Dr. Woodard has always believed that if a patient isn’t getting better, then a different approach to their care needs to be applied. The problem with today’s healthcare system is that it’s a one-size-fits-all approach to care. Simply diagnose the patient and then form a treatment plan around this diagnosis. This ignores the fact that everybody heals differently and people with serious health conditions often heal slowly, if they do at all. Looking at an individual’s health history, in such a way that it gives clues as to how they became ill to begin with, allows a specific treatment plan to be achieved in their case.

The concept of personalized medicine is a treatment approach which is based on numerous factors. For hard-to-treat cases, Dr. Woodard uses a Health Timeline format. It meticulously details a patient’s condition and should include the following:

• An in-depth account of an individual’s health history (how and when they became ill).
• What treatments were used throughout their life? Which ones were effective and which ones weren’t?
• What studies and/or labs were performed (x-rays, MRI’s, genetic testing, blood test analysis, advanced examinations).
• Past Medical Records.

One might not think it’s relevant that a person has a thyroid condition and diabetes in addition to their sprained ankle that incidentally won’t heal. But understanding that people with thyroid and diabetic conditions are slow wound healers, gives us a better understanding why they might not heal as quickly as others. Another person might have a genetic mutation that causes excessive swelling, thus preventing healing from occurring quickly. Addressing their underlying conditions, in addition to their physical ailments, allows them to respond much quicker to care.