Functional Medicine Restores Healthy Function by Treating the Root Causes of Disease

Functional medicine provides a framework to systematically identify and address the underlying processes and dysfunctions that are causing imbalance and disease in each individual. By understanding a patient’s genetic, environmental, and lifestyle influences, functional medicine clinicians create personalized interventions that restore balance, health, and well-being.
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Who is IFM?
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A catalyst in the transformation of healthcare

Functional medicine treats the whole person, addressing the unique physical, mental, and emotional needs of each patient. Clinicians bring together the entire complement of modern scientific tools, including a deep understanding of biology, physiology, genetics, social and environmental determinants of health, and the vital connection between mental and physical well-being. It is this combination of focusing on individual patients and applying a multi-faceted treatment path that delivers transformational results.

What is functional medicine?

What makes functional medicine different? More than just a framework for providing personalized care, functional medicine shifts the focus toward ways to cultivate better health so that clinicians and their patients can live healthier, more vibrant lives.
Patient getting a full body wellness check up at a functional medicine clinic

Benefits for Patients

Functional medicine is a comprehensive approach that takes into account all of the factors that contribute to your health and well-being. You and your functional medicine provider work together to create a plan that supports your health needs and goals. We've created free resources to help you better understand the functional medicine approach and what to expect from your first appointment.
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Benefits for Clinicians

Clinicians choose to practice functional medicine for many reasons, such as improved outcomes with chronic disease patients, an increased sense of professional satisfaction, and decreased feelings of burnout. The functional medicine model is centered around establishing a therapeutic partnership in the clinical encounter, which helps practitioners reconnect to their purpose in medicine. Better outcomes begin with you; learn how functional medicine can transform your practice.
Rediscover your purpose for medicine
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Benefits for Health Organizations

The practice of functional medicine has been shown to improve patient satisfaction, patient outcomes, and provider well-being. In this regard, IFM is an invaluable asset to hospitals, clinics, academic institutions, professional associations, and commercial partners. Collaborations that educate and support clinicians in providing optimal care reduce costs, save lives, and transform healthcare.
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Quote

In healing my body, not only during that time, but in the 20 years following my diagnosis, I've had to use all of the tools that we learn in functional medicine to heal the gut and to heal the immune system and to support our bodies in every way. It really took both worlds to save my own life."

— Jill Carnahan, MD, Patient & Practitioner
Learn more about how functional medicine addresses:
  • Adrenal, Thyroid, & Pituitary Health
  • Bone, Skin, & Muscle Health
  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Chronic Fatigue & Chronic Pain
  • Dementia & Cognitive Health
  • Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome
  • Food Sensitivities, Intolerance, & Allergies
  • Gut & Microbiome Health
  • Immune Health & Autoimmunity
  • Infections
  • Mental Health
  • Nutrition, Health, & Wellness
  • Pediatric Health
  • Toxins & Detoxification
  • Women's and Men's Hormonal Health
Go

Chronic Disease in the US

60
%

of American adults have at least one chronic condition.[1]

42
%

of American adults have two or more chronic conditions.[2]

90
%

of annual healthcare expenditures are for people with chronic and mental health conditions.[3]

See references

Functional medicine is transforming the state of healthcare

As the cost and scope of chronic disease continue to rise, functional medicine is transforming how health care is delivered worldwide. Research demonstrates that the functional medicine model of care enhances patient health outcomes through Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores[4] and has the potential to improve cost savings over time.[5] Functional medicine is uniquely capable of reversing the chronic disease trend and providing new opportunities for health and healing.

Learn about IFM education
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For Patients

Find new pathways to health and healing
What makes functional medicine different? We have developed several resources to help you better understand the functional medicine experience and what you can expect from seeing an IFM-trained practitioner.
Explore patient resources
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For Clinicians

Enhance health outcomes in your practice
Ready to begin your functional medicine journey? We support learners at all stages of clinical practice with introductory courses, advanced modules, and other ways to connect with experts in the field.
Get started
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Enhancing Outcomes for America’s Veterans

A successful pilot program between IFM and Veterans Affairs New Jersey helped service members and their families with type 2 diabetes manage their hemoglobin A1c levels through health education, coaching, and lifestyle modifications. This grant project explored veteran, caregiver, and primary care provider perspectives and increased awareness of the various social determinants of health in this population.
Learn more about this partnership

IFM’s Vision & Mission

We believe health and vitality are essential to the human spirit. IFM’s vision is to advance the highest expression of individual health. IFM’s mission is to ensure the widespread adoption of functional medicine.
Learn more about IFM

Jobs in Functional Medicine

The demand for functional medicine clinicians continues to grow each year. IFM partners with Integrated Connections to provide an up-to-date listing of functional medicine job opportunities across the US.
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REFERENCES


  1. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. About chronic diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated October 4, 2024. Accessed October 22, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/about/index.html    
  2. Buttorff C, Ruder T, Bauman M. Multiple chronic conditions in the United States. RAND Corporation. Published May 26, 2017. Accessed October 22, 2024. https://www.rand.org/pubs/tools/TL221.html   
  3. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Fast facts: health and economic costs of chronic conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated July 12, 2024. Accessed October 22, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html
  4. Beidelschies M, Alejandro-Rodriguez M, Ji X, Lapin B, Hanaway P, Rothberg MB. Association of the functional medicine model of care with patient-reported health-related quality-of-life outcomes. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(10):e1914017. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.14017 
  5. Beidelschies M, Alejandro-Rodriguez M, Guo N, et al. Patient outcomes and costs associated with functional medicine-based care in a shared versus individual setting for patients with chronic conditions: a retrospective cohort study. BMJ Open. 2021;11(4):e048294. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048294