Incorporating complementary and integrative medicine in a comprehensive cancer center.
This article provides a model of integrating complementary and integrative medicine into cancer care in a comprehensive conventional cancer center. This model requires a patient-centered approach with attention to patients' concerns and enhanced communication skills. A discussion of patients' psycho-social-spiritual perspectives is a crucial component in this approach. In addition, complementary and integrative medicine practitioners and conventional practitioners' involvement and cooperation in developing this integration process are essential. This process requires tremendous team effort, institutional culture change, trust and open communication between all members of the health care team, and support from institutional leaders.
Frenkel
Moshe
M
Integrative Medicine Program, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 145, Houston, TX 77030, USA. mfrenkel@mdanderson.org
Cohen
Lorenzo
L
D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D014481:United States