Integrator Blog News & Reports

Integration, by nature, asks us to open our peripheral visions. We are served to look at the whole of the field. We need to develop new fascia, new connectivity. Opportunities crop up in new places. The Integrator Blog News and Reports is meant to provide you with information, insights and tools to enhance integrated care in the environment you serve.
- John Weeks, publisher-editor

Tales of Two Surveys on CAM: Thomsen-Medstat Finds 37% Using, AARP & NCCAM Find Seniors Still Not Talking...
Two recently published surveys on complementary and alternative medicine topics suggest that use is stable, at 37%, and that seniors, at least, are still not talking to their physicians about their use of alternative medicines. The first survey was engaged by Thomson-Medstat and the latter by the AARP in association with NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Both surveys include useful breakdowns on types of therapies, motivations for use, and other topics. Interestingly, the Thomson-Medstat survey found that more than twice as high a percentage of those surveyed were talking with their doctors about their use of CAM as was found in the AARP-NCCAM survey of seniors. Pus $100,000 families lead use - thus the battle for recognition by well-off medical doctors shapes up as intra-class warfare... Link

Survey Data on Yoga and Coaching Practices, Plus More Info on Massage
Two surveys were reported this month, one by the International Coach Federation on the coaching industry, demographics and income, and the other, by the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, on consumer use of massage. These are linked here to a study commissioned by the Yoga Journal on the growth of the Yoga industry. All three fields show substantial to explosive growth. The Integrator compares data on coaching incomes with what we see from surveys and statements related to massage therapists, acupuncturists and naturopathic doctors. The numbers aren't pretty for the professions that have entrance requirements which involve significant student loan debt... Link

Income for Naturopathic Physicians: Data from AANMC Survey
The Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC) recently released data from a 2004 survey of the roughly 2500 licensed naturopathic physicians then practicing in North America. The AANMC attributed the wide spectrum of net incomes to "personal choice and values/priorities." Still, 98% of respondents showed satisfaction with their career choices. Most NDs do not have the opportunity to be employed and must develop their practice from scratch. An increasing number are in multi-disciplinary settings. A major short-coming of the portrait, however, is the response rate. Only 583 (19%) took part. How many of the non-responders couldn't make the shift from medical student to self-marketer and dropped out, despite student loan debt frequently at $100,000+? The Integrator compares this data with those on MD income published by the Medical Group Management Association. Link

ACCAHC: Historic, Multi-Disciplinary CAM Educator Project Announces Grant, Exec Change, Dues-Basis and Move to Independence
In early 2004, a new entity emerged on the integrated healthcare scene, the Academic Consortium for Complementary and Alternative Health Care (ACCAHC). In the ensuing three years under the direction of Pamela Snider, ND, ACCAHC has made significant strides in the areas of education, research and policy as an action-oriented multi-disciplinary project. Born and nurtured as part of the 501c4 Integrated Healthcare Policy Consortium (IHPC), ACCAHC is now taking steps toward its independence as a stand-alone, dues-based and grant-supported 501c3 entity. This article notes ACCAHC accomplishments, an executive director transition and plans for a $30,000 grant from the organization's founding backer, Lucy Gonda. For more on ACCAHC, go to www.ihpc.info and click on ACCAHC. Link

Major Blue Cross Blue Shield Savings from CAM-Oriented Primary Care Provider Program to be Published in JMPT
In 1999, Integrator sponsor Alternative Medicine Integration Group (AMI) began a unique project through HMO Illinois, a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan. Chiropractic doctors originally served as the project's only primary care providers (PCPs) inside a broader network of conventional medical doctors. AMI has since added some integrative MDs and osteopaths to its PCP panel. The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics recently accepted for publication a report on seven years and 70,274 member months of AMI experience with BCBS. Utilization data on hospital admissions, lengths of stay, pharmaceutical costs and outpatient surgeries were all between 59% and 85% less than the utilization by the HMO's typical population accessing care through conventional PCPs. This is the second JMPT publication on the project, but the first in which outcomes of other CAM-oriented PCPs are reported. Link

Will "Integration Light" by Competing Hospitals Kill Cancer Treatment Centers of America's Plans for an Inpatient Facility?
Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) wants to build a 24 bed inpatient facility in the greater Seattle area. But CTCA's application for a Certificate of Need (CON) from the State of Washington Department of Health (DOH) has been twice denied. CTCA, known nationally for its pioneering, integrated cancer treatment, argued that its multi-disciplinary, fully-integrative approach was not available elsewhere in the region. Yet, on review of web-based materials from a list of competing hospitals, the DOH denied CTCA's claim. The Integrator approached this article as a Seattle-area consumer. First, CTCA's deeply integrated web presence is explored. Then we visit websites of the competing hospitals the DOH cited as claiming "comprehensive" or "integrated" programs. Do you agree with the DOH's finding? Might the marketing of integration be an over-statement? Which of these reflect action in your own hospitals. Take a look. Then you decide whether CTCA's plans, and patient choice, are being limited by "integration light?" Link

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