From the perspective of the integrative medical care consultant. What type of evidence would you propose to show that an integrative approach produces the best medical outcomes in medical care? As the consultant, how would you address the criteria put forth by your peers?

Considering Integration

For the purpose of this discussion, I have been asked to meet with an integrated medical care consultant whose job is to propose that my consortium incorporate CAH practitioners into its clinics. As a Chief Medical Officer of a specialty clinic consortium that is dedicated in delivering the highest level of cancer care treatment, I would have several concerns and questions for the consultant. First, what types of therapies will we be offering to our patients? Are there scientific studies available that prove both the efficacy and safety of these therapies? What is the internal cost of making the transformation to integrative care? What are the licensure requirements for the CAH practitioners who will be joining our staff? Are they responsible for the cost of maintaining licensure, or is that our responsibility? This is the most important information I would like to gain from the consultant's presentation.

Moreover, the most important clinical criteria that I would want to consider before I made a contractual decision to integrate CAH practitioners into the consortium clinics are as follows:

An outcome assessment of this integrative clinical model that includes concurrent measurement of biologic, psychologic, social, spiritual, and contextual dimensions of whole-person health as well as patterns of change in medical conditions, risk factors, and/or health behaviors that occur during the integrative medical treatment (Greeson, Rosenzweig, Halbert, Cantor, Keener, & Brainard, 2008, p. 4)

An assessment of current studies that prove both efficacy and safety in CAH therapies to be integrated
An assessment of current policies and procedures, as well as any adjustments that would need to be made for integration

An assessment of key concerns of integration for patients and staff alike
A risk assessment and liability analysis (Ventola, 2010, p. 3)

An assessment of the integrative model of care's scope of practice
An assessment of the ethical considerations of integration

I feel that next to efficacy and safety, cost effectiveness and ethical implications are the most important elements to consider when discussing making the transformation to an integrative care facility.

References

Greeson, J. M., Rosenzweig, S., Halbert, S. C., Cantor, I. S., Keener, M. T., & Brainard, G. C. (2008). Integrative medicine research at an academic medical center: patient characteristics and health-related quality-of-life outcomes.Journal Of Alternative And Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.), 14(6), 763-767. doi:10.1089/acm.2008.0114.

Ventola, C. L. (2010). Current Issues Regarding Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in the United States: Part 3: Policies and Practices Regarding Dietary Supplements In Health Care Facilities. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 35(10), 570-576.