Integrative Healthcare is an approach to care that takes into account the best of Western medicine approaches and partners that science and knowing with nature and all the ways we, as humans, work to achieve wellness and well-being despite our circumstances. The use of an integrative approach to care is easily incorporated into a thoughtful medically guided plan of care. When used, not only does it improve care for patients, it also enhances the cost-effectiveness of health care delivery for providers and payors.
The defining principles of integrative medicine and care are:
The patient and practitioner partner in the healing process to achieve goals.
All aspects that influence health, well-being and disease are taken into consideration during planning.
The plan of care considers the whole person; body, mind, and spirit in the context of environment and nature.
Providers use all approaches of healing arts sciences to facilitate the body’s innate capacity for healing.
Effective interventions that are natural and less invasive are used whenever possible.
Because good medicine is based in good science, integrative medicine and compassionate care is open to new models of care.
Integrative concepts of treatment, the broader concepts of health promotion and illness prevention are paramount.
Person-centered care is the foundation of creating plans to address unique conditions, needs and circumstances.
Practitioners of integrative care exemplify its principles and commit themselves to self-care, self-awareness and self-development.