| Learning Objective #1: Learn one way of delivering multidisciplinary health care in an integrative and holistic manner in a clinic | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Learn strategies to improve the health literacy and well-being of clients through participation of relevant health care professionals |
The Integrative Health Clinic (IHC) evolves from the experience of nurses working with the Telehealth System in a community. It is established to (1) provide a platform for the delivery of integrative healthcare, (2) strengthen the emphasis of health protection and promotion, (3) evaluate the efficacy of evidence-based integrative care protocols, (4) incorporate advanced but user-friendly information technologies into primary healthcare, and (5) provide a venue for collaborative research on integrative healthcare at local and international levels.
The IHC entertains self-referred and professional-referred clients. The consultation process is initiated by a self-administered first-level health assessment. Based on the data, they are triaged to a member or a team for a comprehensive second-level assessment focusing on patterns of health alteration. Depending on the alteration, the clients may receive a single-disciplined or an integrative care. The decision for such is initially made by the nurse consultant/s and verified later by the team in the daily case conference.
The IHC provides a diverse range of integrative services that exemplify community-based primary, rehabilitative and palliative care. Expertise ranges from conventional to alternative care. To evaluate the efficacy of this integrative approach, major research is currently conducted on four groups of clients including patients with intractable and idiopathic pain, sleep disturbance, stroke and after receiving chemotherapy/radiotherapy.
Unlike other clinics, there is no fragmentation of service in the IHC. The clients receive one-stop service even if they need the care of several professionals. Through the Telehealth System, health assessment data are shared among the professionals. The prescribed integrative care protocols are designed to improve the clients’ health literacy and wellbeing through the participation of all relevant professionals. The establishment of the IHC not only demonstrates a new model of health care, but also provides partnerships among professionals and increases synergy between service, research and teaching.
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