Integrative Medicine is more than a buzzword. It’ s the heartbeat of everything we do. For over 100 years, we’ ve been teaching students to treat the whole person. A technician can respond to symptoms. But a physician seeks out the root cause of disease, considers diagnoses, then customizes the best mix of treatments to relieve discomfort and restore health.
The patient journeys below aren’ t a specific person or diagnosis. Think of them as a hypothetical snapshot to illustrate the growing role of integrative health care. Our holistic training ensures you’ re ready for any role— collaborating with practitioners across the health care spectrum to do what’ s best for the patient. That’ s integrative medicine.
Integrative Medicine at work in SPORTS MEDICINE
Integrative Medicine at work in CANCER TREATMENT
16 years old. A basketball player experiences hip pain and sees a-chiropracticphysician- for manipulations and physical therapy. He is also referred to a-naturopathic physician,- who prescribes nutritional supplements to reduce inflamation.
The Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services have approved acupuncture for chronic low back pain as an alternative to medication since 2020. ⁴
32 y. o. Toward the end of his athletic career, he sees a-DC- and a-licensed acupuncturist- for ongoing low back strain.
50 y. o. Throughout retirement, the player continues to see a-chiropractic physician as his primary health care provider.
PATIENT’ S AGE
18 y. o. In college, the patient sees a team athletic trainer, who recommends ongoing-chiropractic careto maintain flexibility and optimize performance.
20 y. o. After a knee injury, the patient works with a-DC- and a-licensed acupuncturist- who coordinate his care with an orthopedic surgeon and a physical therapist to speed healing and recovery.
27 y. o. As a professional athlete, the patient accesses the team-DC- and a-licensed acupuncturistto maintain optimal health and to address knee and hip pain.
Every NBA franchise team and all 32 NFL teams have a chiropractic physician on staff. ⁵
44 years old. At a regular-naturopathic medicine- visit, a patient’ s blood work returns abnormal. She is referred to an oncologist for further testing.
45 y. o. While in treatment, the patient’ s-naturopathic physician recommends a diet to boost immunity, while providing herbal remedies to assist with physical and mental side effects. The integrative health center adds a-chiropractic physicianto the patient’ s care team for physical therapy and pain relief.
PATIENT’ S AGE
The Journal of the National Cancer Institute Monographs published a study that an estimated 48 %-80 % of North American breast cancer survivors use complementary and integrative therapies to manage side effects and improve quality of life. ⁶
45 y. o. Patient is diagnosed with breast cancer and experiences severe nausea during chemotherapy treatment. Oncologist refers her to a-licensed acupuncturist- who helps relieve symptoms.
46 y. o. Treatment is successful. Her-naturopathic physiciancontinues to monitor progress and support the patient’ s preference for a conservative, natural recovery.
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