next big question is, how to find an actual functional medicine practitioner that you can trust and trust will work for you. Here are some steps to follow.

1. Start With Your Specific Health Concern

Some practitioners go into depth on gut health; others on hormones, autoimmunity, or metabolic health. Search for somebody with experience in the specific facet of the concern rather than a well-rounded therapist.

2. Verify Credentials and Certifications

Screen for validation of their base license and validate that their basic license is in good standing, as well as their recognized functional medicine certification (IFMCP).

3. Review Their Approach to Testing and Treatment

Discuss the type of laboratory testing they usually employ and their treatment planning process. No one knows you better than you do, and the best functional medicine provider will employ sensible testing rather than unnecessary and excessive testing panels.

4. Consider Communication Style

Partnering in functional medicine involves an ongoing relationship. Find a person who can listen, who can explain things clearly and who makes you feel he/she is listening to you and not in a hurry.

5. Read Reviews and Ask for Referrals

Whether you’re reading a patient’s word of mouth or seeing the reviews on Google, you can actually gain honest feedback from practitioners that can help you understand how often they see successful results and their bedside manner.

6. Evaluate Logistics

If you are unable to find a great fit locally, factors to look at include cost, insurance coverage (many functional medicine practitioners are out-of-network), appointment availability and if they offer telehealth further.

How to Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner Near You

Here are the best methods to locate an excellent functional medicine doctor near me:

• Go to the Institute for Functional Medicine’s Find a Practitioner directory to find an IFM certified practitioner near you
• Make a request of your current doctor for referral, particularly if they are flexible with integrative strategy
• Research functional medicine doctors in your area and check out practitioners bios on clinics websites
• If not locally available, ensure to check the telehealth options – many certified practitioners are now available for virtual consultations
• Check out professional organizations like Chiropractors, Naturopaths or any Dieticians that have a functional medicine specialty.

Avoid using the first answer. Before making your initial appointment, check out a couple of things.

Questions to Ask a Functional Medicine Practitioner

Prior to hiring a provider, make a list of questions that you will ask a functional medicine practitioner during a first call or appointment:

• What medical or allied health boarded specialty do you have and are you licensed in?
• Are you a certified functional medicine specialist or from which organization?
• What conditions are you most familiar with treating?
• What would be a typical treatment plan and timeframe?
• What lab work do you suggest and will this be covered by insurance?
• What is your way to track your progress with time?
• What’s communication between visits like?

The confident and transparent practitioner will be able to respond to these questions confidently, openly and clearly.

Red Flags to Watch For

Most functional medicine practitioners are good people, but this isn’t a green light for the following:

• That supports anyone over prescribing expensive and heavy supplement regimens without sound justification
• No valid training documentations,  vague responses regarding training
• Unpromising guarantees to cure complex chronic conditions
• Pressure from school employees to commit to long term, expensive programs prior to an evaluation.

Final Thoughts

Finding the right practitioner for functional medicine is actually one of the most crucial choices that you can make for you and your long term health. Practice due diligence in verifying qualifications, understanding training, asking some questions and selecting the right partner for care. If you have the right functional medicine doctor, you can learn to resolve the root cause of your health issues instead of managing your symptoms.