The medicine landscape in the US has been gradually progressing towards a more personalized and holistic approach to healing. A significant part of this progress has been the combination of western medicine and alternative medicine, a concept described as ‘integrative medicine.’
This approach to healthcare encompasses a patient’s sense of community, mind, and spirituality into the healing process, aspects largely ignored in conventional medicine. As a result, the approach caters to the whole person rather than a small affected area of their body, and this helps reduce reoccurrences of illness.
Typically, integrative medicine or complementary and alternative medicine has gotten a gradual reception. Still, its demand has been progressively increasing in the United States hospitals as it continues to get evidence-based backing.
Research shows that patients who receive integrative medicine are more likely to have reduced or alleviated pain. This results in a decrease in hospital expenses. Integrative health patients incur slightly higher costs than those who use conventional medicine.
However, evidence-based data shows that integrative health patients have reduced all-risk mortality after discharge, which may prevent additional expenses from future admissions.