Health Coaches vs Nurses vs Oncologists
What is a health coach- and the numerous titles, acronyms and descriptions we now see across the the healthcare space?
Health and wellness coaches have been popping over the last few years, offering all types of support for the management of specific conditions to general wellness and spiritual guidance. But what type of certification process and oversight do health coaches undergo? The scope of what they may or may not offer varies by state but as a rule of thumb, they are not able to provide medical advice, prescribe medication, or advise on anything that is considered “the practice of medicine”.
That being said, coaches may be wonderful resources who can truly promote and encourage invaluable lifestyle changes. One of the most esteemed certification agencies, The National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) offers a variety of certifications which all consist of completing a training program, 50 health and wellness coaching sessions and having an associate’s degree or higher.
The credentialing process for a medical doctor who is board certified oncologist (MD), consists of graduating from medical school, postgraduate residency training, holding a a state medical license and passing the medical board exams. In the US, Medical licenses are issued by state medical boards to allow one to practice medicine while over two dozen non-profit agencies provide board certifications among medical specialities. May seem boring - but with so many people using the term ‘board certified’ we thought it was valuable to highlight the number of boards that are out there.
Nurses, the unsung heroes of our health system, also have four distinct levels of certification starting with a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), and support patients directly with essential daily tasks. Licenses practical nurse (LPN) is the subsequent level of certification which allows LPNs to start IVs, dispense certain medications and communicate with patients and their families to educate them on care plans. Registered nurses (RN) are nurses who oversee LPNs, CNAs, and hold a Bachelors degree. After this, one can attain a Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice to become an Advance practice registered nurse.
How does the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) view so many new digital health tools offering virtual and in person patient support? Although the (FDA) has been working draft new guidelines and to ensure the safety and guidance given to patients through new digital solutions, such as Athelo, their latest guidance published last September outlines their intent to ‘exercise enforcement discretion’ rather than enforcing specific requirements. We anticipate the regulations to continue to evolve as the industry matures.
