Healthcare Shouldn’t be an Algorithm: Using Primary Prevention to Treat the Whole Patient

It’s no secret that mental and physical health diseases are on the rise in the U.S., and most healthcare visits seem to focus on diagnoses and quick fixes usually through prescription drugs. Should we be shifting our focus? Dr. Rhea sits down with two practitioners who work primarily with residency programs, Dr. Hope Shepherd and Theresa Murphy, LCSW, to discuss how shifting the focus to primary prevention, such as exercise, spending time outdoors, and learning more about their patient’s lifestyles can help physicians better treat the whole health of their patients. Most importantly, they discuss the need to teach these approaches to their physician residents, barriers they face in making this shift, and remembering that healthcare should be more than just an algorithm. Theresa Murphy is a Director of Family Medicine Behavioral Health, working directly with patients and training residency doctors. Receiving her degree from Saint Louis University, Theresa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with interest in Behavioral Health Integration, Measurement-Based Care, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Informed care, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Health and Wellness. Dr. Hope Shepherd is a Student Clerkship Director for a Family Medicine Residency Program. She attended medical school at UT Southwestern Medical School, followed by a residency at Methodist Health System Family Medicine Residency Program, and a Faculty Development Fellowship at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. Dr. Shepherd’s areas of interest include medical education, preventative medicine, community medicine, and HIV health care.