Hosp Mater Manage Q. 1998 Aug; 20(1): 70-81.

The effect of holism on the health care system.

Bar B.

State University of West Georgia, Carrollton, USA.

Despite controversy over its scientific basis, the holistic health movement is having a tremendous impact upon society. With the establishment of the Office of Alternative Medicine within the National Institutes of Health, needed research will provide data to support the validity of various alternative modalities. A growing number of physicians will incorporate the philosophy of holistic health into the current medical model, with some choosing to treat clients with alternative modalities. Finally, consumer demand will lead to an increase in third-party reimbursement for alternative medical treatments.