Some may find certain types of CAM, such as yoga, available within their health clubs or other affordable settings.
3. How might technology help you meet your goal?
A number of major research hospitals, such as New York-Presbyterian Hospital at Columbia University, now offer CAM within the hospital environment. The hospital offers nutritional, exercise, and wellness counseling. Patients can learn about breathing techniques and the use of herbs to combat symptoms. By conducting research on CAM within the framework of a hospital, the institution can make sure that the therapies are undertaken in a safe and supervised manner. More and more people are turning to CAM as a way to cope with illness and may do so whether their hospital formally encourages them to or not. By integrating proven CAM remedies into the hospital environment, an institution can ensure that the best and most effective practices are used on patients, and are integrated within a more standard plan of care.
When CAM is offered by a hospital there is also less of a chance that complementary treatments will conflict with the patient's standard plan of care. Forcing patients to experiment through trial and error with CAM remedies...
John's Wort). Finally, the fact that not all CAM methods are valid and tested is yet another reason to offer services through the hospital, to reduce the chances that patients will use the least reliable methods and will instead use strategies that are supported by current medical research. The hospital can also showcase various methods of alternative therapy on its website, and provide information about their validity.
References
Parker-Pope, Tara. (2002, July 23). Doctors study the heath benefits of yoga. The Wall Street
Journal. Retrieved March 29, 2011 at http://www.hvk.org/articles/0702/212.html
Varney, Sarah. (2011, March 28). Alexander Technique: A balm for back pain?
NPR. Retrieved March 29, 2011 at http://www.npr.org/2011/03/28/134861319/alexander-technique-a-balm-for-back-pain
Wong, Cathy. (2011). 12 most common questions about insurance coverage for complementary and alternative medicine. About.com Retrieved March 29, 2011 at http://altmedicine.about.com/od/alternativemedicinebasics/a/Insurance.htm
