Description
Book SynopsisIntegration of complementary and alternative medicine therapies (CAM) with conventional medicine is occurring in hospitals and physicians offices, health maintenance organizations (HMOs) are covering CAM therapies, insurance coverage for CAM is increasing, and integrative medicine centers and clinics are being established, many with close ties to medical schools and teaching hospitals. In determining what care to provide, the goal should be comprehensive care that uses the best scientific evidence available regarding benefits and harm, encourages a focus on healing, recognizes the importance of compassion and caring, emphasizes the centrality of relationship-based care, encourages patients to share in decision making about therapeutic options, and promotes choices in care that can include complementary therapies where appropriate. Numerous approaches to delivering integrative medicine have evolved. Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States identifies an urgent need
Table of Contents1 Front Matter; 2 Executive Summary; 3 1 Introduction; 4 2 Prevalence, Cost, and Patterns of CAM Use; 5 3 Contemporary Approaches to Evidence of Treatment Effectiveness: A Context for CAM Research; 6 4 Need for Innovative Designs in Research on CAM and Conventional Medicine; 7 5 State of Emerging Evidence on CAM; 8 6 An Ethical Framework for CAM Research, Practice, and Policy; 9 7 Integration of CAM and Conventional Medicine; 10 8 Educational Programs in CAM; 11 9 Dietary Supplements; 12 10 Conclusion; 13 Appendix A: CAM Therapies, Practices, and Systems; 14 Appendix B: Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine; 15 Appendix C: Table 1-1 List of Abbreviations; 16 Appendix D: Liaison Panel Organizations; 17 Appendix E: Model Guidelines for the Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Medical Practice; 18 Appendix F: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research Centers; 19 Appendix G: Public Meetings; 20 Appendix H: Committee Biosketches; 21 Index
