Lifestyle Medicine as a Framework for High-Value Care: A Position Statement from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Abstract

Lifestyle medicine (LM) is a rapidly growing medical specialty that can be integrated into all aspects of care. LM is implemented across primary, specialty, inpatient, outpatient, community and home settings, with multiple modalities, including virtual, individual or group visits. This position paper outlines how LM achieves value, improves health outcomes, and meets the goals of the Quintuple Aim, thus providing a framework to guide LM stakeholders, including patients, providers, payers, employers, and community organizations. It is the position of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) that: (1) The LM care delivery model addresses the escalating chronic disease healthcare burden; (2) LM is a powerful catalyst for healthcare transformation that delivers the Quintuple Aim; (3) LM is whole-person care implemented for all populations, across various settings, intensities and modalities; (4) LM providers are trained, interdisciplinary experts in chronic disease care across the continuum, from prevention to treatment and remission of disease; (5) nine core elements are essential to an effective and evidence-based LM care framework.