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INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
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Meetings are not one of my most favorite things. Especially meetings with
clergy. But put together a meeting that offers a free breakfast and a mix
of clergy and physicians, I’m more interested. In fact I just attended
such a meeting at our local hospital. |
The speaker, Dr. Alan Embry,
was the new “Integrative Medicine Specialist” at the hospital. He said:
| “I have become increasingly
convinced of the necessity of providing health care which integrates the
best of traditional and complimentary medicine, and which emphasizes well-being
and healing in addition to treating diseases and alleviating symptoms.” |
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I think he means that health care needs to treat more than the symptoms,
using more than a single treatment approach. |
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We probably hoped that our physicians practiced medicine (on us) that way. |
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The truth is that almost half of all people who go to a physician also
use some complimentary medical treatment. The “outside” treatment may include
acupuncture, herbs and diet supplements, nutrition, yoga, exercise and
so on. People go to their physician for treatment then to someone else
as well. |
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The tendency is for each practitioner to downplay the other’s ability to
provide adequate treatment. We know what MD’s think of Chiropractors, and
what Nutritionists think of surgeons, and so on. |
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How often does physician talk to patient about diet or dietary supplements,
or possibly herbs? Or how often does a homeopathic physician recommend
surgical treatment? |
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Enough, already. You get the picture. All these “healers” are in competition
for our business. Our insurers will pay for some of it, but we pay for
the rest. Amazingly, people are paying billions of dollars over and above
what their insurance provides. |
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Why are half of us involved with complimentary medicine, you might ask?
Could there be uncertainty about how good our basic treatment is? Could
we be somewhat convinced by some of the claims we read about in newspapers,
magazines and books, and see on TV or the Internet? |
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At any rate, the traditional medical community has decided to face up to
the reality that patients are going many other places for health care.
Dr. Embry is going to try to move toward more of an integrative approach
among the healing resources. |
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I sensed that the physicians present were generally supportive. I hope
the word “integrate” doesn’t raise the hell it did for us when we used
it in the ‘60’s. |
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Oh, by the way. I wonder if this wouldn’t be a good program for the clergy.
Clergy, like many physicians, seem blind to the fact that their ‘patients’
are seeking out other resources for spiritual care. They are reading the
new age and spirituality books that abound in bookstores. They are into
meditation and Yoga. Some even practice prayer—.secretly of course! Some
even listen to Christian radio or religious TV, or practice Buddhism. |
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Why do people do these kind of things when they are in touch with the best
trained, most able professionals? I suspect it is because people want more.
And I suspect it is because people feel helped by their alternative activities. |
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The mono approach to medicine or spirituality seems more ego-driven than
healing-driven. Perhaps the churches need an integrative specialist to
inform and encourage practices that really work for individuals. What about
integrative religion?
Art Morgan – Thanksgiving 2000 (Published 1/15/2001)
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