It is clear that there is a need for new and innovative models of primary care delivery. Our current models don't serve patients well and it is hard to argue with a colleagues comment that, "The department of Medicine is the biggest marketing wing of the drug companies".
We should take the lead from innovative Physicians like Dr Dean Ornish and Professor George Jelinek. They have shown that by addressing known risk factors for disease you can get impressive results. Dr Ornish demonstrated that lifestyle change alone can prevent the progression of localised prostate cancer and reverse heart disease. More recently Prof Jelinek has shown that people diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) can actually improve if they address the known risk factors for this disease.
Primary care should promote the application of Public health knowledge. We have been shown what is possible and Primary care Physicians are in prime place to deliver these changes.
Dr S Gartland
MRCP (UK) FRACGP
Rapid Response:
Re: Revolution in Primary Care
It is clear that there is a need for new and innovative models of primary care delivery. Our current models don't serve patients well and it is hard to argue with a colleagues comment that, "The department of Medicine is the biggest marketing wing of the drug companies".
We should take the lead from innovative Physicians like Dr Dean Ornish and Professor George Jelinek. They have shown that by addressing known risk factors for disease you can get impressive results. Dr Ornish demonstrated that lifestyle change alone can prevent the progression of localised prostate cancer and reverse heart disease. More recently Prof Jelinek has shown that people diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) can actually improve if they address the known risk factors for this disease.
Primary care should promote the application of Public health knowledge. We have been shown what is possible and Primary care Physicians are in prime place to deliver these changes.
Dr S Gartland
MRCP (UK) FRACGP
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16094059
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9863851
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22367222
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25638416
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24628020
Competing interests: I recovered from MS following the Overcoming MS programme and now work for the organisation.