Hospitals Increase CAM Services

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Good Morning!

 

Hospitals Increase CAM Services

 

More Americans are finding relief through alternative forms of health

care. Hospitals have increasingly expanded programs in order to

attract this patient base as well as to optimize care options. CAM

(Complementary and Alternative Medicine) inpatient programs nearly

doubled between 1998 and 2001, as attitudes and perceptions toward

alternative medicine change. The Journal of the American Medical

Association states that 42 percent of U.S. adults receive at least

one of sixteen alternative therapies surveyed.

 

Americans spend $13.7 billion annually on CAM products and services,

making it an attractive market for many struggling hospitals. In a

2002 Health Forum report, most hospitals cited patient demand as the

number one reason for implementing CAM programs. Other reasons

included clinical effectiveness, reflection of the organizational

mission and competition with other hospitals. By offering a wider

range of treatment choices to patients, hospitals may gain a

competitive edge.

 

Physician resistance is the number one reason why hospitals do not

opt for CAM services, a trend that is likely to change, as 60 percent

of medical schools now offer CAM courses, and efforts by schools such

as Pacific College of Oriental Medicine are making strides to expand

knowledge of traditional medicine.

 

Three quarters of hospitals offering CAM services reported program

start up costs as less than $200,000, according to AHA's Annual

Survey . Numerous services are offered with such minimal costs. These

include, but are not limited to: acupuncture, acupressure, massage

therapy, pastoral care, herbal medicine, reflexology and biofeedback.

 

Hospitals will continue to begin CAM programs as they review new

research that validates efficacy, educate physicians and hire

licensed professionals.

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

Peacefulmind.com

Therapies for healing

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