Complementary Medicine Provision in an Academic Hospital: Evaluation and Structuring Project

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Integrative Medicine
• Hospital Administration

Background:

• Complementary medicine (CM) is increasingly offered in hospitals globally.
• Significant disparities exist in CM provision and organization within and between hospitals.
• Lausanne University Hospital lacked a CM registry and standardized guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess current CM practices and needs within a university hospital.
• To identify barriers to effective CM implementation.
• To propose a structured model for CM service provision.

Main Methods:

• An internal consultation using Lescarbeau et al.'s integrated model.
• Data collection via semi-structured interviews, online surveys, and focus groups.
• Involved hospital leadership and CM practitioners to evaluate availability, needs, and practices.

Main Results:

• Identified 15 types of CM across 51 wards, provided by 8 types of healthcare professionals.
• Key barriers included inconsistent practitioner training, lack of information, and unequal access.
• Needs focused on quality assurance, structured services, and improved information dissemination.

Conclusions:

• The internal consultation successfully structured CM provision at the hospital.
• Priorities include developing evidence-based CM services and enhancing patient/professional information.
• Standardized CM integration requires addressing training, access, and information gaps.