Mainstreaming complementary therapies: new directions in health care.
Within the past decade, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has penetrated mainstream U.S. health care. Major medical journals are publishing research on the efficacy of specific CAM therapies, physicians are attending oversubscribed continuing medical education courses on CAM, and hospitals are offering CAM services, sometimes through outpatient integrative medicine clinics. This paper presents factors behind the growth of CAM, analyzes its relationship with conventional medicine, and suggests how the integration of CAM and conventional medicine can be more effectively guided.
Ruggie
Mary
M
John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA. mary_ruggie@harvard.edu
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends*; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States