Healthcare Innovation
Running Head: HEALTHCARE INNOVATION 1
Healthcare Innovation
HCA / 210
November 25, 2012
HEALTHCARE INNOVATION 2
Healthcare Innovation The healthcare innovation of CAM or complementary and alternative medicines is a very broad and constantly changing field. The practice of complementary and alternative medicine is made up of groups of diverse medical and healthcare systems, practices and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Often times complementary medicines are used together with conventional medicine, but there are times when alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. When understanding the practice of CAM, there are two parts. There is complementary medicines and alternative medicines. The term "complementary medicine" refers to the using of
CAM being used with conventional medicine. An example of this would be would be a doctor having his or her patient using acupuncture along with a prescribed medicine to help with pain management. The term "alternative medicine" refers to the use of CAM in the position of a conventional medicine. An example of this would be a patient using a using massage therapy in the place of prescribed oral medications that have could serious side effects to a patient. With the practice of complementary and alternative medicines, the different sections of the practice are often divided into groups by the types of particular practices. The different categories are natural products, mind and body medicine, and manipulative and body- based practices ("National Center For Complementary And Alternative Medicine", n.d.). The category of natural products includes the taking of herbal medicines, vitamins, and minerals. A current example would be fish oil products taken by a person to obtain the vitamin
Omega 3. According to a 2007 study from the National Institute of Health, the most commonly used product by adults was
Healthcare Innovation
HCA / 210
November 25, 2012
HEALTHCARE INNOVATION 2
Healthcare Innovation The healthcare innovation of CAM or complementary and alternative medicines is a very broad and constantly changing field. The practice of complementary and alternative medicine is made up of groups of diverse medical and healthcare systems, practices and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Often times complementary medicines are used together with conventional medicine, but there are times when alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. When understanding the practice of CAM, there are two parts. There is complementary medicines and alternative medicines. The term "complementary medicine" refers to the using of
CAM being used with conventional medicine. An example of this would be would be a doctor having his or her patient using acupuncture along with a prescribed medicine to help with pain management. The term "alternative medicine" refers to the use of CAM in the position of a conventional medicine. An example of this would be a patient using a using massage therapy in the place of prescribed oral medications that have could serious side effects to a patient. With the practice of complementary and alternative medicines, the different sections of the practice are often divided into groups by the types of particular practices. The different categories are natural products, mind and body medicine, and manipulative and body- based practices ("National Center For Complementary And Alternative Medicine", n.d.). The category of natural products includes the taking of herbal medicines, vitamins, and minerals. A current example would be fish oil products taken by a person to obtain the vitamin
Omega 3. According to a 2007 study from the National Institute of Health, the most commonly used product by adults was
References: DeVries, G. (2004). Complementary and Alternative Medicine Benefits Go Mainstream: Ten Reasons Why CCH Coverage Makes Sense in Today 's Group Health Environment. Employee Benefit Plan Review, 59(2), 20. Exploring the Alternatives. (2008) Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, 26(7), 4-5. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (n.d.). Retreived from httpe://nccam.nih.gov/news/carmstats/NHIS.htm 5 reasons integrative medicine is good for the patient, (2011). Hudson Vaslley Business Journal, 22(2), 13.