Integration of complementary and alternative medicine in a major pediatric teaching hospital: an initial overview

Abstract

Objective: To describe the establishment of a multidisciplinary team of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers and educators in an urban pediatric hospital and affiliated medical school.

Background: Pediatric CAM use is increasing. Physicians are interested in CAM-related education but few programs had been developed in pediatrics. In 1998, Children's Hospital Boston established the Center for Holistic Pediatric Education and Research (CHPER), a CAM multidisciplinary team providing clinical services, education, and research.

Method: A retrospective review describing data from patient consultation notes, CAM lectures, clinical practice guidelines, curriculum materials, team meeting minutes, and team member manuscripts and publications.

Results: Over 5.5 years, CHPER staff provided over 2100 consults: acupuncture, massage, holistic pediatrician, relaxation therapies, biofeedback, hypnosis, and bio-pharmaceutics. Acupuncture and massage therapies were incorporated into a Clinical Practice Guideline. Formal education was delivered through didactic sessions, workshops, self-learning modules, clinical observation, and clinical practice. CHPER faculty published 1 book and 64 articles on CAM-related topics.

Conclusion: An interdisciplinary team of CAM clinicians and educators can be integrated into an urban pediatric teaching hospital to provide CAM medical education and clinical services.