258807 Bringing multidiplinary providers together for optimal cancer care

Monday, October 29, 2012

Carla Wilson, MA, LAc, DAOM, PhD (candidate) , Doctoral Studies and Research Department, American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, San Francisco, CA
Background: Complementary alternative medical (CAM) treatments are rarely covered under health care plans. Without special program the services low-income women with cancer would not have access to these beneficial treatments. The Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic (CMCC) was founded to provide access to alternative complementary modalities of treatment for women with cancer.

Methods: Patients at CMCC are surveyed bi-annually to gather information to help determine the effects that CAM therapies have upon their quality of life. Focus groups are held and one-on-one interviews take place.

Results: It was found that women that accessed CAM services a CMCC expressed that they were empowered have more control over their lives and expanded health care choices. Women indicated that post cancer treatment, they continued to use CAM therapies to stay healthy and make life style changes that might help them to remain strong and cancer free.

Conclusion:By providing CAM services women going through treatment for cancer options in health care choices is important. The multidisciplinary approach at the CAM clinic is an important draw for women and the built-in health education was identified as an important element of their clinic experience.

Learning Areas:
Clinical medicine applied in public health
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Through participation in this presentation,the audience will be able to: 1. Describe inter-professional education. 2.Discuss the need to have cross training in multiple-practitioner clinic settings. 3.List the reasons why this is important for quality patient care.

Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Cancer

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I teach alternative medicine and research and have a specialty in cancer care.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3005.0: Roundtable Discussions and Experiences in Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Health Practices