Spaulding began practicing integrative medicine (IM) in its Pain Management program long before the term came into popular use. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) is an ideal specialty for the practice of integrative medicine, which emphasizes patient empowerment and functional performance rather than symptom suppression. Integrative medicine is also known as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Building on a 30-year history of interdisciplinary inpatient treatment of chronic pain (starting with a biofeedback-oriented, self-management philosophy inspired by Norm Shealy, MD), integrative medicine approaches at Spaulding have steadily spread to other inpatient and outpatient settings in recent years. A 2003 grant from the Victoria and Jacob Langeloth Foundation enabled these disparate initiatives to coalesce under the direction of Eric Leskowitz, MD, a psychiatrist and writer/researcher/practitioner in energy medicine. Three areas of the grant's focus match the core mission of Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital to support: Research Some of our rearch initiatives in integrative medicine include such initiatives as: | • | A survey of hospital inpatients regarding their attitudes towards IM therapies. | | • | Compilation of a directory of in-house IM providers. | | • | A pilot project on the impact of energy balancing on chronic pain treatment. | | • | Development of an acupressure protocol for the treatment of phantom pain. | | • | Electrophysiologic analysis of acupuncture in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. | | • | A functional study of the impact of tai chi on cardiovascular health in the elderly. |
Education SRH has presented the Harvard Medical School CME course "Structural Acupuncture for Physicians" course under the direction of Joseph Audette, MD (Medical Director, Spaulding Medford), and an annual course for local clinicians called "Energy and Healing for Healthcare Professionals" since 2001. One textbook has already been published - CAM in Rehabilitation (E. Leskowitz Ed., Elsevier, 2003) and another is in press - Integrative Pain Medicine (J. Audette and A. Bailey, Eds., Humana Press, 2007). SRH joined with Tufts Medical School in an inter-institutional collaboration by acting as a clinical site for 4th year students in their NIH-funded Evidence-based Complementary Alternative Medicine Program (EBCAM). Community educational programs have been very popular, highlighted by daylong events featuring well-known personalities with disabilities: | • | Ram Dass talked about rehabilitation and spirituality, as it affected his recovery from a stroke. | | • | Trisha Meili, the Central Park Jogger, discussed traumatic brain injury and mindfulness. (Available on DVD) | | • | Sidewalk Sam, local artist and paraplegic, illustrated the role of creativity in rehab. |
Clinical Care Currently, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital offers a variety of outpatient services in IM . We utilize a dually trained staff, to assure competency and to facilitate accreditation. Staff members - most of whom are located at the Spaulding Medford outpatient center include: | • | Physician acupuncturists | | • | Nurse who has completed the Barbara Brennan trainin | | • | Physical therapists who are Reiki Masters | | • | Certified yoga therapist | | • | Martial arts instructor | | • | Physical therapists who are licensed massage therapists | | • | Psychologist hypnotherapist | | • | Occupational therapy biofeedback trainers | | • | Psychiatrist energy worker |
The future is also brightened by Spaulding's plan for a new hospital, to be designed in accordance with the principles of the "green hospital" movement. Integrative medicine will be a core part of that mission, and a natural fit for Spaulding. For clinical outpatient care, see:Integrative Medicine Outpatient Services | Contact us For more information about the Integrative Medicine Project, please contact us at: SRHIntegMed@partners.org, or call (617) 573-2631. DVD Videos We offer 3 DVDs. To order, send us an order form with your payment. Download Order Form (PDF: 176K) "The Creative Arts and Spinal Cord Injury: A Day with Sidewalk Sam" Well-known Boston cultural figure and spinal cord injury survivor Bob Guillemin ("Sidewalk Sam") spent a day at Spaulding, where he inspired patients and staff with his infectious enthusiasm for the healing power of artistic expression. (35 minutes) "Spirituality and Rehabilitation: A Day with Ram Dass" Beloved spiritual teacher Ram Dass spends a day visiting his hometown of Boston as the invited guest of Spaulding. (100 minutes) "Mindfulness and Brain Injury: The Central Park Jogger's Story" This includes Trisha Meili's talk to the Spaulding Society, an interview with Dr. Eric Leskowitz, and a guided mindfulness meditation session. (70 minutes). Audio CD A CD of guided imagery for relaxation has been produced by Eve Kennedy-Spaien OTR/L, clinical supervisor and director of CAM therapies at Spaulding Medford. For more information or to order the CD, see: Disc-of-Light.com |
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