Integrative Health Care-a possible solution to our health care crisis

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

These ideas come from a paper written by Victoria Maizes, MD, David Rakel, MD, and Catherin Niemiec, JD, L.Ac which was commissioned for the IOM Summit on Integrative Medicine and the Health of the Public, February, 2009. I feel to really solve the crisis in health care this approach could be helpful in both reducing costs and making people feel better. Here are the main points:

Integrative Health Care
1. is patient centered (really getting to know the patient via 90 minute initial consultations)
2. is healing oriented (stressing maintaining health, not just addressing illness)
3. is for using lifestyle changes to help people get and stay healthy
4. is for using both conventional and complementary therapies to help a patient stay healthy

The key to this approach is in patient centered care-
1. informing and involving the patient in medical decisions--this means listening, explaining, not dictating
2. providing physical comfort but also emotional and (if appropriate) spiritual support
3. respecting the patient's culture and their cultural beliefs so that the treatment/lifestyle changes suggested will be ones that are a good fit for the patient.
4. stressing self-care and showing the patient that taking responsibility for lifestyle changes can empower them.
5. using a broad array of therapies and services to find the ones that are most cost-effective and therapeutically efficient.

[juno jones]

1. K&R!

I want a physician who is going to work with me on issues. I'm already taking care of myself, I need someone who will respect that and do what they can to support that.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. I work for such a physician

Our clinic is in Arkansas, but she has patients from Louisiana, Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee, Colorado, and New York.

[juno jones]

3. Still a little far for me to travel.

But thanks for reccommending her.

I've got my eye on a local homeopath whose name keeps cropping up. I am fortunate to live in a community with a lot of alternitive, liberal types. I've got a few chioces here, and if they don't pan out, there's always Seattle.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. check Find a Doc at the American Holistic Medical Association

That search engine allows you not only to put in location but specialty. AHMA includes MD, homeopaths, naturopaths, etc.