As summer wraps up and fall approaches we know “Winter is coming”. With the fall and winter comes the time for teaching FDM. Taking a bit of a break this summer has been good for recharging the batteries and reconnecting with family. While teaching FDM is a passion for many of us, being away from our families and on the road can wear a person out. As Dr. Typaldos realized not everyone embraces the new ideas of the FDM. We are often faced with criticism and skepticism regarding the FDM. What can be really exhausting are the personal attacks waged by those who do not want to even consider the FDM as part of the solution to the issues facing healthcare. Taking the time to step back and care for our patients is so important to recharge the batteries. To be wowed and impressed by the model in clinical practice is really what drives me to teach. Every day in the clinic I see a patient that we could have saved thousands of wasted healthcare dollars, shortened their recovery time, and returned to the active life they wanted sooner. My clinic time motivates me to get out and teach more people to embrace the FDM as part of their practice.
Why do I ask if FDM is reaching a tipping point? Three times in the past two weeks I have been left slack jawed when a patient let me know that they found a person to treat their issues and pain using FDM. None of these people were able to find a provider through the links we are working to establish. But rather they found an FDM practitioner by chance. All three people found a person who could provide relief in their own community. None of these people lived close to where we had taught an FDM module in the past. These practitioners were trained and have gone forth to use the FDM to help people. So just maybe what Dr. Typaldos started and struggled to spread is reaching that magical point so elegantly described by Malcom Gladwell. The success of our treatments, patient testimonials, and anecdotal evidence is pushing the FDM to that point where being treated with FDM might not be that uncommon.
As I approach a busy teaching season, I
feel empowered to go forward and train more practitioners to think in this model. I am also hoping to see an increase in research conducted on the FDM to move our model from anecdotal to evidence-based practice. Join me in this quest to get research done on FDM.
I hope to see you at one of the upcoming modules. If you can’t attend, please send a friend. You may be surprised just how many people are receiving the benefit of FDM.