HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) – Appalachian Regional Healthcare officially opened its first lifestyle medicine clinic with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at ARH’s Hazard location.
The new service line represents a shift toward preventive care in a region that faces higher rates of chronic disease and fewer resources for prevention, said Nika Larian, ARH vice president of wellness.
“Appalachian Regional Healthcare has really had a long-standing dedication to the health and well-being of our rural communities because we know in Appalachia we face higher rates of chronic disease, poor health outcomes, and fewer resources when it comes to preventative care,” Larian said.
The clinic is led by Perry County native Allie Davidson, a nurse practitioner and clinical service line director for lifestyle medicine.
“It’s a newer branch of medicine where we focus on whole person care,” Davidson said.
The lifestyle medicine approach centers on six key pillars: nutrition, physical activity, stress management, sleep, avoidance of risky substances and positive social connection.
Davidson said patients have already begun setting personal health goals. One patient told her he has four grandchildren and wants to keep up with them as long as possible while living as healthily as he can.
ARH leaders said the Hazard clinic is currently piloting the lifestyle medicine service line with plans to expand across the region.
“We’re taking those same evidence-based principles and applying them into a clinical setting with this new service line,” Larian said.
The clinic is accepting new patients. To learn more, click here.
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