Building a Thriving Lifestyle Medicine Practice Within a Primary Care Clinic: A Model for Aspiring Lifestyle Medicine Practitioners.

The field of Lifestyle Medicine (LM) is growing rapidly as individuals and communities seek real solutions to the hardship of chronic disease. Providers across various medical specialties and allied health professions are gaining certification in this field, and yet are struggling with implementation. Time constraints, concern about reimbursement, and lack of clinical experience in counseling patients are often cited as obstacles. This article will address these issues and demonstrate how LM can be successfully practiced in a standard primary care setting. Active participation in the local community is essential. Office visits must be prepared for efficiently, and encounters should focus on teaching simple concepts to patients. At-home learning activities can then be used to build on these concepts. Referral to health coaches and outside programs are helpful options as well. Equipping providers with practice tools to promote lifestyle change will improve satisfaction for patients and providers alike and is an important step toward advancing the field of LM.