Does 'one size fit all'?

Over the years, I’ve often been asked the question: “Karlene, what makes your approach to patient care unique?”

The answer is simple. Firstly, I always treat the person in front of me. This means for each patient I work with, I create a personalised treatment plan. I call this treatment plan a gut protocol.

From my point of view, when it comes to patient care, there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach.

More than 23 years of clinical practice has proven time and again that no two patients are the same. Each patient presents differently and has specific health needs. I then help to address the individual needs of each patient by creating a unique gut protocol.

But…What is a gut protocol?

As a biomedical naturopath, I think of each gut protocol as being like a roadmap to better health. There is a starting point, the desired destination as well as the directions and process to arrive at the destination and achieve the specific health goals.

Each gut protocol I create helps the patient to understand three important things about their health:

• Where they are currently at (the starting point)
• Where they want to go (their health goals and desired destination)
• How they are going to get there (how to achieve their health goals, including the directions to their desired destination)

My approach and point of difference

Most importantly, through delivering my gut protocols, I also take patient care to the next level.

How do I do this?

I do this by encouraging my patients to look beyond just their destination, educating them about how to maintain the benefits long after they’ve achieved their original goals.

As new research continues to emerge and advance the science of gut health, I take great enjoyment in keeping up to date with the latest developments. The ability to help patients live well and to share new scientific insights with my patients are both big highlights of my working day.

What information is used to create a gut protocol? 

The guidelines within a gut protocol can be quite specific and at times very strict, but they are always developed based upon highly specialised scientific data. As well as working together with a leading microbiologist in developing the treatment plan, I ensure each gut protocol takes into account the patient’s unique:

• Medical history, including symptoms
• Stool test results, and
• Other pathology testing

How can a gut protocol help me to feel better?

Following an individualised gut protocol is a little like putting yourself in the driver’s seat when you are learning how to drive a car. The difference with a gut protocol is that you are taking charge of your health by learning about how to be healthy for life.

Firstly, this means you are making a commitment to yourself to transform your health from where it is now to where you want it to be.

Secondly, you are choosing to follow an eating plan and eating recommended foods that are suited to your body’s unique nutritional and microbiota needs.

Finally, it means you are taking a fresh look at the lifestyle choices you have been making.

Each patient is unique

My approach takes into account the reality that a wide variety of factors influence the health of each person. Consequently, no two patient gut protocols are ever the same.

All throughout the gut protocol process, I support and encourage you to make the best possible choices to achieve your health goals as you move forward.