Why You Need a Health and Wellness Coach

“Most doctors don’t want to be doctors anymore … because it sucks.” - Pedram Shojai

I heard Pedram Shojai, a doctor of Chinese medicine, say this on an episode of “The Model Health Show” podcast. And I’ve got to admit - it kinda hurt.

I’m an ‘80 baby and I decided that I wanted to be a doctor as soon as I realized I couldn’t be Jem (you’re my people if you know who that is!). I think the human body is a fascinating miracle and I think becoming a medical doctor is the best way to learn all about it.

Doctoring is powerful!

And I’m so honored that so many people have chosen me to doctor them. And you know what? I’m pretty proud of myself for becoming a doctor! It took a lot of effort (not only mine but my family’s too) for me to become a physician … a surgeon. So, I continue to give my best effort to my work every day.

But here’s some real talk - sometimes there are really miserable moments. Some days I wish I could telepathically remove myself from an exam room or the operating room and just plop down in Starbucks. No, not as a customer … as the barista! Yup! It’s true! The thought has crossed my mind … “I could serve my community as a barista, go home after my shift, and leave all my worries at the coffee house.”

But to get a little more real - that desire to be somewhere or something else is never because of my patients. I love taking care of my patients. Whether they’re being gracious or difficult, I’m in the trenches with them. It’s my calling. So, what, then, makes me consider (if only for a moment) running away? It’s “the system.” The healthcare system.

Our healthcare system is broken.

I will not make political commentary on my blog. But it isn’t political, in any way, to say that our healthcare system is broken. And the vast majority of doctors are limited by that system. But we’ve seen how difficult it is to change this system. There is no obvious or quick fix! Because … it all comes down to money.

A doctor who accepts health insurance payment for your care is essentially an employee of the federal government.

A doctor who accepts health insurance payment for your care is essentially an employee of the federal government. Does that shock you? Well, it’s true … because of Medicare. Medicare sets the tone for who can get what treatment, where and how. This is the cornerstone of the system. (Yes! Even if you have a private health insurance policy.) And navigating it is, in a word, painful! For both patients and doctors!

To be honest, as a surgeon, I don’t feel this pain as much as a primary care doc does … when I’m at work. But I’m a patient too! And when I’m on the exam table, I feel it! I’m empathetic to my doctor colleagues but ... when I need to see a doctor, I can feel how broken the system is. And it doesn’t feel good!

Have you had a doctor visit that feels something like this?

Actually, let's start before the visit. First, you had to wait two months for your appointment. Maybe two days to two weeks if your complaint is “urgent.” You’re called into an exam room after a “brief” wait. Then, you and your doctor exchange a few niceties. After that, your doc pulls out the laptop. And you don’t see his or her eyes for the next several minutes. He or she is busy pointing and clicking on screen after screen in the electronic health record. Now, it’s time for your exam. Does something need a bit more investigation? Well, you’ll need more tests which require more appointments which take more time.

Did you want education? Or mentoring? Or resources? What about alternative plans? Well, there’s probably not enough time for that during your visit. Maybe you can make another appointment?

Medicare says ...

Oy vey! Medicare dictates that entire scenario. Medicare says that you deserve 15 minutes with your doctor. Well, your visit should take 15 minutes and that includes writing in your record. So, you might get 7 or so minutes of actual face-to-face time. And if you, or anyone else gets more than 7 minutes, that doctor’s schedule is ruined. And you’re stuck in the waiting room for an intolerable amount of time.

Also Medicare dictates which diagnoses get which tests. It even says which treatment you’re allowed, who can perform it, when, and where. If doctors try to buck these rules, your health insurance plan may not pay for the services you receive. And, if so, you, the patient, become responsible for the entire cost of your care. That means thousands, sometimes tens of thousands, of dollars!

As I said, our healthcare system is broken. But more specifically, it’s overwhelmed and overextended. One straightforward way to extend the system is to employ clinicians other than doctors. There just aren’t enough doctors in the workforce. Too few doctors leads to longer wait times between appointments and the broken system continues from there. To address that, doctors are entering the workforce in greater numbers than ever before. But still, educating and training new doctors can’t keep pace with our population’s growing need for healthcare. It takes at least 7 post-graduate years to get a new doctor into the workforce. So, the backlog of patients is still huge.

Other clinicians, like nurse practitioners (NPs) and  physician assistants (PAs), can extend the healthcare system more efficiently. NPs and PAs are providing care more than ever before. On one hand, their education and training takes less time than a doctor’s. But on the other hand, they are still held to Medicare’s standards. Same time restraints + same charting rules + same money matters = same unsatisfactory patient experience.

So, how can we upgrade your experience as a patient? What would add more value to your healthcare? How can you reach your health and lifestyle goals, cure your illness or, better yet, prevent serious illness from ever starting? Who could coach you (hint, hint) between visits with your doctor?

If you’re wondering when I’m going to talk about health and wellness coaches, it’s now! Health coaches can extend our healthcare system! They can stand in the gap between doctors and patients. More than that, the role of a health coach has its own inherent advantages. So, I’d like to share more about what a health coach is and the benefits of health coaching. I’ll share some notes about how to pick a health coach and where to find one.

What is a health and wellness coach?

A health and wellness coach is a professional who guides you to looking and feeling your best. A health coach supports you through lifestyle and behavior changes to reach your potential. When you work with a health coach, you’re a client, not a patient. A health and wellness coach doesn’t tell you what to do. Most health coaching programs are focused on nutrition. So, most health coaches focus on nutrition and holistic health.

What is health coach certification?

When a health coach is “certified,” it means that they have graduated from a health coaching program. The health coach then got a “certificate.” But these programs are not all created equally. The largest program, at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN), is accredited by the New York State Department of Education. But different health coaching programs have different requirements. For example, IIN only requires a GED. But other programs require an Associate’s Degree. Most programs take between 6 months and a year to become a certified health coach.

It’s important to know that there were no national standards for health coach certification until 2017. That’s when the National Board of Medical Examiners - the same group that controls the licensing of doctors - created the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NB-HWC). If I were looking for a non-physician health coach, I’d want one with this certification. (A little aside … Health coach graduates from IIN have to get “additional training” before they can take the NB-HWC exam! The NB-HWC doesn’t say why or what the additional training is.) Oh, and just FYI - health coaches don’t get licenses.

What a health coach is not

A typical health coach is not a doctor, or a practitioner, or a clinician in any way. So, they can’t order your blood tests. They can’t analyze them either. They also can’t diagnose anything or prescribe you anything. Most health coaches are not personal trainers either.

So … why should I hire a health coach?

Accessibility

If you have big health and lifestyle goals, I think you should hire a coach … and maximize your time with your doctor. Earlier in this post, I talked about the challenges of being a patient in our healthcare system. It’s just not built for nurturing, frequent visits. And the days of doctors making house calls are long gone.

Big goals need big support. So, get yourself a mentor who can be accessible. Most successful health coaches have much more availability than a successful primary care doctor. While many coaches see clients in person, either one-on-one or in a group, many more see clients remotely. By phone, Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, Facebook group! You get the picture. You can work with your health coach online! That really simplifies working together for both you and the coach! Not having to travel removes at least one obstacle to having your coaching session.

Accountability

You may be thinking, “I can reach my health goals on my own!” And you’re right. You can! But I think the real question is, “Will you?”

It’s certain that you’re more likely to follow through with you action steps when you have an accountability partner. Have you ever had a study buddy? Or a gym buddy? Did they help you stay on track? Yup! You’re probably more likely to break a promise to yourself than to someone who’s important to you. Am I right? Having an accountability partner works because knowing someone is counting on you makes you more likely to show up and do the work. You don’t want to let yourself down. But you really don’t want to let your coach down. You feel responsibility for improving yourself and responsibility for your relationship with your coach. Plus, it’s empowering to know that someone is focused on you and cheering you on!

How do I find a health coach near me?

Well, you’ve found one! Me!

I love the concept of health coaching for all the reasons I mentioned above. And I really love it when it’s complemented by a medical degree. You get the knowledge and depth of a doctor with the outlook and attitude of a coach.

But it’s not completely selfless for me! I needed to add health coaching to my practice so that I can stay in love with doctoring. Health coaching allows me to go deeper with patients than I can in my typical office setting. It kinda allows me to go home with you!

And I want to! I want to help you transform your health and lifestyle. Because you deserve it!

What do you want? If you want to upgrade how you look and feel, start here !