The DYNA conditions study is an ongoing research project. This project is projected to initially last six months, with the possibility of continuing in perpetuity. Clinical staff will label patient charts with a three letter diagnosis code corresponding to the diagnosis of the patient. The patients will be asked to take a DYNA following their first clinical visit to True North. Each time a patient is seen, the patient will be asked to take another DYNA. The DYNA’s are categorized so they can be organized by practitioner and diagnosis. Over a period of six months, data will accrue as patients continue treatment. At six months we will collate the data and assess the DYNA scores to see if there has been any change. The results will be used to inform interventions, educate and motivate clients and providers. Patient tracking with a validated generic quality of life metric is an early step in building a continuous quality improvement program and philosophy at True North that may bring on-line condition specific tracking metrics. This also serves as an initial step in assessing the quality and efficacy of Functional Medicine, a stated goal of the organization.
We are currently looking at Anxiety, Depression, GI tract symptoms, Chronic Fatigue syndrome, Hormone Imbalance, Pain, First Line Therapy, and Life coaching.
This data when collected will be unique and valuable research to the larger medical community, and we intend on making this contribution to the medical community though the sharing of knowledge in our practices here at True North and though publishing our findings.
The following diagnosis codes will be tracked.
Clients and patients who present to True North providers with prominent complaints in the following areas will be enrolled:

1 ANX Where anxiety, panic attacks, excessive worry are present or a prior diagnosis of anxiety disorder has been made.

2. DEP Where clients describe feeling down, depressed or have had a formal diagnosis of depression.

3. GUT GI symptoms such as bloating, cramps, constipation, diarrhea are present, or a diagnosis has been made of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or if by Functional Medicine assessment a picture of gut permeability, food allergy, gluten enteropathy, lactose intolerance or dysbiosis is suspected.

4. NRG when a client’ chief complaint is lack of energy, or if a medical diagnosis has been made of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), anemia, hypothyroidism, cardiac or pulmonary disease

5. HIB Patients with instability, deficits or excesses of measured hormones, women with menopausal, perimenopausal, premenstrual or postpartum symptoms, men or women with loss of libido or hormonally related issues of brain function, loss of muscle or bone mass. People with abnormal ASI, overt symptoms of poor adaptation to stress such as allergies, fatigue and sleep disorders. People with thyroid disorders. People with diabetes or insulin resistance, obesity and weight gain.

6. PAN when the primary complaint of the client/ patient is chronic physical pain such as headaches, back pain, or has been diagnosed with a chronic pain problem such as fibromyalgia, neuralgia, peripheral neuropathy

7. FLT Clients enrolled in the First Line Therapy program for a therapeutic lifestyle, a plan for daily self care which integrates a smart, easy-to-follow meal plan with tailored nutrient support, optimal nutrient calorie ratios, low glycemic load and moderate physical activity

8. LFC Clients who opt for Life Coaching from certified North Star Life Coach Diane MacKinnon M.D., a personal exploration into the arenas of wellness and mindset or belief systems shown to help individuals to rediscover his or her own essential self

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