The idea is for both forms of medicine to complement one another, Wanderer said. While no one is suggesting choosing acupuncture over a cast for a broken arm, one method can help the other. They feel more in control. Wanderer estimates that a few hundred patients have taken advantage of the pilot program since Cedars-Sinai started it more than a year ago in the cardiothoracic surgery unit. Integrative medicine has spread to another, separate outpatient program and continued success may persuade the hospital to keep expanding, Wanderer said.
Nurses are often the link to treatments.
If a patient complains to the nurse about postop pain that isn t dulled by painkillers, the nurse can discuss complementary options. But now there s a view that some of them made the patients more comfortable, and that has a positive impact on their outcome. Lessening their patients pain is the No.1 concern for nurses in Vong s department. She said those with a lower threshold for pain frequently request integrative therapy. The pain is just terrible.