Two states, two stories, one goal-development of integrative medicine and health programs

Integrative health programs are gaining recognition for their whole-person approach to patient care, combining conventional medicine with evidence-based traditional and complementary therapies. However, few medical systems have dedicated integrative health programs. The development and implementation of such programs require passionate and influential leaders, strategic planning and innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and structured evaluation. The objective of this paper is to describe the creation, evolution, and sustainability of two long-standing integrative health programs at Hennepin Healthcare Systems (HHS), a safety-net hospital system in Minneapolis, MN, and at the University of New Mexico (UNM) academic medical center in Albuquerque, NM. The two programs developed and evolved through multi-phase processes, involving literature review, needs assessment, professional development, collaboration, innovation, and pilot implementation. Key components evolved and endured based on clinical evidence, patient needs, and feasibility within the healthcare setting. The program in New Mexico is primarily centralized, while the program in Minnesota is dispersed throughout the institution. Improved patient-reported outcomes and high demand for integrative health services, demonstrated community impact, and robust philanthropic and grant-supported programming are reflected in both programs. Challenges included sustainable funding and institutional support. Lessons learned highlight the importance of interprofessional collaboration, innovation, and program evaluation. These integrative health programs serve as institutional models for whole-person integration of conventional and complementary approaches to patient care.