Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Bailey.
Allison, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Four years ago, I decided to leave my position at a major Boston hospital and set up my own small private practice in North Cambridge. At that time, most physicians were doing the opposite; getting out of small practices to join large groups or hospital-based practices. However, I believed (and still do) that I had something unique to offer my clients and that this care was best provided in a setting separate from the hustle of a busy hospital-based clinic.
During my residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, I became interested in pain as a clinical problem. I had many patients for whom the typical Western medical approach to pain (medications, procedures) did not work or were not tolerated. Over time I saw more and more patients who were helped by less invasive techniques such as exercise, yoga, and acupuncture. After residency, I completed training in acupuncture through Harvard Medical School and having my own practice here in Cambridge has allowed me to grow my acupuncture program.
I love that at Integrated Health and Fitness (IHFA) we try to help patients with pain and other functional issues through a variety of strategies that help them to heal. This is the way I dreamed about practicing medicine!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have been ups and downs along this journey. When I started out I knew nothing about running my own practice or being a business owner. It has been a trial by fire. I’ve been blessed with colleagues and other professionals who have been able to provide much needed advice and assistance. I’ve learned how important it is to build and maintain these support systems.
There are certainly stressful situations and tough decisions involved in being a small business owner, but I like the decisions I make are my own. Working for a large organization had its own stressors and in that setting I had to be satisfied with the decisions handed down to me by the administration. I love that in this setting I am the master of my own fate.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Integrated Health and Fitness Associates – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Integrated Health and Fitness Associates specializes in treating pain and functional issues. Our mission is to guide and empower others on their path to complete health and fitness, by restoring, improving, and preserving complete structural, biomechanical, and functional integrity across the lifespan. In this process, we value teamwork, communication, and individuality.
Dr. Bailey is a physician who specializes in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R). PM&R physicians treat any condition that affects function. Unlike many other specialties that address pain, PM&R is unique in that it:
1. Takes a whole body approach to health, looking beyond surgery and medications to try to help people.
2. Focuses on function and quality of life instead of on a particular organ system or disease.
3. Is collaborative, recognizing the importance of other members of the healthcare team, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, and psychologists.
4. Puts patients at the center of their care, focusing on what is most important to them and involving them in every step of their recovery.
At IHFA, we emulate these principles to help our clients achieve their own personal health and fitness goals, whether that is just getting through a normal day without pain or completing their first triathlon. The treatments we offer here include physician assessments/diagnosis, acupuncture, dry needling, trigger point injections, yoga therapy and classes and personal training.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We continue to grow our team. We’ll be adding a functional medicine physician this autumn and continue to look for the right women’s health physical therapist and massage therapist to complete our offerings. We also plan to add more group sessions, classes and lectures on important health and fitness topics. Mostly we plan to continue providing the same excellent care to our clients!
Pricing:
- Acupuncture/Dry Needling $90 first visit/$70 follow ups
- Personal training $110/hour session
- Yoga therapy $120/hour session
Contact Info:
- Address: 36 Spinelli Place
Suite B
Cambridge, MA 02138 - Website: www.ihfaboston.com
- Phone: 617-492-4432
- Email: dr.bailey@ihfaboston.com
Image Credit:
Susan Krantz, Yoga Therapist
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