White Paper: Complementary and Integrative Healthcare – How it Fits in the Healthcare System
Executive Summary
The ever evolving healthcare system will see significant changes coming in the future. Complementary (CAM) and integrated medicine will continue to grow as major players in how Americans treat medical problems. CAM is defined as a “ group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine…“The Complementary medicine” refers to use of CAM together with conventional medicine, such as using in addition to usual care to help lessen pain.
Most use of CAM by Americans is complementary. “Alternative medicine” refers to use of CAM in place of conventional medicine. “Integrative medicine” combines treatments from conventional medicine and CAM for which there is some high-quality evidence of safety and effectiveness. It is also called integrated medicine.” (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Complementary-and-Integrative-Healthcare-How-it-Fits-in-the-Healthcare-System