in the VA Jeanette E Akhter MD MAc War Related Illness and Injury Center Washington DC Important Questions 1 What is CAM 2 Why is it important for me to know about it 3 Is the VA involved in CAM ID: 678123
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Introduction to Complementary and Altern..." is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the VA
Jeanette E. Akhter, M.D.,
M.Ac
War Related Illness and Injury Center
Washington, DCSlide2
Important Questions1. What is CAM?2. Why is it important for me to know about it?
3. Is the VA involved in CAM?Slide3
Definition of CAM “Diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine” (NCCAM
)Slide4
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)Federal Government's lead agency for scientific research on CAM1 of the 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Serviceshttp://nccam.nih.govSlide5
NCCAM's missionTo explore CAM practices using rigorous scientific methods and build an evidence base regarding the safety and effectiveness of these practices Basic, translational ("bench-to-bedside"), and clinical research Research capacity building and training
Education and outreach programsSlide6
Further Definition"Complementary medicine" refers to use of CAM together with conventional medicine. Most use of CAM by Americans is complementary. "Alternative medicine" refers to use of CAM in place of conventional medicine
.
"Integrative medicine" (also called integrated medicine) refers to a practice that combines both conventional and CAM treatments for which there is evidence of safety and effectiveness. Slide7
Types of CAM Natural products Mind-body medicine Manipulative and body-based practices Movement therapies Traditional healers Energy field manipulationSlide8
Types of CAMWhole medical systemsAyurvedic medicine Traditional Chinese medicine
Acupuncture
Herbs
Homeopathy
NaturopathySlide9
CAM Online Education Series10 lectures with videos and
transcripts
A question and answer transcript
An optional online test
Additional resource links
A certificate of completionSlide10
Why incorporate CAM in the VA?
Numerous Veterans have complex and difficult-to-diagnose, difficult-to treat health problems following deploymentSlide11
TreatmentFirst response: Provide the highest quality traditional western medical care availableSometimes results are not completely
satisfactory
Residual pain
Side effects of treatments
Veterans, their families, and their care
providers
seek additional beneficial therapies
Slide12
Use of CAM in USThe 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) showed that approximately 38 percent of adults use CAM. Slide13
VHAHCS Complementary and Alternative Medicine2002 VA Health Agency Information Group Study84% of VAs offered either in-house CAM therapies or referred out
Study being repeated this yearSlide14
VA Central Office preparing publication of guidelines for CAMStandardization of criteria to determine which CAM modalities should be integrated into VA care
Credentialing requirements for practitioners
Mechanisms for CAM delivery
Documentation, billing, etc.