It’s amazing how today there is an ongoing trend in mind-melds between advancing technologies and a holistic, total man concept in health-care. In particular, this article speaks of merging Internet online educational learning experiences, medical science, nutrition, exercise, meditation and so much more, in a quest for breakthroughs in quality health and wellness–integrative medicine.
Integrative Medicine–A Partnership
Much of integrative medicine hinges on a partnership of cooperation between the doctor and the patient. This is what many patients have longed for in recent years. Doctors and patients came to the realization that the mind and the body are intrinsically connected. That said, common approaches to wellness include courses or programs based on nutrition, fitness, Tai Chi, meditation and/or prayer.
The Integrative Medicine Approach
Many hospitals, universities, clinics and medical schools are now increasingly emphasizing this mind, body and soul approach to treating their patients; more explicitly, treating the person and not just the illness. Improved protocols in integrative medicine (IM) have succeeded in combining traditional medical protocols with non-conventional methods when the methods show evidence to support their use.
After a well-known landmark 1993 study, it was discovered that one in three Americans uses some alternative therapy rather than a conventional, established medical treatment. Clearly, there’s been a compromise in the mind of many patients with regard to modern health-care reliability.
Online Masters Degree In Integrative Medicine and Other Programs
Consequently, there is a rush now by health-care facilities to employ degree and/or certified staff members nurtured by the IM school of thought and those having degrees in health-care administration. According to one recent study by the American Hospital Association, hospitals now offering alternative therapies have more than doubled.
Thanks to the growing online degree programs offering doctoral, masters and certification programs in IM, students can now be assured of a future career in health-care backed with a foundation of integrative medicine.
Today, quality health-care online programs, such as offered by Acaom.edu, focus on various health delivery methods and other forms of wellness techniques. Similar to health administration and integrative health-care management degree programs, these online programs concentrate on wellness programs and their management. This move towards holistic healing has also influenced many university nursing programs. Many universities now offer courses on holistic healing as part of their RN-BSN programs, giving incoming nurses the opportunity to learn these alternative techniques. Holistic healing teaches the nurse to treat the person as a whole, rather than focusing on the symptoms. When treating a patient, the nurse must focus on the interconnectedness of the patient’s mind, body, spirit, and environment. Hospitals love hiring those who have gone through with holistic nursing training because it allows them to give patients the best possible care.
The health-care segment seems to have no boundaries as to future projected growth. Add to this promising outlook the advancing technologies in online education, and you have a win-win situation for everyone involved.
