COMMUNITY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you have integrative medical news you would like announced here in our newsletter, e-mail  Catherine Saar at catsaar@aol.com.  This is a free public service. The IMA reserves the right to edit all submissions.

Integrative Clinic in Portland, Maine, Enters Third Year
 

(This news story courtesy of the Collaborative for Healthcare Renewal Foundation Newsletter.  To subscribe to the newsletter visit their website at www.thecollaboration.org  ).
 
True North Health Center, near Portland, Maine, is starting its third year as a nonprofit integrative clinic. It grew out of conversations among three nurses at Mercy Hospital, who wished there were a holistic model of care to offer their patients. From that nucleus grew a whole group of people who met weekly for three years to talk, dream, and plan. They eventually raised $500,000 in initial funding and then leased, gutted, and remodeled a 7,500 square-foot facility.
 

Today the clinic has five MDs, three nurse practitioners, a naturopath, and nine practitioners of complementary modalities that include acupuncture, massage, healing touch, shamanic healing, Rubenfeld synergy, and pediatric hypnotherapy. The clinic offers individual visits, classes and workshops, and a specialty supplement store.

True North doesn't bill any insurance. Patients pay out-of-pocket, and receive some reimbursement from their insurance companies. Typically a new patient visit with a physician lasts 90 minutes (and costs $250) while a follow-up visit lasts an hour. Most complementary sessions last an hour and cost $75. "We hope to play a role in changing healthcare, and insurance gets in the way," explains executive director Valeri Saffer. "We're encouraging patients to think not just about what their insurance will cover, but about what will really bring them long-term, sustainable health."

With 17 providers and 10 administrative staffers, the clinic's annual budget runs just below $1 million per year. They hope to reach breakeven about three years from now. Meanwhile, they raised $30,000 last year in grants, and $500,000 from individual contributions. "We have a full-time director of development, and we raise funds from donors nationwide," Saffer says. "Why does someone from Oregon or New York give to an integrative clinic in Portland, Maine? Because they want to help one clinic develop as a living, breathing model, and show that it's possible." For more information: www.truenorthhealthcenter,org or vsaffer@truenorthhealthcenter.org
 

Lewin Study: Increased Vitamin Use Could Save Medicare $1.6 Billion
 

(This news story courtesy of the Collaborative for Healthcare Renewal Foundation Newsletter.  To subscribe to the newsletter visit their website at www.thecollaboration.org).

The Lewin Group released a new study showing that daily use of a multivitamin by older adults could lead to more than $1.6 billion in Medicare savings over the next five years. The health effects were particularly important for cardiovascular health and improved immune functioning.

"A Study of the Cost Effects of Daily Multivitamins for Older Adults" uses Medicare claims data and widely accepted Congressional Budget Office cost accounting methods to determine possible savings associated with the health benefits of vitamins. Savings would result from reduced hospitalizations for heart attacks, as well as reduced hospitalizations and nursing home admissions from infections such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections. These estimates are conservative, the authors say, because they assume only one-third of the elderly population would benefit from vitamin use. Wyeth Consumer Healthcare funded the study. Many thanks to John Reed, MD, national medical director of American Whole Health, for alerting us to this study. For more information, a fact sheet, and a full copy of the report:  http://www.lewin.com/Spotlights/Features/Spotlight_feature_Multivitamin_Study.htm

 

the Wellness Community-Cancer Support, Education & Hope
1039 Chestnut Street
Newton Upper Falls, MA

Open Mon - Fri 9a.m.-5p.m. Since 1994, Reaching out to people with cancer and their loved ones. Providing ways to enhance health and well being by providing professionally led weekly support groups, educational workshops, stress management and mind/body support programs. Please let your patients, friends and family know that they are not alone in their journey. Contact information and calendar 617-332-1919 or www.wellnesscommunity.org.

Mind Body Journal Club - Ongoing Talks
Osher Institute or Mind/Body Medical Institute
Boston/Chestnut Hill, MA

All talks begin at 4p.m. For more info: 617-991-0102   Thursday April 15 - Mind/Body Institute-Dietary change & mindfulness-based stress reduction in Secondary Prevention of Prostate Cancer- Jim Carmody Thursday May 13th-Osher Institute TBA

BOSTON SCHOOL OF HERBAL STUDIES OFFERS APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

The Boston School of Herbal Studies is offering a seven-month Apprenticeship program beginning the weekend of May 1, 2004. The program provides a solid foundation in therapeutic Herbalism for beginning & intermediate herbalists. Students get hands-on experience making tinctures, teas, & salves, and will learn to identify medicinal plants. Students will also be exposed to diverse herbal traditions including Western Herbalism, Native American, Chinese and Ayurveda. The program combines traditional herbal knowledge with current research. For more information call 781.646.6319 or visit www.bostonherbalstudies.com

NATURAL STANDARD, INC. SEEKS COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPISTS TO OFFER SITE VISITS AND SHADOWING BY PHARMACY AND MEDICAL STUDENTS

Natural Standard, Inc., a Cambridge, MA based information service to healthcare institutions and medical professionals, is recruiting integrative, alternative and complementary therapists to offer site visits and shadowing to pharmacy and medical students. In addition to visiting or shadowing, the students can help you out in your practice as well. For more information, contact Kate Ulbricht at Natural Standard at Kate@naturalstandard.com.