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Because functional medicine is an approach to health care – and not a separate profession – practitioners from many different disciplines take IFM symposia and courses, and purchase books and tapes. It is, therefore, very important for patients to realize that selecting a practitioner from this database does not substitute for a thorough investigation of your chosen clinician's professional degree and training, clinical experience, scope of practice, participation (or not) in the reimbursement system, malpractice coverage, and other similar criteria. IFM does not investigate the education or credentials of the people who attend our courses or purchase our educational materials; we do not rate or rank practitioners; and we are not able to advise you about any particular clinician's expertise or scope of practice. AFMCP is our premier course – and we know that graduates of that course have been exposed to a common knowledge base and understanding of functional medicine. Completing the course, however, is only one of many, many activities a clinician will undertake before deciding how to practice and how to handle your care. It is your responsibility to ask how IFM programs – or other experiences – have affected the practitioner's approach to patient care.
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