| Therapeutic massage is just one of the many complementary therapies available to patients and the public at Southcoast. |
Exploring Complementary Therapies at Southcoast
About
five years into his practice, gastroenterologist Kevin Murphy,
MD, began to notice something about his patients. After initially
being "cured," they would return with the same illnesses.
"I've always been interested in the emotional, intellectual and spiritual aspects of medicine," Dr. Murphy said. "So I began looking at what else we could provide to help people use their bodies and minds not only to manage their illnesses but to keep them well."
That search led him to the Center for Mind/Body Medicine in Washington, D.C., and complementary therapies. Not long after, he noticed that his patients who were using complementary therapies were getting better--and staying that way.
"Complementary therapies can be very appropriate in the practice of gastroenterology," Dr. Murphy said. "The stomach and the bowel are influenced by the autonomic nervous system, which in turn is influenced by emotions. Once we have ruled out organic causes for a condition, it's logical to delve into other reasons why a person is sick. Treatment for stress reduction often helps."
These days Dr. Murphy heads up Southcoast Hospitals Group's Complementary Therapy Committee. Formed to explore the role of complementary therapies in traditional medicine, the committee brings together a diverse group of health professionals who work toward a common goal: educating the Southcoast community about complementary therapies and helping staff integrate these therapies with standard medical practice. An important part of this process is developing standards for accountability and competency in the utilization of complementary therapies.
The committee is also in the process of establishing a network with the Salve Regina University and Southcoast for education and research purposes.
Part of the education process includes helping Southcoast staff understand how complementary therapies can enhance patient care.
With that in mind, the Healing the Healers program has been developed to bring information and therapies to nurses and other health care practitioners.
"We're setting up healing rooms where staff can go to meditate and are providing programs where they can experience the different modalities," said Vivian Gifford, RN, Care Coordinator. "We want everyone to know what's happening."
A number of Southcoast's health care practitioners have explored complementary therapies on their own in order to enhance their ability to treat their patients. Gifford has earned certifications in aromatherapy, Reiki and healing touch in addition to her certifications in case management and geriatric nursing. (Reiki is a form of energy that helps bring the body into balance so it can heal itself. A practitioner helps to channel Reiki energy by placing their hands above or on various parts of the body.) Robyn Figuenick, RN, OCN (Oncology Certified Nurse), Clinical Practitioner at The Oncology Center* in North Dartmouth, is also certified in aromatherapy.
Gifford and Figuenick are champions of complementary therapies
in the state as well as at Southcoast. Along with other Southcoast
staff, both were members of a task force appointed by the Massachusetts
Board of Registration in Nursing
Together, Gifford and Figuenick were also instrumental in
establishing the Helping Hands program at The Oncology Center.
The program makes complementary therapy available to oncology
patients, their caregivers and the public. "People who have been diagnosed with cancer are usually
very eager to learn about anything that can help them,"
Figuenick said. "In our support groups, we found that more
and more people were asking about complementary therapies. "We felt that it was important that we offered education
on these therapies at the center so that we could provide perspective
before incorporating them into treatment," she said. "We
talk to patients about alternative therapies after their initial
assessment after a diagnosis is made, and we insist that they
tell their doctor if they choose to utilize the program." Other Southcoast departments are also experimenting with making
complementary therapies available to patients and the public.
Massage therapy is available in the Rehabilitation Services Department
at all three of Southcoast's hospitals. Southcoast Homecare,
Hospice & Infusion Services is working on bringing aromatherapy
and Reiki into the homes of its hospice patients to relieve nausea
and pain. "Pain management is a big focus for us this year,"
said Lorrie Vasconcelos, RN, Clinical Manager at Southcoast Homecare,
Hospice & Infusion Services. "Complementary therapies
have an absolute place there in addition to traditional medicine." "We are trying to enhance allopathic medicine,"
Gifford said. "We want to be disciplined but also to create
an environment more conducive to healing." * The Oncology Center is a joint service of
Southcoast Hospitals Group, Saint Anne's Hospital and Binney
Radiation Oncology Foundation/Harvard Medical School.
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