Treating The Whole Child, SPARC 2011 Conference in Largo, FL. September 25, 2011, David Berger, MD, FAAP, Board Certified Pediatrician, Owner at Wholistic Pediatrics, Tampa , FL and Assistant Professor at University of South Florida College of Nursing
The Medical Home is a place a family can go to provide all needs for their child. Besides providing individualized, high quality care, a medical home should be able to provide a network of specialists, therapists, counselors, and educators so that all needs of the patient/family is met.This model is what is being advocated by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the US-Department of Health and Human Services.
When treating the whole child, we first need to discuss “prevention.” It is my belief that there are steps that a family takes prior to conception, during pregnancy, and infancy that can reduce the likelihood of a child having developmental, intestinal, or immunological issues. This is a lecture all its own, which I gave three years ago at this conference, and I would direct interested families to the Lectures section at www.wholisticfamilycare.com, Power Point Presentation (slide Show): “Prevent Harm Now: How to Carry, Birth, and Raise a Healthy Child in a Toxic World” SPARC Conference, September 2008.
About “Recovery” The goal of treatment is recovery: defined as a more rapid developmental trajectory, restoration of specific functions and, in the best case, a normal life. Recovery is NOT the same as a cure.