No Evidence? ….Who’s kidding whom?
Pharmacy has always provided health solutions for patients that have been practical and economical, and to the maximum level of their competence. For that reason they have become a highly respected health modality. Extreme ideology perspectives that form part of global pharma’s marketing activities have become disruptive because medical thought leaders have been paid to offer opinions not rooted in scientific evidence. Integrated medicine is seen as competitive to mainstream medicine because it may compete with government health expenditure budgets and thus open warfare exists at the very fundamentals of health services. This is not sustainable and pharmacists know that an integrated wellness model is one that best suits its patients. As Geral Quigley suggests, specialist education is the best form of protecting the delivery of integrated medicine.
Gerald Quigley - An advocate for Integrative Medicine
I had the privilege last week of speaking on both days at the 4th Annual National Institute of Integrative Medicine Symposium in Melbourne.
Twenty-five International and Australian speakers presented the latest evidence-based research, therapies, treatments and innovative technologies.
The topic list contained many of the issues our patients are confronting each day:
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Cancer: Integrative Oncology, care and progression from diagnosis to prognosis, treatment and survivorship.
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Integrative approaches to healthcare
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Allergies and autoimmune conditions.
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Brain health.
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Chronic diseases.
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Developmental delays in children.
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Diabetes and obesity.
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Environmental medicine.
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Genetics
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Gut health
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Inflammation.
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Mind-body medicine.
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Nutrition.
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Pain Management
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Women’s health
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Research updates
I challenge you to advise of any single one of those topics where you you feel that you can’t get involved.
Not comfortable?
Then attend some Conferences and Symposiums like this and learn to make a difference to the quality of life of every one of your patients – those who are well, and more importantly, those who wish to be well.
How confident are you in “integration?”
As custodians of medications, we have a unique opportunity to monitor, reassure and guide the use of integrative options within the wellness model sought so keenly by our patients.
We dispense medications, and that surely allows discussions about prescribed medication induced nutrient insufficiencies, interactions between medications and herbs, and any other concerns that our patients have, but we actually never ask them about.
Do we recognize this opportunity?
Do we realize the trusted role we pay as our patients express their desire to move from the illness model to the wellness model?
Or, do we view this opportunity as one quick sale?
Do we make ourselves available for an engaged conversation, without distractions?
Do you see any long-term value in that engagement?
And evidence of therapeutic outcomes here?
Let’s take our heads out of the sand and get involved?
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Your patients do, and are probably attending NIIM free seminars anyway.
Agree