Finding A Qualified Menopause Healthcare Practitioner
Signposting to a qualified professional or resource
Signposting refers to the practice of guiding or directing individuals to relevant information or appropriate professionals. It plays a crucial role in facilitating access to resources and services, particularly in the context of healthcare.
Let's say you're a woman going through perimenopause or menopause. You might be experiencing symptoms, but you might not even realise that they're related to menopause. Or perhaps you're a healthcare provider who doesn't specialise in menopause care and someone comes to you with menopause symptoms that are outside your area of expertise.
In situations like these, it's important to recognise the symptoms, whether they're happening to you or someone you're helping. Once you've done that, the next step is to find the right resources or professionals who can provide the necessary support. You can find valuable information and resources, or you can connect with healthcare professionals who have expertise in menopause care.
Why is signposting important?
It may sound obvious, but as a health and wellness professional it’s important that you are confident in the skillset you have and that you only practise within that skillset.
Building a network of trusted health and wellness practitioners will ensure a client receives the correct treatment.
Having the confidence to signpost a client to best practice menopause care can make all the difference to the client’s health. It could literally change or save their life.
Three signposting examples for health and wellness professionals
A physiotherapist has been treating a menopausal woman for rectal prolapse and recognises that the woman’s diet doesn’t include many vegetables or water, and this could be causing chronic constipation. The physiotherapist has some understanding of the dietary requirements someone needs to relieve constipation but feels this particular woman needs more help in this area.
Who does the physiotherapist signpost her patient to?The physiotherapist refers her patient to a specialised menopause nutritionist to improve her dietary intake, with the aim of relieving her symptoms of constipation. In addition to the physiotherapy treatment, improving her constipation will significantly reduce the pain of rectal prolapse and transform the woman’s quality of life.
A pilates instructor has been working with a 46 year old woman for about six months and recently has noticed a huge dip in her energy levels and mood. The instructor has a good relationship with the woman and feels comfortable with asking if she’s ‘OK’. The woman starts to cry and says she doesn’t understand why she is crying because everything in her life is steady at present. After discussing her lifestyle in terms of sleep, nutrition and stress the instructor recognises the signs.
Who does the pilates instructor signpost her client to?The pilates instructor feels the woman may be experiencing perimenopause symptoms. She offers the woman a menopause symptom checker [link] to identify all the symptoms she is experiencing. After working through the symptom checker together, the pilates instructor recommends the woman sees a menopause specialist doctor to talk through her symptoms and offer symptom management.
A nurse who works with patients with osteoporosis has just completed a DEXA scan of a 49 year old woman. The scan highlights that the woman has osteopenia and the nurse explains a few ways in which the woman can manage her symptoms and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. The woman is determined to put new lifestyle choices in place to ensure she doesn’t get osteoporosis.
Who does the nurse signpost her patient to?
The nurse understands that there are a few ways to maintain bone strength during the menopause transition and recommends her patient see three different specialist menopause professionals: a specialist menopause doctor to discuss hormone replace therapy, a women’s health personal trainer to work on impact training and a specialist menopause nutritionist to help with vitamin and mineral intake to support bone management.
The management of menopause is a holistic approach and there are many connected elements that contribute to a woman thriving during her transition.
Signposting doesn’t mean you need to stop caring for the patient.
At this stage of life, having diverse expertise can result in correct symptom management, which can be the difference between a woman thriving or surviving this stage of her lifecycle.