Integration of complementary and alternative medicine in a major pediatric teaching hospital: an initial overview.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the establishment of a multidisciplinary team of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers and educators in an urban pediatric hospital and affiliated medical school.


BACKGROUND
Pediatric CAM use is increasing. Physicians are interested in CAM-related education but few programs had been developed in pediatrics. In 1998, Children's Hospital Boston established the Center for Holistic Pediatric Education and Research (CHPER), a CAM multidisciplinary team providing clinical services, education, and research.


METHODS
A retrospective review describing data from patient consultation notes, CAM lectures, clinical practice guidelines, curriculum materials, team meeting minutes, and team member manuscripts and publications.


RESULTS
Over 5.5 years, CHPER staff provided over 2100 consults: acupuncture, massage, holistic pediatrician, relaxation therapies, biofeedback, hypnosis, and bio-pharmaceutics. Acupuncture and massage therapies were incorporated into a Clinical Practice Guideline. Formal education was delivered through didactic sessions, workshops, self-learning modules, clinical observation, and clinical practice. CHPER faculty published 1 book and 64 articles on CAM-related topics.


CONCLUSIONS
An interdisciplinary team of CAM clinicians and educators can be integrated into an urban pediatric teaching hospital to provide CAM medical education and clinical services.
Highfield
Ellen Silver
ES
Center for Holistic Pediatric Education and Research, Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. eshighfield@comcast.net
McLellan
Mary C
MC
Kemper
Kathi J
KJ
Risko
Wanessa
W
Woolf
Alan D
AD
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006302:Health Services Research; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States; D014504:Urban Health