Integrative approaches to patient care at NWHSU

Background

Several initiatives at Northwestern Health Sciences University (NWHSU) reflect a strong commitment to integrative patient care. An assessment of current projects was conducted to inform future growth in NWHSU's clinical services, education and research programs.

Methods

On-going institutional initiatives, considered integrative in nature, were identified and classified according to the continuum of team healthcare models defined by Boon. Key stakeholders summarized individual project goals, collaborations, strengths, and challenges.

Results

Sixteen initiatives were identified, representing a range of integration and spanning the continuum of team healthcare models. These efforts could be grouped into three main areas of focus, including providing patient care in clinical settings, training students to deliver integrative care in diverse populations, and developing models of integrated care that are both effective and financially viable.

Initiatives that demonstrated the highest levels of integration shared characteristics of clear objectives and purpose, patient-centered core values, non-hierarchical blends of both CAM and conventional care, and indirect sources of funding.

Discussion

Models that demonstrate varying degrees of integration are necessary to meet the needs and goals of stakeholders across multiple initiatives. Resulting collaborations with external partners have improved the national reputation of NWHSU as an innovative and credible natural healthcare institution. While several initiatives offered educational opportunities, an effort to expose more students to the spectrum of integrative patient care experiences is needed to meet University goals.

Conclusions

A review of current projects clarifies the vision of integration at NWHSU, and informs future initiatives to enhance student, clinician, and patient care experiences.