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Creative Wellness Newsletter
Newsletter - Fall 2010
In This Issue
- Growing Referrals from Medical Community
- Fall 2010 Newsletter (PDF format)
- Online Class Listings
- Class Schedule (PDF format)
Other Newsletter Issues
Growing Referrals from Medical Community
Society has become one that demands a “quick fix” for most everything – including our health. We see it on TV all the time: have a problem, pop a pill. And while in many cases conventional medicine is useful and effective, it is not always the best solution for every health concern. Instead of addressing the cause, sometimes only the symptom is treated. Symptom relief may increase quality of life in the short term, but addressing and correcting the cause of the symptoms creates the opportunity for a lifetime of better health. Dr. Susan Fedewa of 98point6 Emergicenter, “When we run into situations that traditional medicine doesn’t seem to be treating we need to try something else, and that is when we refer to Creative Wellness.”
For the past 16 years, we have shared an office with Full Spectrum Medical Center, a thriving local medical practice. This relationship was created out of a vision of creating a single facility where people in the area can come for traditional medical and complementary health care. In those years we have seen the way we are thought of in the medical community, grow in the same way. Back then it was from Full Spectrum and a handful of other local doctors that we received our patient referrals. Last year we had referrals from over 50 physicians in the area.
Information on complementary healthcare is becoming more readily available every year thanks to healthcare organizations such as the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the American Hospital Association (AHA). They, and others, have committed their time and resources to researching the safety and effectiveness of complimentary and alternative medicine, commonly called CAM. Complimentary medicine refers to the use of CAM together with conventional medicine (medicine practiced by holders of M.D. and D.O. degrees and by allied health professionals, such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses).1 It is because of organizations like these that both Creative Wellness and doctors across the nation are able to safely recommend the best course of treatment for their patients.
The NCCAM is sponsoring research designed to build a scientific evidence base about CAM therapies – whether they are safe, whether they work for the conditions people use them, and, if so, how they work.1 CAM therapies are often grouped in categories. The most common are:
- Manipulative Body Practices (such as massage therapy)
- Natural Products (including vitamins, herbs, and other natural supplements)
- Mind-Body Practices (including meditation, yoga, and energy work)1
- http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/
- http://www.aha.org/aha/press-release/2008/080915-pr-cam.html
- Future Health Care Trends /li>
Although not yet formally defined, categorizing CAM practices is useful in discussing their benefit ts and effectiveness. “Defining CAM is difficult, because the field is very broad and constantly changing. NCCAM defines CAM as a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine…The boundaries between CAM and conventional medicine are not absolute, and specific CAM practices may, over time, become widely accepted.”1
The use of CAM therapies in hospitals has allowed for further research into the effectiveness of individual treatments. The American Hospital Association is a non-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the improvement of health in their communities. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends.2 “Complementary and alternative medicine has shown great promise in supporting and stimulating healing,” said AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock. “It’s one of the many tools hospitals look to as they continue to create optimal healing environments for the patients they serve.”2
According to their surveys, thirty-seven percent of hospitals report that they offer one or more CAM therapies – a number that continues to grow each year.2 Private practice doctors are also utilizing CAM therapies by referring their patients to respected healthcare providers. Ultimately, the future use of CAM practices lies in the hands of healthcare consumers.
“While it is often difficult to project long-term trends, past utilization of CAM therapies forecast a promising future. Today, CAM has proven to be neither a short-lived social phenomenon nor a radical replacement of conventional medicine. More and more, mainstream medical journals, academic medical centers, and leading scientists are working to provide reliable clinical information supporting CAM therapies, and this, along with growing public demand, will ultimately determine the future of CAM.”3
Talk with your physician about the services offered by Creative Wellness and discuss how to integrate our services into your Plan of Care. If your physician isn’t familiar with Creative Wellness, let us know. We will contact them to set up a meeting to present our wide range of services and success stories. We look forward to working with your medical professional to help you achieve optimum health.
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