The biomedical model has dominated Western medicine for over 100 years; it underlies U.S. medical education, research, and health care delivery. Although it has enjoyed much success, particularly in the areas of increased life expectancy and control of infectious episodes, its limitations have become more and more apparent. In this article, we review the limitations of the biomedical model for addressing current U.S. health care challenges-chronic disease and its escalating costs, with a particular focus on the rising diabetes epidemic, both in the United States and worldwide. We review new models of care designed to better address our current health care challenges and then place the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA, 2010) within this context. Finally, we articulate the opportunities these new models offer psychologists who wish to play a larger role in the prevention and treatment of diabetes.Despite their conceptual appeal, proponents of these new models often face considerable challenges garnering widespread acceptance by organizations and individuals steeped in traditional health care based on the biomedical model. Like other health care providers, psychologists need to move away from the mind-body dualism underlying the biomedical model and embrace the integrated care opportunities that characterize current innovations in U.S. health care delivery (Johnson, 2013).
Limitations of the Biomedical Model for Addressing Current U.S. Health Care Challenges