Dear IHPC Members,
You may have noticed that we had some technical errors in the previously sent newsletters. We've tracked down the coding errors and made the corrections so that you can now link directly to the caucus article below. A number of you have asked for the hyperlink to this newsletter to share with your colleagues. Here is the link to copy and share.
https://conta.cc/2Un3ilX
We regret any confusion the previous newsletter may have caused. If you have not yet read the article on the caucus
(click here), we encourage you to do so. The dramatic progress that was made by all the planners, participants and therapists involved to elevate the awareness of integrative care among our elected leaders and their staff should be commended. If you get the chance to thank them, please do so.
Kindly and Gratefully,
Kim Stewart, Editor, IHPC
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Let's Put the Health Back in Healthcare
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Caucus Briefing and Hands-On Therapies Leave a Lasting Impression on Capitol Hill
On March 6, 2019, legislators and their staffs literally experienced the benefits of integrative medicine. From the powerful testimonials of veterans and practitioners of all modalities to the interdisciplinary therapy room, even the most skeptical witnessed how integrative medicine is the future of not only pain management, but health and wellness overall.
"
The Congressional Briefing and interdisciplinary therapy demonstration was extremely successful with representation form 58 legislative offices from both sides of the aisle.The briefing provided important information regarding effective, non-opioid, integrative approaches to the treatment of pain which will hopefully impact future policy," said Len Wisneski, IHPC's Board of Director's Chair.
Here are a few quick highlights:
- Thirty-three Democratic House offices attended, representing 16 States: CA, FL, IL, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NJ, NV, NY, OR, PA, SC, TX & WA.
- Seventeen Republican House offices attended representing 12 States: AL, GA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MO, OH, SC, TX, VA, WV.
- Included the Democratic Caucus Freshman Representative and staff from both Ways & Means and Energy & Commerce.
- Eight Senate offices came across the street to attend the caucus, including the Democratic Leader, Democratic Whip, Assistant Democratic Leader, Senate HELP Committee, and Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs.
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Harvard T. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, released a much anticipated manifesto in
JAMA
on April 2, 2019 that dramatically shifts the philosophy of patient care from an "absence of disease or infirmity" to a concept that embraces whole-person care and patient well-being. This important paradigm change that "reimagines health" is a concept that is not new to integrative health. It respects patients' desires to grow and feel satisfied with their health
and
subsequent quality-of-life.
Author Howard, K. Koh, MD, MPH defines this as a
flourish index
, which includes six domains of patient wellness
: 1: happiness and life satisfaction, 2. physical and mental health, 3. meaning and purpose, 4. character and virtue, 5. close social relationships, and 6. financial and material security.
Dr. Koh writes: "
Measurement of flourishing makes possible weighing the effects of different treatment decisions not only on physical and mental health, but in the full context of what matters in a person’s life. While this makes treatment de- cisions more complex, it lies at the heart of patient-centered care."
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IHPC Board Member John Weeks recently interviewed Andrew Weil MD on his monetary gift $15 million to the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. This contribution will allow the center to leadership roles and staff and support a much larger strategic plan for the future.
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Integrative Health Policy Consortium | 712 H Street NE Suite 1108, Washington DC, 20002 |
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