Today we’d like to introduce you to Shirly Ramchandani.
Dr. Ramchandani, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a Primary care physician with twenty years of clinical experience and a board certification in Obesity medicine. I have launched an online Health Coaching platform (SmartLifestylesMD) to allow for video conferencing consultations.
I chose Primary Care because I have always been passionate about preventative medicine. However, I found we spent most of our time being reactive: treating disease rather than preventing it. Unhealthy behaviors like smoking, lack of physical activity, poor nutrition choices contribute to a myriad of chronic diseases. United States faces an epidemic of Obesity which increases risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 86% of all health care spending in 2010 went toward people with one or more chronic conditions.
I counseled patients over the years on healthier lifestyle choices which would help reverse disease, reduce prescription use and likely add years to their lives. What I realized over time that there is disconnect in these office visits. The time constraints in our current health care system did not allow for the quality of counseling that was required for patients to get engaged in healthy behaviors nor is there time for clinicians to explore the patient’s environment and beliefs. It was disappointing when patients returned for their follow up visits showing little progress, and often with worsening parameters for blood pressure, weight, blood sugar and cholesterol.
I have been practicing “Lifestyle Medicine” to motivate patients to exercise by running and walking with them, by bringing in nutritious recipes that I made and advocating for stress reduction programs. Naturally everyone wants to be healthy. Some need education and are motivated to make a change. Others know what to do, but can’t get themselves to do it. This is the disconnect when physicians advise patients on what to do and what the patients actually take away from the visit. And I’m here to close this gap.
I am very passionate about skill building intervention and ultimately prevention. I certified as a health and wellness coach so I could learn how to facilitate patient autonomy, self-efficacy and gently guide them to what they value most about their health.
People have fears that hold them back, preventing their natural desire for good health. Coaching is process of compassionately exploring these fears and other obstacles and empowering patients to remove them. We work with clients to gradually find their way to their innate drive toward good health so they can live happier and more fulfilling lives on their terms.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
For the most part it has been smooth. A fee for service lifestyle program does prevent some clients from signing up. It is unfortunate that health systems take a financial risk on patients that are most likely to benefit from lifestyle coaching.
I am hopeful that insurance companies will reimburse for these services, but it won’t happen overnight.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about SmartLifestylesMD – what should we know?
SmartLifestyles MD offers consultation with myself, Dr. Ramchandani and Fernanda Copeland.
Fernanda is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and sports nutritionist. Fernanda has spent the last 15 years of her career focusing on improving people’s health.
I am board certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine.
We specialize in weight management, but also are very familiar with lifestyle choices for clients who want help to reverse diabetes/hypertension. I am very passionate about stress management as it can exacerbate any health problem.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My family has supported me whole heartedly as I left my long term practice to help bridge the gap that is very much needed in our current broken health care system.
Some of my former patients, Margaret Zahlaway (my former assistant) and Michaela Olivier (my former nurse) are my biggest cheerleaders, I have continued to run and walk with them.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.SmartLifestylesMD.com
- Phone: 857-242-0070
- Email: shirly@smartlifestylesMD.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmartLifestylesMD
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SLCoachingMD
- Other: https://plus.google.com/118332554427532779470
Image Credit:
https://unsplash.com/photos/t1XLQvDqt_4
https://unsplash.com/photos/uQs1802D0CQ
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