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To help our members make informed decisions about the various claims and services of alternative practitioners, HealthShare provides members with guidelines and information on how to assess the quality of an alternative treatment and the experience of individual health providers. This helps our members have a greater level of control over their own healthcare and a better understanding of various alternative health practices. These guidelines are based on work by the National Institutes of Health, Office of Alternative Medicine, and a variety of other sources. | |||
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| Integrated healthcare brings the best of traditional medicine and complementary practices together, allowing the consumer a wider range of choices to improve their health. | HealthShare publishes a listing of alternative practitioners in our area who have provided information about their education, training, licenses, insurance, background, references, qualifications, and certifications -- both unconventional and conventional. | |||
| HealthShare
also provides information about alternative and traditional health practices
through the HealthShare library, public libraries and on our website at
www.healthshare.net.
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| Alternative medicine is not a replacement for traditional medicine, but rather a complement to it. Alternative medicine is the art of using safe, natural methods to get to the root of problems, to help the body heal itself, and to prevent diseases before they arise. This approach is natural, holistic, promotes wellness, and has been shown to be very effective in dealing with chronic health problems. Treatments could include such things as: vitamin supplements, herbs, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, psychotherapy, body work, homeopathy, acupressure, biofeedback, naturopathy, osteopathy, and yoga, among others. | Workshops and
seminars on health-related topics are held as part of a broad community
education program. These presentations help raise awareness of healthcare
issues as well as cover topics such as wellness and prevention. HealthShare
members also are offered a Health Risk Appraisal which includes
personal health recommendations and discounted screening tests. This appraisal
evaluates a wide variety of health factors and helps members participate
more actively in their own healthcare. Our goal is to help members be better
informed and empowered healthcare consumers so they can make better healthcare
decisions.
HealthShare is creating integrated medical programs in the Bloomington area that bring together the benefits of traditional and alternative medical practices. HealthShare members support the idea that increased consumer education leads to increased consumer choice, and that integrating traditional medicine and alternative treatments can lead to better health. As a member you gain access to the information, guidelines and programs HealthShare provides.
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What is integrative medicine? |
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