Complementary and Alternative Medicine Can Improve U.S. Heath Care System
March 17th, 2009
According to a new Rand Corp. report, the United States health care system is challenged by waste and high costs. Although one of the world’s most advanced health care systems, several factors have contributed to the inefficiency of the present system.
While Americans are living longer, two-thirds are now overweight or obese, one in 10 have diabetes and nearly 25 percent of those aged 45 to 54 have hypertension, the survey indicates.
The aging in the general population, obesity increase and technological innovations that extend life span but with higher costs are among the factors driving up costs, the report found.
The escalation of medical expenditures remains an urgent problem in the United States. Cost and containment strategies by conventional medical providers are failing to achieve results. Integration of allopathic and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers can positively impact patient quality of care while limiting overall costs. This approach to patient care has great potential to improve the U.S. health care system.
Health professionals and patients should have sufficient information and access to all useful therapies, both conventional and complementary and alternative. Use of CAM is widespread among the U.S. public, with more than one-third of adults reporting that they have pursued some form of these treatments, which include: Acupuncture, herbal remedies, naturopathy, massage therapy, homeopathy, biofeedback, energy healing, chiropractic, and hypnosis.
While there have been a few notable changes in which CAM therapies people are using, the overall number of adults employing some type of CAM has remained remarkably consistent since the 90’s. These therapies are a component of modern day health care and should be as accessible as any other therapeutic options.
Patients visiting acupuncture physicians, massage therapists, homeopaths, chiropractics, and other holistically-oriented physicians who serve as primary care physicians often have lower utilization costs and higher patient satisfaction levels than patients treated by conventional medical doctors.
Patients visiting CAM-orientated primary care physicians experience fewer hospitalizations, undergo fewer surgeries and use considerably fewer pharmaceuticals than HMO patients who receive traditional medical care. Conditions CAM-oriented primary physicians may treat range from upper respiratory tract infections and allergies to headaches, orthopedic and other medical conditions.
Alternative medicine provides an important option in response to the need for health care in the United States.
For information about acupuncture for health and wellness call Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician, at (305) 595-9500.
One Response to “Complementary and Alternative Medicine Can Improve U.S. Heath Care System”
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