More hospitals turning to alternative medicine

According to a survey from the American Hospital Association, 37 percent of hospitals in the United States make alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, touch therapy, and music and art therapy, available to their patients (Source: “More hospitals offer alternative therapies for mind, body, spirit,” USA Today, Sept. 14, 2008).

"This is a movement toward 'patient-centered' care," says Sita Ananth, director of knowledge services for the Samueli Institute, an Alexandria, Va.-based non-profit that studies alternative therapies. "Many hospital mission statements are to serve the mind, body and spiritual needs of their patients."

One example in Ohio is a pilot program that was just completed at the Cleveland Clinic. More than 1,700 heart surgery patients opted to complement their traditional care with spiritual care, counseling, art, music, touch therapy or guided imagery. About half of all heart surgery patients chose to participate and 93 percent of those who did said the services were helpful.