68: James Maskell: Transforming Chronic Disease through Functional Medicine and Community-Based Care

In this episode of the MindHealth360 Show, we explore the future of healthcare with James Maskell, a pioneering advocate for functional and integrative medicine, author of “The Evolution of Medicine” and “The Community Cure” (check titles), and founder of the largest global network of functional medicine educational and practitioner groups, the  “Functional Forum”. Mr. Maskell discusses the growing burden of chronic diseases, the limitations of conventional medicine and how functional medicine addresses the root causes of illness, as well as the importance of community based care for healing. Mr. Maskell has been at the forefront of efforts to make functional medicine more accessible and effective at scale.

The conversation covers the development of community-based healthcare models, such as group medical visits, which combine the power of social connection with medical care. Mr. Maskell explains how these models can enhance patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and address psychosocial factors that contribute to chronic disease. He emphasises the need for a shift toward participatory and preventive healthcare, where patients are active participants in their health journey.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

- The Role of Functional Medicine in Chronic Disease Management: explore how functional medicine's root cause approach can reverse chronic diseases by focusing on personalised care, and lifestyle interventions while simultaneously addressing underlying physiological imbalances.

- Innovative Group Medical Visits: learn about the implementation and effectiveness of group medical visits in functional medicine. These visits not only address the medical needs of patients but also provide social support, which is crucial for improving outcomes in chronic illness and mental health.

- Health Economics and Functional Medicine: understand the financial implications of adopting functional medicine in healthcare systems. Mr. Maskell discusses how functional medicine can lead to significant cost savings by reducing the need for chronic disease management through medications and frequent hospitalisations.

- Psychosocial and Psychospiritual Factors in Healthcare: mr. Maskell highlights the importance of addressing psychosocial determinants of health, such as loneliness and stress, which are often overlooked in traditional medicine but are critical for effective chronic disease management.

- Integration of Functional Medicine into Mainstream Healthcare: discover the challenges and opportunities in bringing functional medicine into mainstream healthcare systems, including overcoming resistance from traditional medical practices and the pharmaceutical industry.

- The Impact of Community in Healthcare: mr. Maskell's work demonstrates how community-based approaches can enhance patient engagement, adherence to treatment plans, and overall well-being, particularly in managing complex, chronic conditions.

- The Future of Functional Medicine: insights into how technology and data-driven approaches are being integrated into functional medicine to improve diagnostic accuracy, treatment personalisation and scalability of care models.

Guest’s Social Media Channels:

- Website: https://www.jamesmaskell.com/ - Instagram: @mrjamesmaskell

-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmaskell/

Publications: - Maskell, J. (2014). The Evolution of Medicine: Join the Movement to Solve Chronic Disease and Fall Back in Love with Medicine - Maskell, J. (2019). The Community Cure: Transforming Health Outcomes Together