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A MESSAGE OF HOPE!! King's County Natural Medicine Clinic- Model for the World

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" IAHF.COM " <jham

27 Jul 2003 19:54:01 -0000

 

 

IAHF Webmaster: Breaking News, Whats New, What to Do, All Countries

 

IAHF List: King's County Natural Medicine Clinic is serving as a model for

legislators world wide who seek ways to stretch the health care dollar,

while also providing state of the art care. It is the first publicly funded

alternative medical clinic in the USA.

 

By telling members of the European Parliament about it, along with

legislators world wide, we can break the Pharma Cartel wide open and get

them off our backs once and for all. Lets work together to insure that this

happens.

 

Merrily Manthey has devoted more than 30 years as an educator and therapist,

consultant and activist for the advancement of human potential. She has been

honored for her ground breaking leadership in the creation of the landmark

King County Natural Medicine Clinic, http://www.kentwa.org/ the first

publicly funded natural medicine primary care clinic in the United States.

http://www.kentwa.org/

 

She is the initiator of the City of Kent, Washington, Natural Medicine

Project, which is bringing national and international attention to Kent, the

Wellness Capital of America.

 

A Seattle native and longtime stress management consultant, she lectures,

both nationally and internationally, and produces educational materials such

as the award winning video, " A Message of Hope "

http://www.merrily.com/foundation_for_excellence_in_hea.htm

 

" A Message of Hope "

 

Recovering lost lives through the power of Natural Medicine

 

Presentations available for conferences, symposiums, groups, special events

 

Today we are seeing the beginning of a revolution in the practice of

mainstream psychiatry and conventional medicine. Nutritional methods have

allowed tens of thousands of people to successfully recover from mental

conditions such as schizophrenia and depression.

 

" A Message of Hope " presents three touching stories of recovery by former

patients suffering from such terribly debilitating " mental " illness as

schizophrenia and dementia. Statistics of recovery are included as well as a

general overview of the pioneering protocol developed by Dr. Abram Hoffer,

MD, PhD, who began this form of treatment over 40 years ago.

 

Practitioners using natural treatments report an 80-85% rate of great

improvement or recovery, which is in stark contrast to the usual

expectations with conventional treatments. Nutrient-based methods also

generally foster the health of both brain and body, while avoiding the brain

suppression and side affects that commonly occur with the conventional

medical approach.

 

Evidence? " There is considerable literature in certain areas of natural

medicine ... this is research done by mainstream research scientists, at

universities, with medical schools .... " quote from video by Jonathan V.

Wright, MD

 

" A Message of Hope "

 

Telly Award Winner in Health & Medicine

 

Featuring Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD, Alan Gaby, MD, and Jonathan V. Wright, MD

 

and other pioneers who have demonstrated the power of nutritional treatments

 

and have helped thousands of people regain normal lives.

 

 

 

Produced by Merrily Manthey, MS

Presentations available for conferences, symposiums, groups, special events

 

$24.95 plus shipping and handling

 

ISBN # 0-9702503-1-2

 

Visa/MasterCard accepted

 

To order send email to " A Message of Hope " merrily

 

http://www.kentwa.org/kent_clinic.htm

Kent Clinic: A Model for the Future of Community Health Care?

 

National Choice Directory of Puget Sound 1997/98 edition

 

by Larry K. Fried

 

Entering the Kent Community Health Center reveals nothing particularly

unusual. The lobby & waiting area arc not unlike what you might expect to

find in any medical clinic, clean but sterile. Magazines for waiting

patients and their families are as conventional as can be, Women's Day and

the like. The building itself a one story temporarily sited facility gives

no clue of the unusual nature of what is happening here.

 

There is a sign however, which can be seen as you approach. the building.

King County Natural Medicine Clinic at the Kent Community Health center? " it

reads, listing participating organizations, Bastyr University, our local

naturopathic and natural medicine college, among them. Other participants

include Seattle King County Department of Public Health, the Community

Health Centers of King County; and the City of Kent.

 

With federal and state funding, this collaboration has resulted in what is

believed to be a first in the entire nation: a publicly funded health clinic

integrating conventional (allopathic) and natural rnedicine. There in lies

what is revolutionary about this clinic and what makes it the focus of

tremendous attention.

 

Opened in October of 1996, The Natural Medicine Clinic targets low-income

people, immigrants and refugee, making natural health care available to many

who were not previously able to afford it. Natural health care services

offered include naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, massage therapy,

chiropractic care, stress management & nutrition counseling.

 

The staff includes medical and naturopathic physicians; nurse practitioners,

physician assistants; acupuncturists, and dietitians. Initial funding for

the Natural Medicine Clinic was provided by a one year $750,000 federal

grant with an additional $500,000 provided by the Washington state

legislature for the second year of the two year pilot program.

 

In part, the clinic was born of the 1993/94 discussion of health care reform

in this country. Many advocates of holistic health took notice that natural

and alternative medicine was not a part of the debate. Missing was any

discussion of the promise natural and preventive health care could offer to

two overwhelming and related aspects of the current health care system:

rapidly raising costs and conventional medicine's lack of success with

degenerative disease.

 

Merrily Manthey; was one who believed natural health care was usually far

less expensive than high-tech conventional medicine, and often more

effective, especially with long term chronic illness. Manthey was frustrated

that the health care debate virtually ignored making changes in the quality

and type of health care. The focus was on hot to pay for the status quo. "

It got me thinking about what would constitute real healthcare reform, "

Manthey says.

 

As a member of the board of directors of both Bastry University and

Harborview Hospital, Manthey was uniquely positioned to act. She first

approached Harborview with an idea to open a community natural medicine

clinic, as one of its more than 50 outpatient clinics. When Harborview

didn't pick up on the idea, Manthey took the idea out, eventually joining

efforts with Joe Pizzorno, founding president of Bastyr.

 

" Dr. Pizzorno has a vision to provide scientific data to support the use of

naturopathic and natural medicine., said Jane Guiltinan, Medical Director of

Bastyr's Health Clinic, and Co-director for Natural Medicine at the Kent

clinic. In fact, Bastyr University was a recipient of one of the first

National Institute for Health (NIH) grants ever awarded for alternative

medicine studies.. Bastyr U's new campus in Bothell has an entire wing

devoted to research.

 

Pizzorno wanted to set-up clinical trials where the results of natural and

conventional treatments are directly com pared with respect to certain

medical conditions. Manthey & Pizzorno found an enthusiastic ally on the

King County Council. Kent Pullen, Council Chair, spearheaded the effort on

the Council for a publicly supported natural medicine clinic that would

include a research component.

 

Pizzorno got his chance to present his ideas to the full Council. Then

something revelatory happened. As individual members questioned Pizzorno,

their questions revelatory happened. As individual members questioned

Pizzorno, their questions revealed that most all of them had availed

themselves of natural and holistic practitioners. This was an area of common

experience the Council members had not previously shared with one another.

These local leaders were going public about their experience with natural

health care for the first time. Finding themselves in such good company

certainly must have been a moment of delight.

 

Not surprisingly, the Council's endorsement for a natural medicine clinic

was unanimous. In a time of tight budgets, funding was another matter. To

lobby for funding, and otherwise help administrate the creation of the

clinic, the Council established a new staff position: Natural Medicine

Coordinator to the King County Council.

 

The Council appointed Nancy Weaver as the first Natural Medicine

Coordinator, a position unique in the country at any level of government. As

a veteran legislative staff member of 26 years, Weaver was not new to

government, but was quite new to natural medicine. " I had been asking

council members about holistic and natural health recommendations for my own

health issues. " I think that is they knew I might be interested in this

position, " Weaver explained. At the time, " I was not a firm believer in

natural medicine. "

 

Weaver worked with the King County Public Health Department to draw up an

RFP (Request for Proposals.) The RFP (Request for Proposals). The RFP

generated approximately two dozen letters of interest from various health

professionals and organizations. Eventually a number of these parties

collaborated and submitted three final proposals. Ironically, Harborview was

a party in one of the final submissions.

 

A screening panel, selected from around the country, reviewed the

submissions. To Prevent any behind the scenes lobbying, the identity of the

panel members was anonymous. The collaborative team of Bastyr University;

King County Community Health Clinics, a private non-profit organizations;

and CERC, an independent health research organization, submitted the

selected proposal.

 

Although at the time of this writing the clinical trials have not yet

begun, CERC will conduct comparative studies around three common conditions:

 

Migraines, Hypertension,(high-blood pressure), and Otitis Media (recurrent

ear infections). The studies will last about 18 months. There is also a

sociological study to track how the integrative medicine aspect of the Kent

clinic is affecting the health providers and their patients.

 

The Natural Medicine Clinic opened as part of the already existing Community

Health Clinic in Kent, and has created much change. To begin with the clinic

building was relocated, picked up and moved several blocks, to allow for the

space for a temporary add-on. The add-on - a double wide mobile - houses the

natural medicine offices. This is a temporary solution while an entirely new

20,000 square root building is being constructed to house the Kent clinic.

Scheduled to open in October 1997, the new facility allows much more space

for both natural and conventional medicine facilities.

 

The formation of a. newly integrated clinic compelled some conventional

health providers in conjunction with natural medicine providers. These

providers did not necessarily plan to work in an integrated health care

environment. None-the-1ess, the results, according to Tom Trompeter,

Associate Director of the Community Health Centers, have been mostly very

positive. " The staff has been a really good fit, " says Trompeter.. 'They

have worked well together. We are seeing providers consult with each other

and refer patients to each other. " Despite some initial resistance; and even

the departure of one health care provider who did not take to the

modifications, Guiltinan essentially concurs, " It is working very well,

really exceeding my expectations. "

 

According to Guiltinan, the medical doctors are learning from their natural

health counterparts and in some cases modifying the way they practice

medicine; while, for the naturopaths, the clinic patients themselves present

the greatest need for change.

 

Until very recently natural medicine was generally not covered by insurance,

and it was never before subsidized in a community health care system. Thus

natural health care has only been. available to those who could afford to

pay for it entirely out of their own pockets. . " I think naturopathic

providers are learning about working with poor people & minorities, "

Guiltinan explained. " How do you ask somebody living on $100 a week to buy

$50 worth of nutritional supplements? It is forcing us to go back to our

roots, by trying to give Medicine through food. Such as having a patient put

fresh garlic in food (rather than buying a garlic supplement) or teach ing

them to do hydrotherapy (water. therapy) at home. "

 

So where is this innovative experiment in community health care headed? What

happens when the pilot program ends in June of 1998?

 

According to Trompeter, the King County Community Health; Centers has an

organizational commitment to provide natural health services at all their

clinics. Their participation in the pilot project came along as the; first

funded opportunity to implement their plans for natural medicine. They have

every intention of maintaining the natural health component in Kent, even

when the pilot program expires..

 

Weaver feels confidant the King County Council will not only commit dollars

to complete the currently under funded program in Kent, but will further its

commitment to fully integrated health care. Weaver says, " Things. are going

terrifically. The clinic is being extremely well received. An integrated

system where people are free to choose the kind of health care they use is

where we are going. "

 

Yet, the Kent clinic project may have a reach far beyond the community

health clinics and King County. It has already garnered tremendous media

attention. CNN, Peter Jennings' World News Tonight, and a French Public TV

film crew have all visited the clinic. All in all there have been hundreds

of local, national & international media spots focused on. the clinic.

Health care professionals and public officials have certainly taken notice.

Manthey says, " I have had inquires. about the. clinic from all over the

country. I1 can't think. of a single state I haven't heard. from. "

 

Guiltinan believes, " If this pilot project can demonstrate through the

studies that natural medicine can be as, or even more, effective than

conventional medicine, while avoiding the side effects, then this can be a

model. It can revolutionize the health care in this country " .

 

To which I add- THE WORLD!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KENT, WASHINGTON- THE CITY THAT CHOOSE HEALTH

 

The city of Kent Washington, hopes to become the Wellness Capital of

America. In January 1996, the Kent City Council passed Resolution 1449 which

read: " Whereas, policies at all levels of government are changing to

properly acknowledge the efficacy, professionalism, and licensure of natural

medicine practitioners, the City of Kent desires to be come the home to the

most comprehensive array of alternative and natural medicine services in the

United States. " Mayor Jim White remarked, " This is a dream come true. "

 

E-mail merrily or telephone 1-253-859-3355 Mayor Jim White, Kent,

Washington.

 

 

Editorial Reviews

Description

" A Message of Hope " documents recovering lost lives through the power of

Natural Medicine featuring orthomolecular pioneer Dr. Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD;

noted authority on nutrition and health Dr. Alan Gaby, MD; world famous

physician Dr. Jonathan V. Wright, MD, and other pioneers who have

demonstrated the power of nutritional treatments and have helped thousands

of people regain normal lives.

 

The Telly Award winning video was produced by internationally-known natural

medicine activist Merrily Manthey, MS. She is the iniator of the landmark

King County Natural Medicine Clinic in Kent, Washington, the first publicly

funded integrative care primary clinic in the US. (See http://www.kentwa.org

)

 

" A Message of Hope " presents three touching stories of recovery by former

patients suffering from such terribly debilitating " mental " illness as

schizophrenia and dementia. Statistics of recovery are included as well as a

general overview of the science-based effective nutritional protocol

developed by Dr. Abram Hoffer, who began this form of treatment over 40

years ago.

 

Practitioners using natural treatments report an 80-85% rate of great

improvement or recovery, which is in stark contrast to the usual

expectations with conventional treatments. Nutrient-based methods also

generally foster the health of both brain and body, while avoiding the brain

suppression and side affects that commonly occur with the conventional

medical approach.

 

" A Message of Hope " stimulated the passage of a landmark legislation that

lays the groundwork for such treatment as described in the video. King

County (Seattle area) now requires increased accountability and measurement

of mental health treatment for patients cared for through its system and,

most importantly, sets getting people well the goal of treatment.

 

 

http://www.kentwa.org/film_star_margot_kidder_supports.htm

 

 

Film Star Margot Kidder Supports Proposed New King County Ordinance for

Mental Health

 

 

 

 

 

Getting Patients Well is the New Goal

 

 

of County Treatment Programs

 

 

 

By Merrily Manthey, M.S.

 

 

 

 

 

In a stunning presentation four years to the day of her very public exposure

that branded her crazy,actor Margo Kidder urged support for a landmark

ordinance about to be voted on in King County, Washington (greater Seattle).

People deserve the right to wellness,she pointed out, as opposed to a

pharmacological lobotomy, which is usually what you get.

 

 

 

On April 25, the international film star stood before Councilmember Kent

Pullen, PhD, and his customer servicescommittee agreeing that getting people

well should be the goal of county mental health programs. Kidder also urged

the use of natural medicine to treat the mentally ill.

 

 

 

The Canadian born actress, who starred as Lois Lane in the blockbuster movie

series, Superman, told the Council that she had been treatedfor mental

illness for most of her life. Boldly she revealed that conventional medicine

provided her with very little help. But by taking charge of her own healing,

discovering natural methods that dealt with the root cause of her problem,

and with the help of family and friends, she got herself well.

 

 

 

The treatment she discoveredand assembled on her own was, in effect,

orthomolecular medicine, developed by Dr. Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD and his

colleague Humphrey Osmund, MD., over 40 years ago.

 

 

 

I had met Margot Kidder at the orthomolecular conference held to honor

Hoffers 80th Birthday. I mentioned to Councilman Kent Pullen, PhD, that I

wanted ask the extremely articulate and knowledgeable film star to speak to

the 13-member elected body in support of our new ordinance. I imagined she

would make an impassioned and reasoned argument to help people change the

way they view existing treatment of those diagnosed with a mental illness.

Thankfully, natural medicine advocate Pullen was tremendously supportive of

my idea. And I was deeply grateful Ms. Kidder agreed to come to Seattle to

make the case for important change.

 

 

 

Her appearance generated widespread US media attention and favorable

reviewsfor the concepts she was presenting. Observers said she impressed

them deeply with her humanity and personal success story, and, they told me,

they would never feel the same about anyone suffering with symptoms of

mental distress. Through her powerful testimony, Margot Kidder made them

think differently about the biochemical differences that influence good

mental health.

 

 

 

The Council gave special recognition to Margot Kidder for her many

achievements and especially for her unselfish advocacy to help reduce human

suffering. (See award at www.margotkidder.com)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

King County Ordinance #2000-0294

 

 

 

King County treated 28,000 patients with mental health diagnoses last year,

spending over $82 million in what is called a safety netsystem. Another $87

million was spent for detention-related services, much of this related to

mental health struggles. Thus, county taxpayers spent $1.7 billion in 1999

with little hope of bringing realistic improvement to the lives of those who

are suffering. Over $90 million has been approved and will be spent on

mental health services in King County during the present year.

 

 

 

The new ordinance establishes, Councilmember Pullen observed, for the first

time, a way to measure outcomes on county subsidized treatment programs. The

ordinance would require country mental health programs to track yearly

progress of people in their care and report how many were made well; and

designate getting wellas the goal of treatment.

 

 

 

Getting wellhas not been the stated goal of the county mental health system;

instead, the current goal is to provide the emergency care for those in

need. As many see it, safety nets are excellent for the short-term; however,

they are not designed to get at the root cause of the problem. They just

catchthose who are falling.

 

 

 

I learned through public hearings in 1999 that 5% of patients treated in the

countys current mental health system were made well in the prior year.

Shocked by the dismal numbers, we set out to raise the bar. The successful

passage of this ordinance, Pullen notes, will create a significant paradigm

shiftin government policy. I will add here, we hope this concept will catch

fireall across the North American continent.

 

 

 

Citing a Wall Street Journal article, New Weapons in the War on

Schizophrenia, August 25, 1999, the ordinance notes that the economic cost

to the United States of just one mental illness, schizophrenia, is $30-65

billion dollars per year, with 2.5 million persons afflicted. According to

the NIMH, depression cost over $30 million in 1990. Present treatments for

the mentally ill have generally disappointing results and are characterized

as high cost Band-Aids.

 

 

 

The ordinance defines welland wellness.Being wellmeans, by definition, a

client who is free of disability, employable, connected with friends and

family; and has a generally positive outlook on life. If the person is

taking medications or nutritional supplements, then the client is also free

of adverse side effects. If the person is in the age range of 21-59 years,

wellnessincludes being engaged in volunteer work, pursuing educational or

vocational degrees, or contributing to family support. A client in that same

age range lives independently or has chosen other living arrangements to

facilitate the clients activities with respect to volunteerism, education,

work or family. Being wellmeans that an adult client is not receiving

publicly funded mental treatment except for occasional recommended periodic

checkups, and has been discharged from the countys mental health system. A

client who is well, the ordinance spells out, may be characterized as having

a GAF score of 81 or above.

 

 

 

 

 

Videotape A Message of Hope Set the Stage

 

 

 

The award-winning videotape, A Message of Hope, which documents Hoffers work

and the effectiveness of orthomolecular treatments, was the impetus for the

landmark ordinance and the personal endorsement of Margo Kidder.

 

 

 

For more information about the videotape, A Message of Hope, contact the

Foundation for Excellence in Health Care, 206 718 3334, merrily.

 

 

 

To receive copies of the ordinance, contact Kent Pullen, 206 296 1009.

International Advocates for Health Freedom

POB 10632 Blacksburg VA 24062 USA

http://www.iahf.com; http://iadsa-exposed.tripod.com

800-333-2553 N.America

540-961-0476 World

 

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