CAM services include acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, diet and lifestyle changes, herbal medicine, massage therapy and other holistic treatments, according to the report.
The survey, released in conjunction with the Samueli Institute, a non-profit organization that studies integrative medicine, also found the majority hospitals surveyed reported patient demand and clinical effectiveness as the primary reasons for offering the services.
“The rise of complementary and alternative medicine reflects the continued effort on the part of hospitals and caregivers to broaden the vital services they provide to patients and communities,” said Nancy Foster, vice president for quality and patient safety at the AHA in a statement. “Hospitals have long known that what they do to treat and heal involves more than just medications and procedures. It is about using all of the art and science of medicine to restore the patient as fully as possible.” Health Forum is an AHA subsidiary.
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