Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Unit 37 Alternative, Complementary, and Integrative Approaches to Patient Care

Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Objectives Spell and define terms. Define alternative medicine. Differentiate alternative practices from complementary and integrative practices. List five categories of alternative and complementary therapies.

Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Objectives Define holistic care. List at least three ways in which the nursing assistant supports patients’ spirituality.

Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Alternatives to Mainstream Health Care When most people in Western society think of medical care –They think of medical, surgical, pharmaceutical, and technological treatment of patients.

Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Alternatives to Mainstream Health Care In the United States –These practices and techniques are the accepted, traditional, mainstream approaches to patient care and healing of illness.

Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Alternatives to Mainstream Health Care Throughout history: –People have actively sought out other forms of healing the sick.

Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Alternatives to Mainstream Health Care Today, some people prefer natural and spiritual treatments for illnesses. Others are afraid of the technology, drugs, and surgical procedures of today.

Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Alternatives to Mainstream Health Care Because of this and other reasons –Many people use alternative health care practices and products to prevent and treat illnesses.

Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Complementary and Alternative Practices Hundreds of different alternative therapies may be used instead of traditional medicine. For example: –Some patients use herbs, supplements, and diet to treat cancer instead of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Using CAM Alternative and complementary practices have become very popular in recent years. Many of these therapies are thought to stimulate the body to heal itself.

Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Using CAM They are also used to strengthen weak body systems and to reduce or eliminate the discomfort of some medical signs and symptoms, such as pain and nausea.

Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Using CAM Patients with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and HIV disease –Commonly use complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) practices

Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Integrative (Integrated) Health Care Practices Some researchers estimate: –That at least 50 percent of the American public uses at least one form of alternative or complementary treatment.

Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Integrative (Integrated) Health Care Practices Because of this: –Many hospitals have opened specialized units and clinics in which integrative (integrated) health care is practiced.

Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Integrative (Integrated) Health Care Practices Integrative health care: –Uses both mainstream medical treatments and CAM therapies to treat the patient.

Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Common CAM Therapies Commonly used in integrative practice in hospital units and clinics: –Acupuncture –Anthroposophically Extended Medicine (AEM) –Aromatherapy –Art therapy, dance therapy –Ayurveda

Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Common CAM Therapies Commonly used in integrative practice in hospital units and clinics: –Biofeedback –Chelation therapy –Chiropractic care –Color therapy –Electromagnetic therapy –Herbal therapy

Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Common CAM Therapies Commonly used in integrative practice in hospital units and clinics: –Homeopathy –Hypnotherapy –Light therapy –Massage therapy –Meditation

Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Common CAM Therapies Commonly used in integrative practice in hospital units and clinics: –Movement therapy –Naturopathic medicine –Nutrition therapy –Prayer –Qigong –Reflexology

Copyright © 2008 Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Common CAM Therapies Commonly used in integrative practice in hospital units and clinics: –Reiki –Therapeutic touch –Traditional Chinese medicine –Visualization –Yoga