Last updated: April 2026
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Quick Answer
- Functional medicine improved global physical health for about 31% of patients by 5 points or more at 6 months in a Cleveland Clinic study (2019).
- Patients in functional medicine shared medical appointments saw greater improvements in both physical and mental health than those in individual appointments.
- Shared medical appointments for functional medicine were less costly to deliver.
- Functional medicine focuses on addressing the root causes of chronic disease, with functional medicine patients showing significantly larger improvements in PROMIS global physical health compared to those in a primary care setting at 6 months.
Functional medicine offers a different approach to chronic conditions like fatigue, focusing on the underlying causes rather than just managing symptoms. Research from the Cleveland Clinic shows that this model is linked to better health-related quality of life. For example, a 2019 study found that approximately 31% of patients in functional medicine improved their PROMIS global physical health scores by 5 points or more within 6 months. This improvement is considered a clinically meaningful change, something noticeable in daily life. This was significantly higher than the 22% of primary care patients who saw similar improvements. The functional medicine model investigates factors such as physical function, pain, gastrointestinal issues, and emotional well-being, all of which can contribute to chronic fatigue. This approach also extends to how care is delivered, with shared medical appointments (SMAs) showing promise for both patient outcomes and cost efficiency.
What is Functional Medicine for Chronic Fatigue?
Functional medicine is a healthcare model that aims to identify and address the root causes of chronic disease, rather than simply treating symptoms. This approach involves understanding the complex interactions between genetics, environment, and lifestyle factors that can influence an individual's health. For chronic fatigue, this means looking beyond a diagnosis to explore underlying imbalances that might be contributing to persistent tiredness, lack of energy, and other related issues.
Identifying Root Causes
The core principle of functional medicine is to investigate why a person is experiencing chronic symptoms. Instead of just giving a medication for fatigue, a functional medicine practitioner would explore various body systems. This could include examining gut health, hormone balance, immune function, detoxification pathways, and nutrient deficiencies. For example, issues like chronic inflammation, food sensitivities, or hidden infections can all manifest as chronic fatigue. The model looks at how different factors like fatigue, physical function, pain, gastrointestinal issues, and emotional well-being impact overall health.
A Personalized Approach to Care
Functional medicine uses a highly personalized approach to patient care. This means that treatment plans are tailored to the individual, taking into account their unique genetic makeup, lifestyle, and medical history. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. This personalized approach often includes detailed nutrition and lifestyle recommendations, recognizing that food and daily habits play a crucial role in health. According to researchers, personalized lifestyle medicine is highly relevant for nutrition and lifestyle recommendations, suggesting a tailored approach can be more effective for individual needs [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23878520/]. This is particularly true for chronic conditions, where a generic approach might not address the specific drivers of a patient's fatigue.
Comprehensive Assessment
When a patient presents with chronic fatigue, a functional medicine assessment typically involves extensive history taking, advanced laboratory testing, and a deep dive into lifestyle factors. This comprehensive evaluation helps to uncover hidden stressors and dysfunctions that might be contributing to the fatigue. For instance, a patient's sleep patterns, stress levels, physical activity, and dietary choices are all considered important pieces of the puzzle. The goal is to build a complete picture of the patient's health, which then informs a targeted intervention strategy.
Focus on Lifestyle and Environment
A significant part of functional medicine involves empowering patients to make positive changes to their lifestyle and environment. This can include dietary modifications, stress management techniques, exercise prescriptions, and advice on reducing exposure to environmental toxins. The Cleveland Clinic's Center for Functional Medicine, for example, offers programs like Functioning For Life® (FFL), a 10-week shared medical appointment program. This program is designed to address various chronic conditions, including those that manifest as fatigue, through the use of food as medicine. By the end of the program, patients are empowered to make positive decisions regarding food and become advocates for healthy lifestyles within their homes and communities [https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2021/04/13/cleveland-clinic-study-finds-functional-medicines-shared-medical-appointments-deliver-improved-patient-outcomes-at-less-cost]. The emphasis is on sustainable changes that support long-term health and energy levels.
How Functional Medicine Differs from Conventional Care
While conventional medicine often focuses on diagnosing diseases and prescribing medications to manage symptoms, functional medicine seeks to understand the underlying physiological processes that lead to disease. For chronic fatigue, this might mean that a conventional doctor would diagnose "chronic fatigue syndrome" and offer symptomatic relief, while a functional medicine practitioner would investigate potential causes such as mitochondrial dysfunction, gut dysbiosis, or chronic viral infections. The aim is to restore balance and function to the body, allowing it to heal and regain energy naturally. This root-cause approach can lead to more lasting improvements in overall well-being. "Functional medicine addresses the root causes of chronic disease," said Michelle Beidelschies, Ph.D., a key researcher in Cleveland Clinic's functional medicine studies. This fundamental difference guides the entire diagnostic and treatment process.
Does Functional Medicine Improve Health-Related Quality of Life?
Yes, functional medicine has been associated with improvements in health-related quality of life, according to research from the Cleveland Clinic. A significant study published in 2019 in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open found beneficial and sustainable improvements in patients treated with a functional medicine model of care. This study was the first retrospective cohort study of its kind to investigate the functional medicine model in this context.
The Cleveland Clinic Study Details
The 2019 Cleveland Clinic study was comprehensive, examining 1,595 patients who received care at Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Functional Medicine. Researchers compared these patients to a larger group of 5,657 patients seen in a traditional primary care setting at a family health center. The goal was to assess changes in health-related quality of life for both groups. To do this, they used PROMIS®, an NIH-validated questionnaire. PROMIS stands for Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System. This tool provides a reliable measure of patients’ global physical and mental health, allowing researchers to track changes over time. It measures various factors crucial to quality of life, including fatigue, physical function, pain, gastrointestinal issues, and emotional well-being [https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2019/10/25/cleveland-clinic-study-finds-functional-medicine-model-is-associated-with-improvements-in-health-related-quality-of-life].
Significant Improvements in Physical Health
The study's findings showed clear benefits for functional medicine patients. At the 6-month mark, patients seen by the Center for Functional Medicine exhibited significantly larger improvements in their PROMIS global physical health scores compared to those receiving care in a primary care setting. Specifically, approximately 31% of patients treated by the Center for Functional Medicine improved their PROMIS global physical health scores by 5 points or more. A 5-point change on the PROMIS Global Health T-score scales is considered a clinically meaningful change, meaning it's a noticeable effect on daily life. In contrast, only 22% of primary care patients achieved similar improvements in their scores by 5 points or more during the same 6-month period [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2753520]. This shows a distinct advantage for the functional medicine model in improving patients' physical well-being.
Sustained Benefits Over Time
The research also looked at outcomes at the 12-month mark. At 12 months, patients seen by the Center for Functional Medicine continued to show improvements similar to those observed at 6 months. While these 12-month improvements were not statistically significant when compared directly with the improvements seen in primary care patients at that specific point, further analysis revealed a more nuanced picture. Researchers evaluated continuous changes over time in PROMIS global physical health in a smaller, matched group of patients from the Center for Functional Medicine who had scores at both 6 and 12 months. This analysis demonstrated that improvements in PROMIS global physical health were significantly larger compared to patients seen in a primary care setting when looking at the continuous trajectory of change. This suggests that the benefits of functional medicine care can be sustained over a longer period, offering ongoing relief for chronic conditions.
Factors Contributing to Improvements
Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic believe that several factors might explain the improvements in health-related quality of life observed in functional medicine patients. These reasons include inherent differences in the functional medicine model itself, which prioritizes a root-cause approach. The types of patients seeking functional medicine care also play a role; these patients may be more engaged or have different health profiles. Furthermore, patient adherence to treatment plans and their belief in the model of care could contribute to better outcomes. This suggests that a patient's active participation and commitment to lifestyle changes are integral to the success of functional medicine interventions. For more details, see Cleveland Clinic functional medicine study.
Future Research Needs
While these findings are promising, researchers emphasize the need for future prospective studies. These studies would further examine the functional medicine model of care and investigate long-term outcomes more definitively. Such research could help to solidify the evidence base and provide more insights into the enduring benefits of functional medicine for chronic conditions, including chronic fatigue. The initial findings provide a strong foundation for continued exploration into how this personalized, root-cause approach can transform patient health.
How Do Functional Medicine Shared Appointments Compare to Individual Care?
Functional medicine shared medical appointments (SMAs) have shown to be more effective in improving patient outcomes and are less costly to deliver compared to individual appointments. This was a key finding from a 2021 Cleveland Clinic study published in BMJ Open. This research highlights an innovative way to provide functional medicine care, especially for patients dealing with chronic conditions.
The Shared Medical Appointment Model
A shared medical appointment involves a group of patients who meet with a healthcare provider, often a functional medicine practitioner, in a group setting. These sessions typically last longer than individual appointments and allow for peer support, shared learning, and efficient delivery of health education. The Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, for example, offers a specific program called Functioning For Life® (FFL). This is a 10-week SMA program designed to address various chronic conditions, often through the lens of food as medicine. The program aims to empower patients to make positive decisions about their diet and lifestyle, helping them become advocates for healthy living within their own communities. This group format can be particularly beneficial for discussing common challenges and strategies related to chronic fatigue, where lifestyle changes are central to treatment.
Study Design and Participants
The 2021 Cleveland Clinic study was a retrospective cohort study. It assessed outcomes and costs associated with functional medicine-based care delivered in SMAs. Researchers then compared these results with those from propensity score (PS)-matched patients who received care through individual appointments. The study took place at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine. A total of 2,455 patients were included in the sample, comprising 226 participants in SMAs and 2,229 in individual appointments. All participants were aged 18 years or older and had participated in in-person appointments between March 1, 2017, and December 31, 2019. To ensure a fair comparison, 213 PS-matched pairs were created, matching patients based on factors such as age, sex, race, marital status, income, weight, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), PROMIS score, and functional medicine diagnostic category [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33849860/].
Superior Outcomes in SMAs
The results of the study demonstrated clear advantages for patients participating in SMAs. Among the 213 PS-matched pairs, patients in SMAs showed greater improvements at 3 months in their PROMIS Global Physical Health (GPH) T-scores. The mean difference in improvement was 1.18 (95% CI 0.14 to 2.22, p=0.03) when compared to patients in individual appointments. This indicates that the group setting led to more significant positive changes in physical well-being. Even more notably, SMA patients also experienced greater improvements in PROMIS Global Mental Health (GMH) T-scores, with a mean difference of 1.78 (95% CI 0.66 to 2.89, p=0.002). This suggests that the shared environment not only supports physical health but also provides benefits for emotional well-being, which is crucial for individuals dealing with chronic fatigue.
Additional Health Benefits and Cost Efficiency
Beyond improvements in physical and mental health, SMA patients also achieved greater weight loss. The mean difference in weight loss was -1.4 kg (95% CI -2.15 to -0.64, p<0.001) compared to patients in individual appointments. This additional benefit highlights the comprehensive impact of the SMA model, particularly its focus on lifestyle interventions like "food as medicine." Both groups, however, experienced a comparable improvement in systolic blood pressure, with both seeing a 5.5 mm Hg improvement. This indicates that certain physiological benefits can be achieved regardless of the care delivery format. Importantly, the study also concluded that SMAs were less costly to deliver than individual appointments. This finding makes SMAs an attractive option for healthcare systems looking to provide effective functional medicine care more efficiently. Michelle Beidelschies, Ph.D., reiterated this, stating, "SMAs deliver functional medicine-based care that improves outcomes more than care delivered in individual appointments and is less costly to deliver." This dual benefit of better outcomes and lower costs makes the shared medical appointment model a compelling option for functional medicine delivery, especially for managing widespread chronic conditions like fatigue.
Implications for Chronic Fatigue Treatment
For individuals suffering from chronic fatigue, the findings suggest that shared medical appointments could be a highly effective treatment pathway. The group setting provides a supportive community, which can be invaluable for patients navigating complex lifestyle changes. Learning from peers, sharing experiences, and receiving consistent guidance in a structured environment may enhance adherence and motivation. The focus on nutrition, as seen in the FFL program, directly addresses a common area of intervention for chronic fatigue. The combination of improved physical health, mental health, and weight management makes SMAs a powerful tool in the functional medicine arsenal for battling chronic fatigue, offering a holistic and cost-effective solution.
What Types of Patients Seek Functional Medicine Care?
Patients who seek functional medicine care often have distinct characteristics compared to those seen in traditional primary care settings. The 2019 Cleveland Clinic study, which compared functional medicine patients to family health center patients, provided valuable insights into these differences. Understanding these patient profiles can help explain some of the observed health improvements and highlight the unique needs that functional medicine aims to address.
Demographics of Functional Medicine Patients
The study included 1,595 patients from the Center for Functional Medicine and 5,657 patients from a family health center. When comparing the two groups, several demographic differences emerged. For instance, the functional medicine group had a mean age of 49.4 years, which was younger than the family health center group, whose average age was 55.4 years. This suggests that patients might be seeking functional medicine earlier in their chronic disease journey or are actively looking for alternative approaches to health management. Gender also showed a significant disparity: women made up a much larger proportion of functional medicine patients, accounting for 81.5% of the group, compared to 61.5% in the family health center. This could indicate a greater propensity among women to explore root-cause healthcare or a higher prevalence of chronic conditions that functional medicine addresses in this demographic. Race also differed, with 92.4% of functional medicine patients identifying as white, versus 85.0% in the family health center [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2753520]. These demographic snapshots help us understand who is typically drawn to this model of care.
Socioeconomic Factors and Marital Status
The study also looked at socioeconomic indicators and marital status. A higher percentage of functional medicine patients were married, at 69.0%, compared to 64.6% in the family health center group. This difference, while not as stark as age or gender, could suggest that individuals with stable social support might be more likely to pursue comprehensive, and sometimes more demanding, healthcare approaches. Interestingly, there was a difference in median household income. Functional medicine patients had a median household income of $59,286.0 (IQR, $45,787.0-$72,874.0), which was lower than the family health center group's median of $72,874.0 (IQR, $55,657.0-$82,802.0). This finding might challenge some assumptions about who accesses functional medicine, indicating that it is not exclusively for the highest income brackets, or that patients are willing to prioritize health spending.
Prevalence of Chronic Conditions
When it came to specific chronic conditions, the patient populations also showed notable differences. Functional medicine patients had a lower prevalence of certain common chronic diseases compared to the family health center group. For example, only 17.9% of functional medicine patients had diabetes, whereas 34.1% of patients in the family health center had diabetes. Similarly, hypertension was less common in the functional medicine group, affecting 19.2% of patients, compared to 50.9% in the family health center. These statistics suggest that patients seeking functional medicine might be doing so for conditions that are not as easily managed by conventional medicine, or they may be seeking preventive care before conditions become severe. It could also mean they are looking for a more holistic approach to managing conditions that have already been diagnosed. For more details, see Functional medicine shared appointments outcomes.
Depression and Emotional Well-being
Regarding mental health, the prevalence of depression was quite similar between the two groups. In the functional medicine group, 25.8% of patients reported depression, which was close to the 24.1% in the family health center group. This indicates that mental health challenges, including those that can contribute to or be exacerbated by chronic fatigue, are common across both patient populations. Functional medicine's emphasis on global mental health, as measured by PROMIS, and its holistic approach to wellness, can be particularly appealing to individuals dealing with co-occurring physical and mental health issues. The fact that the functional medicine model showed significant improvements in PROMIS Global Mental Health T-scores in shared appointments further supports its potential to address these interconnected health concerns.
Implications for Treatment Outcomes
Researchers believe that the observed improvements in health-related quality of life among functional medicine patients could be due to a combination of factors. These include the differences in the functional medicine model itself, which focuses on root causes. However, the unique characteristics of the patients seeking this care, such as their potentially higher motivation for treatment adherence or a strong belief in the model, are also considered important. Patients who actively choose a functional medicine path may be more engaged in their health journey, leading to better compliance with lifestyle changes and dietary recommendations essential for managing chronic fatigue. This interaction between the treatment model and patient engagement is a critical aspect for future studies to explore further, especially when considering the long-term effectiveness of functional medicine.
Is Functional Medicine a New Approach to Chronic Conditions?
While the term "functional medicine" is relatively modern, the underlying philosophy of addressing root causes and considering the whole person has historical roots in medicine. However, its structured, evidence-informed application for chronic conditions, especially with its emphasis on personalized lifestyle interventions, represents a distinct and evolving approach in contemporary healthcare. It moves beyond traditional symptom management to tackle the fundamental imbalances contributing to health issues like chronic fatigue.
Root-Cause Philosophy
Functional medicine’s emphasis on addressing root causes is a departure from conventional medicine's often symptom-focused approach. Instead of simply diagnosing a disease based on a set of symptoms and then prescribing a medication, functional medicine practitioners delve deeper. They seek to understand the "why" behind the illness. For chronic fatigue, this means investigating factors like nutrient deficiencies, gut dysbiosis, chronic infections, heavy metal toxicity, or hormonal imbalances that might be driving the fatigue, rather than just labeling it as "chronic fatigue syndrome" and offering palliative care. This philosophy is fundamental to functional medicine and sets it apart as a model focused on restoring optimal function rather than just suppressing symptoms.
Personalized Lifestyle Medicine
A cornerstone of functional medicine is personalized lifestyle medicine. This approach recognizes that each individual's health is influenced by their unique genetics, environment, and lifestyle choices. Therefore, interventions must be tailored. This is particularly relevant for nutrition and lifestyle recommendations, as dietary needs and appropriate exercise routines can vary significantly from person to person. Researchers have highlighted the relevance of personalized lifestyle medicine for nutrition and lifestyle recommendations, underscoring its importance in effective healthcare [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23878520/]. This personalized strategy is essential for chronic conditions where generic advice often falls short. For chronic fatigue, this might involve specific dietary changes based on food sensitivities, a tailored exercise plan to avoid overexertion, and stress management techniques adapted to an individual's unique stressors.
The Role of Nutrition and Environment
Functional medicine places a strong emphasis on nutrition, often referring to "food as medicine." This is evident in programs like the Cleveland Clinic's Functioning For Life® (FFL) shared medical appointments, which specifically use dietary interventions to address chronic conditions. The understanding is that what we eat directly impacts our gut microbiome, inflammation levels, energy production, and overall cellular health, all of which are critical for managing chronic fatigue. Beyond diet, environmental factors are also considered. Exposure to toxins, quality of air and water, and even light exposure can influence health outcomes. Functional medicine practitioners guide patients in optimizing these environmental factors to support healing and reduce the burden on the body's systems.
Evolving Research and Applications
The principles of personalized lifestyle interventions are not just for general wellness or chronic fatigue. They are being explored for a wide range of complex health issues. For example, research is looking into personalized lifestyle interventions for the prevention and treatment of obesity-related cancers, highlighting the broad applicability and ongoing development in this field [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40282431/]. This demonstrates that the functional medicine model, with its focus on individualized care and lifestyle modifications, is a dynamic and evolving area of healthcare research. While the core ideas have existed, the scientific rigor, structured methodologies, and growing body of evidence supporting functional medicine's efficacy make it a modern and increasingly recognized approach to chronic disease.
Integration with Conventional Medicine
While distinct in its approach, functional medicine is not necessarily opposed to conventional medicine. Many functional medicine practitioners are conventionally trained physicians who have expanded their education to include this root-cause perspective. The goal is often to integrate the best of both worlds, using advanced diagnostic tools and evidence-based interventions from both paradigms. This integrative approach allows for a more comprehensive and holistic strategy for managing complex conditions like chronic fatigue, ensuring that patients receive the most appropriate and effective care based on their individual needs. The Cleveland Clinic's involvement in studying functional medicine further solidifies its position as a credible and impactful model within the broader healthcare landscape.
What Does the Future Hold for Functional Medicine Research?
The current research on functional medicine, particularly studies from the Cleveland Clinic, shows promising results for improving health-related quality of life and patient outcomes. However, the researchers themselves emphasize that more investigation is needed to fully understand the long-term impact and broader applications of this model of care. This suggests a future rich with opportunities for further scientific inquiry and development in the field of functional medicine.
Need for Prospective Studies
One of the key recommendations from the 2019 Cleveland Clinic study, which found functional medicine was associated with improvements in health-related quality of life, was the need for future prospective studies. The initial study was a retrospective cohort study, meaning it looked back at existing patient data. While valuable, retrospective studies have limitations. Prospective studies, on the other hand, follow patients forward in time, allowing researchers to control variables more carefully and gather more robust data. These types of studies are essential to confirm the findings of earlier research and to gain a deeper understanding of cause-and-effect relationships. They can help clarify the specific mechanisms through which functional medicine interventions lead to improved health outcomes.
Examining Long-Term Outcomes
A critical area for future research is the examination of long-term outcomes associated with the functional medicine model of care. While the Cleveland Clinic study showed beneficial and sustainable improvements in PROMIS global physical health at 6 and 12 months, understanding effects over several years is crucial for chronic conditions like fatigue. Long-term studies can help determine if the benefits are sustained indefinitely, if booster interventions are needed, or if the initial changes lead to a lasting shift in health trajectory. Such research would provide invaluable evidence for the enduring effectiveness of functional medicine, particularly in preventing disease progression and maintaining overall well-being over a patient's lifetime. For more details, see JAMA Network Open functional medicine research.
Deeper Dive into Specific Conditions
While current studies have looked at health-related quality of life for chronic conditions generally, future research could focus specifically on chronic fatigue. This would involve designing studies tailored to the unique challenges and symptoms of fatigue patients. Researchers could investigate specific functional medicine protocols for chronic fatigue, such as targeted nutritional interventions, gut health restoration, or stress reduction techniques. By narrowing the focus, studies could provide more precise data on which interventions are most effective for specific fatigue subtypes or patient profiles. This level of detail would help practitioners refine their approaches and offer more evidence-based care for those suffering from persistent tiredness.
Cost-Effectiveness and Accessibility
The 2021 Cleveland Clinic study showed that functional medicine-based shared medical appointments (SMAs) were less costly to deliver than individual appointments. This finding opens up an important avenue for future research: further exploring the cost-effectiveness and accessibility of functional medicine. More studies are needed to understand how SMAs and other innovative delivery models can make functional medicine more widely available and affordable. This could involve comparing costs and outcomes across different healthcare systems, evaluating the long-term economic benefits of preventive care, and exploring insurance coverage for functional medicine services. Expanding access to effective, lower-cost functional medicine could have a significant public health impact, especially for the large population dealing with chronic conditions like fatigue.
Understanding Patient Engagement and Adherence
Researchers have noted that differences in patient types seeking functional medicine, along with treatment adherence and belief in the model of care, might contribute to observed health improvements. Future studies should investigate these factors more deeply. Understanding what motivates patients to engage fully with functional medicine protocols and how to enhance adherence to complex lifestyle changes is critical. This could involve qualitative research to explore patient experiences, as well as quantitative studies to identify predictors of adherence and the impact of patient-provider relationships on outcomes. By understanding these dynamics, functional medicine practitioners can better support their patients in achieving lasting health improvements.
Broader Applications and Integration
As functional medicine research evolves, it will likely explore broader applications and its potential for integration into mainstream healthcare. This could include studies on its role in preventing and managing a wider range of chronic diseases, beyond those already examined. Research could also investigate how functional medicine principles can be incorporated into conventional medical training and practice, fostering a more holistic and root-cause-oriented approach across the healthcare spectrum. The continuous evolution of personalized lifestyle interventions, as seen in research for obesity-related cancers, indicates a growing recognition of the power of individualized, comprehensive care in addressing complex health challenges. The future of functional medicine research is poised to expand our understanding of how to effectively treat and prevent chronic conditions, ultimately improving global health.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main goal of functional medicine?
The main goal of functional medicine is to address the root causes of chronic disease rather than just managing symptoms. It focuses on understanding the complex interactions between genetics, environment, and lifestyle factors. For example, Michelle Beidelschies, Ph.D., states that "Functional medicine addresses the root causes of chronic disease." This approach aims to restore the body's natural healing mechanisms and improve overall health and function, leading to more sustainable well-being.
How quickly can patients see improvements with functional medicine?
Patients can see improvements relatively quickly with functional medicine, especially in terms of health-related quality of life. A Cleveland Clinic study found that approximately 31% of functional medicine patients improved their PROMIS global physical health scores by 5 points or more at 6 months. This 5-point improvement is considered a clinically meaningful change, noticeable in daily life. Further improvements were observed at 12 months, indicating sustained benefits.
Are shared medical appointments common in functional medicine?
Shared medical appointments (SMAs) are a recognized and effective way to deliver functional medicine-based care. The Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine offers a 10-week SMA program called Functioning For Life® (FFL). Research shows that SMAs lead to greater improvements in both physical and mental health compared to individual appointments. For instance, SMA patients showed greater improvements in PROMIS Global Physical Health T-scores (mean difference 1.18) at 3 months.
Does functional medicine cost more than traditional care?
While the initial perception might be that functional medicine is more expensive, research suggests that certain delivery models can be less costly. A Cleveland Clinic study found that functional medicine-based shared medical appointments (SMAs) were less costly to deliver than individual appointments. This indicates that innovative approaches within functional medicine can be efficient and potentially more affordable in the long run, especially when considering the improved patient outcomes.
What is PROMIS and how is it used in functional medicine research?
PROMIS® stands for Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System, and it is an NIH-validated questionnaire. It is used in functional medicine research to measure patients’ global physical and mental health over time, assessing factors like fatigue, physical function, pain, gastrointestinal issues, and emotional well-being. For example, the Cleveland Clinic used PROMIS scores to show that about 31% of functional medicine patients improved their global physical health scores by 5 points or more at 6 months.
Sources
- https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2019/10/25/cleveland-clinic-study-finds-functional-medicine-model-is-associated-with-improvements-in-health-related-quality-of-life
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33849860/
- https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2753520
- https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2021/04/13/cleveland-clinic-study-finds-functional-medicines-shared-medical-appointments-deliver-improved-patient-outcomes-at-less-cost
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23878520/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40282431/
Related Reading
- Functional Medicine for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- How Functional Medicine Treats Chronic Fatigue
- Functional Medicine for Autoimmune Conditions
- Functional Medicine for Autoimmune Conditions
- What Research Says About Functional Medicine
— The Functional Medicine Finder Team