Integrative Medicine and Health Care System
Healing Practices - East Meets West
It is vitally important the stake holders of your health care system comprehend and implement a short term and long term plan that is based on the principles of integrative medicine. In fact, the future of health care and your health and wellness may very well depend on it.
Integrative medicine is a combination of eastern and western healing practices and a blending of philosophical principles of these two healing approaches.
Western medicine, Canada's medical approach for the health care system is basically an evidence-based scientific high-tech approach. It is a powerful and effective treatment option for acute care.
Canada's Healthcare System Needs to Implement Other Healing Practices
However, it is less effective in treating chronic illnesses that plague society. Therefore, there is a need to diversify and implement other approaches to healing. Integrative medicine is a blending of conventional, alternative and complementary healing practices. Each of these healing approaches have something to offer to the healing process.
The process of healing and health and health care is a packaged deal. Health and wellness encompasses the full dimension of the human body, mind, and soul or spirit. "(An) integrative perspective on health and health care is oriented around the dimensions of body, mind and spirit within the context of competence and compassion, explains Dr. Steven Aung. "It is the perspective of the total holistic healing endeavor."
Dr. Aung is associate clinical professor in the department of medicine and family medicine at the University of Alberta. In addition, he holds visiting professorships with a number of universities and medical colleges across Canada and around the world.
It was his gentle approach to introducing the notion of integrated medical care in his medical practice that led to Canada's first Certificate Program in Medical Acupuncture, also developed by Dr. Aung for the University of Alberta in 1991. Dr. Aung is also a pioneer in the integration of western, traditional Chinese and complementary medicine.
Alberta Leads the Way in the Field of Integrative Medicine
It is through Dr. Aung's efforts that have helped to make Alberta an active centre in the field of integrated and complementary medicine. "The perspective of integrative medicine affirms the appropriate and judicious healing efforts of various practitioners and their patients working together, hand in hand, heart to heart, mind to mind, and soul to soul. It is like the spark of the heart of the healing energy process."
Dr. Aung's long-term goal is to further honour his grandfather's original vision and mission through the creation of a medical centre or hospital that offers fully integrated western and eastern treatments to its patients. The realization of this vision can happen. But it needs a concerted effort of every stake holder of Canada's health care system and healing practitioners to make it happen.
Those who hold the reins of the future of all health care systems should heed the wisdom of Dr. Aung's vision. Everyone who uses the health care system needs to become partners in the process of healing - as patients you must work together with your health care team practitioners - hand in hand, heart to heart, mind to mind, and soul to soul.
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