Integrative health care in a hospital setting:
Communication patterns between CAM and biomedical
practitioners
SOPHIE SOKLARIDIS
1
, MERRIJOY KELNER
2
, RHONDA L. LOVE
2
, &
J. DAVID CASSIDY
1,3
1
Centre of Research Expertise in Improved Disability Outcomes (CREIDO), University Health
Network, Rehabilitation
Solution
s, Toronto Western Hospital,
2
University of Toronto, and
3
Department
of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Abstract
Research in the area of collaboration between complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and
biomedical practitioners often describes their relationships as fraught with power struggles. This paper
explores communication among the various stakeholders at an integrative health clinic for artists
located in a university hospital. Qualitative research methods were used, in-depth interviews and semi-
structured focus groups, to facilitate the gathering of information about patterns of communication
among stakeholders involved at the clinic. The findings describe the challenges to communication and
integration at the clinic. The lack of communication is described as a scheduling issue, or lack of
consistent presence of CAM practitioners, and a lack of formal methods of communication (patient
charting). The consequences of these gaps were felt mostly by the CAM practitioners, as their scope of
practice was not well understood by other practitioners. CAM practitioners stated that this had a direct
effect on their confidence levels. CAM practitioners were relegated to the periphery of the hospital in
their role as part-time, contract employees. Their lack of consistent presence at the clinic lead to a lack
of understanding of their scope of practice, hence, a lack of referrals from other health-care
practitioners, particularly those who were biomedically-oriented.
Keywords: Integrative health care, Collaboration, complementary and alternative medicine,
biomedicine, hospital
Introduction
Research suggests that people who consult a complementary and alternative medicine
(CAM) practitioner are more likely than those who do not to have a regular physician, to
have seen a specialist in the past year, to have had 10 or more physician visits in that time,
Correspondence: Dr Sophie Soklaridis, PhD, Centre of Research Expertise in Improved Disability Outcomes (CREIDO),
University Health Network, Rehabilitation
...
Integrative health care in a hospital settingCommunication .docx
1. Integrative health care in a hospital setting:
Communication patterns between CAM and biomedical
practitioners
SOPHIE SOKLARIDIS
1
, MERRIJOY KELNER
2
, RHONDA L. LOVE
2
, &
J. DAVID CASSIDY
1,3
1
Centre of Research Expertise in Improved Disability Outcomes
(CREIDO), University Health
Network, Rehabilitation
Solution
s, Toronto Western Hospital,
2
University of Toronto, and
2. 3
Department
of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
Abstract
Research in the area of collaboration between complementary
and alternative medicine (CAM) and
biomedical practitioners often describes their relationships as
fraught with power struggles. This paper
explores communication among the various stakeholders at an
integrative health clinic for artists
located in a university hospital. Qualitative research methods
were used, in-depth interviews and semi-
structured focus groups, to facilitate the gathering of
information about patterns of communication
among stakeholders involved at the clinic. The findings describe
the challenges to communication and
integration at the clinic. The lack of communication is
described as a scheduling issue, or lack of
consistent presence of CAM practitioners, and a lack of formal
methods of communication (patient
charting). The consequences of these gaps were felt mostly by
3. the CAM practitioners, as their scope of
practice was not well understood by other practitioners. CAM
practitioners stated that this had a direct
effect on their confidence levels. CAM practitioners were
relegated to the periphery of the hospital in
their role as part-time, contract employees. Their lack of
consistent presence at the clinic lead to a lack
of understanding of their scope of practice, hence, a lack of
referrals from other health-care
practitioners, particularly those who were biomedically-
oriented.
Keywords: Integrative health care, Collaboration,
complementary and alternative medicine,
biomedicine, hospital
Introduction
Research suggests that people who consult a complementary and
alternative medicine
(CAM) practitioner are more likely than those who do not to
have a regular physician, to
have seen a specialist in the past year, to have had 10 or more
4. physician visits in that time,
Correspondence: Dr Sophie Soklaridis, PhD, Centre of Research
Expertise in Improved Disability Outcomes (CREIDO),
University Health Network, Rehabilitation
