title: Integrating a complementary medicine service within a general surgery department: from contemplation to practice.
abstract: This article describes experience in developing a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) service within a general surgery department in a public academic hospital in Israel. A framework is suggested for integrating CAM services within a hospital, based on the authors' experience, along three themes: the organizational structure of such a service, communication with the conventional team, and self-appraisal using a research-based documentation and assessment process. With the anticipated increase in CAM utilization within medical institutions, it is hoped this article will provide foundations for successful integration of other such services.
authors.affiliation: Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. eschiff@bezeqint.net
authors.forename: Elad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schiff
authors.forename: Shmuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Attias
authors.forename: Haim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hen
authors.forename: Gur
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kreindler
authors.forename: Zahi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Arnon
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sroka
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ben-Arye
mesh_terms: D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013502:General Surgery; D006296:Health Services; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000458:organization & administration; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D055048:Integrative Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007557:Israel; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team