Meet Akinyele K. Lovelace, DO

Statement of Philosophy

The practice of medicine is ever evolving. The paternalistic approach that was once practiced by our forefathers is something that will not apply in current times and into the future. The role of the Primary Care Physician (PCP) has evolved to be that of a leader of the care team. In the past the PCP was defined as the gatekeeper, the stop gap between unnecessary referrals and tests . Today the PCP needs to be the conductor of the patient’s symphony of life . We all need a rhythm section horns, strings, and woods for harmonious vibration .The conductor needs to make sure that every section is working in unison to ensure that the best possible music can be produced . If you cannot relate to the music analogy then lets talk sports . The primary care physician is the starting quarterback of a patient’s health team. Without a good quality consistent quarterback the team cannot succeed. However, the quarterback cannot discount all the other members that are involved in the patient’s healthcare team. Those team members can include ones chiropractor, massage therapist, acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist, pharmacist, personal trainer, and other sub specialists. Each member gives the patient the knowledge to understand their body and how we all age in different ways . For some we age in the mind, for others it is the body that ages , and for others it is their spirit . The goal is to allow the person to transition through the processes of change that affect these three aspects of our life. Some of us are fortunate to age mentally , physically , and spiritually simultaneously . Most of us will not be so fortunate . Some will lose their mental faculties prior to the breakdown of their physical body . Others will lose their physical abilities before their mental acuity , and in other cases the person will be of sound mind and body but will become spiritually void . The role of the health care team is to encourage a realignment of the spirit, mind , and body since in life all three of these aspects will usually have periods of dysfunction .

Medicine is not just a one size fits all entity. Based on a person’s age, health conditions, and access to care ones needs can vary depending upon where one is at in their life. The way in which medicine is practiced should be personalized as well to these changes during the course of a lifetime . Whether it’s a simple text message or an in person hour long visit, the interactions between the doctor and patient are always valuable. The common goal is to improve our health and human experience as we continue to age or, how I would prefer to say, become more refined. The value of being a primary care physician is that it allows an opportunity to create long term relationships . Within these relationships the physician can learn from the patient about the things that make them who they are. That communication allows the provider to discover things that move them to become healthier individuals. The primary care physician should encourage Google searches, WebMD searches, and any and all things that can improve a person’s understanding of medicine. The provider cannot take for granted that they had the good fortune to have a formal education in the practice of medicine and understand that when there is a more informed patient that provider can give the patient more insight into their condition.

There are limitations of primary care and what it can and cannot treat. These limitations need to be made clear to patients when they come to establish care in the office. Primary care has no role in chronic pain medication management nor chronic sedative dependence. However, I’ve come to realize that at times we are the last bastion when all other providers have left patients to fend for themselves, therefore I feel for them in that regard. Chemical dependence is a problem. The ultimate goal is to be on as few medications as possible as we continue to age. Life circumstances can be very stressful. How we approach our stressors is also extremely important. The stressors that we had when we were in our teenage years usually develop into something as simple as a pimple but as we get older these stressors can turn into more ominous health issues which might include hypertension, diabetes and other significant chronic diseases.

The PCP should encourage a commitment to love of oneself, love of one’s partner, love of one’s family, and love of one’s community. Through self-love we can continue to improve our own health . If we are able to set just a couple of minutes aside for ourselves every day to improve ourselves then this practice will also have an impact on how we see ourselves and have a positive effect on our overall health .

My goal as a healthcare provider is to improve the quality of life and health for as many people as I can for as far as the eye can see whether it be in the office, over the phone, or via the web. I look to technology to create a bond between the provider and the patient, but I also hold true to the notion that technology cannot replace the importance of the human touch.