The Four Ps of Holistic Medicine

by Dr. Kevin Gregg DC LAc DACM

Here at Portland Healing Space Danielle Lombardi, Lynn Harvey, Emily Sullivan and I, Kevin Gregg, are on the same TEAM of Traditional East Asian Medical (TEAM) practitioners. As a rule, we each aspire to bring four overarching qualities to the integrative, natural care we provide each practice member, regardless of the concerns or goals they bring us.

These four holistic qualities are known as the four P’s. They are personalized care, preventative care, predictive care and participatory care. In the next few newsletters, I will address these four Ps, one at a time.

Personalized Care

The absolute foundation of our TEAM care is that it is highly individualized and personalized.

Our services and treatments are tailor made, to who you are, how you feel, what you need and what you have been through. Just as there are no two people on the planet who look the same, no two people have the same history, genetics, body constitution, sensitivities or complex condition. Because of this, no two people respond the same way to the same treatments, recommendations, exercises or supplements.

Because of this, our TEAM invests extra time in getting to know you and your unique characteristics. We are full of important questions and curiosities about you. This makes our health histories, evaluations and follow up appointments as thorough as any you have ever experienced.

But don’t assume personalized care is just about individualization of body treatments. It is also about seeing and connecting human being to human being. It is about recognizing and honoring the fullness of who humans are in mind, body and spirit, heart, soul and destiny. It means working with you as a whole person, not just your separate parts.

Considering all these truths is the art of medicine that makes TEAM care first and foremost personalized care.

Vogt H, Hofmann B, Getz L. The new holism: P4 systems medicine and the medicalization of health and life itself. Med Health Care Philos. 2016 Jun;19(2):307-23. doi: 10.1007/s11019-016-9683-8. PMID: 26821201; PMCID: PMC4880637