Integrative medicine primary care: assessing the practice model through patients’ experiences

Integrative medicine (IM) is a clinical paradigm of whole person healthcare that combines appropriate conventional and complementary medicine (CM) treatments. Studies of integrative healthcare systems and theory-driven evaluations of IM practice models need to be undertaken. Two health services research methods can strengthen the validity of IM healthcare studies, practice theory, and fidelity evaluation. The University of Arizona Integrative Health Center (UAIHC) is a membership-supported integrative primary care clinic in Phoenix, AZ. A comparative effectiveness evaluation is being conducted to assess its clinical and cost outcomes. A process evaluation of the clinic’s practice theory components assesses model fidelity for four purposes: (1) as a measure of intervention integrity to determine whether the practice model was delivered as intended; (2) to describe an integrative primary care clinic model as it is being developed and refined; (3) as potential covariates in the outcomes analyses, to assist in interpretation of findings, and for external validity and replication; and (4) to provide feedback for needed corrections and improvements of clinic operations over time. This paper provides a rationale for the use of practice theory and fidelity evaluation in studies of integrative practices and describes the approach and protocol used in fidelity evaluation of the UAIHC.

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University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine: Lifestyle Medicine Approaches in an Integrative Primary Care Model

Creating a Lifestyle Medicine Center ◽

10.1007/978-3-030-48088-2_29 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 335-344

Author(s):

Robert L. Crocker

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Integrative Medicine ◽

Care Model ◽

Lifestyle Medicine ◽

Primary Care Model ◽

University Of Arizona

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P04.72. Towards a model for integrative medicine in the primary care of patients with chronic joint diseases and allergy

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1186/1472-6882-12-s1-p342 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 12 (S1) ◽

Author(s):

M Jong ◽

M Busch ◽

L van de Vijver ◽

E Baars

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Integrative Medicine ◽

Joint Diseases

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Remote Pharmacist Practice Model of Collaboration in Primary Care

Circulation Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes ◽

10.1161/circoutcomes.118.004801 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Glen J. Pearson

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Practice Model

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Integrative Palliative Care

10.1093/med/9780190466268.003.0031 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Angela Lee ◽

Stephanie Cheng ◽

Dale Lupu

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Palliative Care ◽

End Of Life ◽

Integrative Medicine ◽

Advance Care Planning ◽

Palliative Medicine ◽

Geriatric Patients ◽

Care Planning ◽

Patient Goals ◽

Advance Care

Integrative medicine and palliative medicine share many tenets. This chapter reviews integrative approaches to the most common symptoms needing palliation among geriatric patients at the end of life, including pain, nausea and vomiting, constipation, dyspnea, and fatigue. Several palliative care approaches to communication about patient goals and advance care planning for a time when the patient is unable to make decisions are described. Resources to support advance care planning are provided. Finally, issues that need to be addressed by either primary care geriatrics or in consultation with palliative care in the last weeks, days, and hours of life are described.

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