What does wellness look like to you?
We all have different definitions and conceptions of proper health and wellness, whether it’s exercising daily, eating nutritious foods, practicing mindfulness, or visiting a physical therapist.

We started to notice how many different avenues there are for health and wellness in the body, mind, and spirit, yet none of those are interconnected on a higher level. That’s where integrated health comes in. 

 

What is Integrated Health?

We recognized, like the seldom few, that there is a deep need to fill the gaps between the different professions that make up our health and wellness practices.

Integrated Health is defined as a collaboration between various behavioral and physical health professionals with a common goal to provide complete treatments to individuals to improve health and wellness on all levels.

These inter-professional teams that make up the integrated health model usually consist of:

• Physical therapists
• Acupuncturists
• Exercise Physiologists
• Exercise Specialists
• Massage Therapist
• Mindfulness and yoga instructors
• And a variety of other health professionals.

So what makes integrated health unique to any other type of health or wellness care? 

According to the American Psychological Association, 

“What makes integrated health care unique is the sharing of information among team members related to patient care and the establishment of a comprehensive treatment plan to address the biological, psychological and social needs of the patient.”

With integrated health, there are wide selections of treatments available to individuals depending on their bodily needs. This is because everyone’s bodies and goals are drastically different.

There is no one-size-fits-all option for everyone when it comes to integrated health. As a result, it provides a personalized experience for each individual with the ultimate goal of making them feel better in their skin.

Bridging the Gaps in Overall Physical Wellness

When we talk about bridging the gaps in the realm of health and wellness, we’re talking about the time between when you recognize the need for physical care and the time you actually visit a physician.

In many cases, individuals who suspect they need some form of physical care don’t usually take action until the very last minute. As a result, regular health professionals are always asking, “Well, why didn’t you come in sooner?” 

On the other hand, people who are listening to their bodies and being proactive about seeking health hear comments like, “You’re here too early, and we can’t help you until your condition worsens.” 

The gap created between these two scenarios isn’t designed to support individuals when they are determined to practice more aligned wellness habits.

Integrated health changes that.

True integrated care starts with an assessment that helps determine where you need to start your wellness journey and what points you need to visit on the way, thus giving you a more definitive route to your wellness destination.

We practice functional medicine, in a sense, getting to the root of your physical issues (if there are any) and using it as a roadmap to get you back to feeling happy and healthy in your body, whatever that may look like.

So the first step of a true integrated health journey could be meeting with a physical therapist. It could be sitting down with a dietician. It could be getting in the right headspace with mindfulness. 

The avenues are endless, and it ultimately depends on what you need.

The 9 Main Benefits of Integrated Health

With integrated health offering a more holistic approach to a happy and healthy body, the benefits of the health professional collaborations are unlimited.

Other than generally feeling better in your own body and with daily movement, integrated health is beneficial for many reasons:

• It’s a one-stop-shop for wellness
• Reduces depressive symptoms
• Promotes bodily acceptance
• Improves overall quality of care
• Lowers health costs by enhancing access to services
• Wellness goals between health professionals are more aligned
• Allows for more customized health
• Improves mental health
• Patients feel more comfortable and tended to

As we’ve said before, the benefits of integrated health are limitless because everyone is different! And depending on the care a person receives, there will be a different feeling or outcome.

How Altru Integrated Health is Different Than Other Health and Wellness Centers

We are patient-centered, meaning we focus on the individual’s unique needs. 

Through ALTRU Integrated Health’s team-based approach to physical care or even treating chronic conditions, we can support individuals by giving them access to the many available resources and health professionals.

We assist with treating your whole person, rather than just a part of you, which means we are getting to the root of the issue, rather than placing a bandaid on it and calling it a day.

Who Does Integrated Health Benefit?

We welcome all people who are looking to improve their lifestyle and live it more fully. ALTRU believes in body acceptance, daily movement, and generally feeling good in your own skin, which is why we are so passionate about what we do.

Anyone can benefit from integrated health and functional medicine. However, we find that many of the following people may benefit in extreme ways when choosing integrated healthcare. 

This includes people with:

• Chronic conditions
• Weight loss goals
• Physical injury or disability
• Mental health roadblocks

Even though these people benefit from integrated health, we are truly here for anyone who has a specific set of wellness goals that they need support in reaching them.

The 8 Integrated Health Services Offered at ALTRU

At Altru Integrated Health in Colorado Springs, we offer a great list of services run by professionals passionate about helping others.

Our diverse set of services gives you a chance to work on your wellness goals in various manners. The most important thing is making sure we are helping you meet your goals in a way that makes you feel supported and empowered.

Our current services include:

• Physical Therapy
• Massage Therapy
• Nutrition
• Acupuncture
• Yoga
• Therapeutic exercise
• Mindfulness
• Metabolic analysis

The first step in trying out our integrated health approach is to set up a free consultation with us. We are ready to help you reach those goals and help you feel better.

Start Your Health and Wellness Journey With Altru Integrated Health!

We know the process of getting started can be daunting, but we are here to make it easier for you. The entire integrated care system is designed that way to make it easier for you.

To learn more about our services, go here! To learn about our outstanding team of health and wellness professionals, visit this page here!

To set up an appointment with a health professional or schedule a consultation to determine the root cause of your physical hurdles, contact us!