About the Guest(s):

Dr. Chad Woolner and Dr. Andrew Wells are the hosts of the Simplified Functional Medicine podcast. Dr. Woolner is known for helping over 300 functional medicine practitioners enhance their practices through a systems-based approach to solving chronic health issues. Dr. Wells, his co-host, has joined forces with Dr. Woolner to assist doctors in growing their businesses and making a significant impact on patient health. Together, they provide valuable insights into the field of functional medicine, focusing on practical solutions that streamline clinical practice, business systems, and marketing strategies.

Episode Summary:

In this provocative episode of the Simplified Functional Medicine podcast, Dr. Chad Woolner and Dr. Andrew Wells tackle the controversial topic of functional medicine certification, questioning its necessity and value. They delve into the idea that certifications may not be as crucial as practitioners are led to believe, particularly when compared to the importance of having effective business and marketing systems in place. With over 300 successful practitioners under their guidance, Dr. Woolner and Dr. Wells advocate for a more streamlined approach to functional medicine that prioritizes systems and results over formal accreditation.

Challenging conventional wisdom, the hosts of the Simplified Functional Medicine podcast argue that effective patient outcomes do not solely rely on formal certifications. They explore the concept that possessing comprehensive clinical knowledge, while important, falls short without robust business strategies and marketing systems. By emphasizing the plug-and-play model of their program, they provide proof of the success achievable when practitioners focus on holistic systems and methods. This episode encourages functional medicine professionals to reassess their approach, ensuring they prioritize tangible patient outcomes and business sustainability over the pursuit of certifications.

Key Takeaways:

• Functional medicine certification programs may not deliver the value practitioners expect, especially without complementary business and marketing systems.
• Success in functional medicine practice relies heavily on having proven systems in place for patient engagement and business operations.
• The Simplified Functional Medicine model offers a streamlined approach with ready-made clinical protocols and marketing systems, eliminating the need for practitioners to create these from scratch.
• Patient outcomes and business success are more effectively driven by practical systems and methods than by formal certifications.
• The hosts provide real-world examples of practitioners achieving significant results with their model, even without prior functional medicine certification.

Notable Quotes:

1. "Getting certified in functional medicine is a scam. There, I said it." - Dr. Chad Woolner
2. "Practitioners want to make a living and earn money by helping solve chronic health issues." - Dr. Andrew Wells
3. "More than a certification, what you really need is a proven system." - Dr. Chad Woolner
4. "If you can't find patients, then I would say pause on the conversation about getting clinically certified." - Dr. Andrew Wells
5. "The most amazing thing was that the patients are getting profound results." - Dr. Andrew Wells

Resources:

• Simplified Functional Medicine - Learn more about the systems-based approach advocated by Drs. Woolner and Wells.

Listeners are encouraged to dive deeper into this eye-opening episode to explore how functional medicine practitioners can shift focus towards effective systems over certifications for better patient outcomes and business growth. Stay tuned for more insightful episodes from the Simplified Functional Medicine podcast, where we continue to push the boundaries of traditional healthcare approaches.