WMJ. 2001 ; 100(7): 27-31.

Provider attitudes and use of alternative medicine in a midwestern medical practice in 2001.

Rooney B, Fiocco G, Hughes P, Halter S.

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse, WI, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the current level of use, referral and desire for service of different complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies among Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center providers. METHODS: A survey was conducted in January of 2001 of all medical and associate staff. RESULTS: The response rate was 79%; 55% reported using 1 or more of 18 therapies for themselves. Over 25% of providers used nutritional supplements, herbal medicines, or hydrotherapy with a patient. Over half of providers had referred a patient for biofeedback or chiropractic care. Over half of providers would like to offer acupuncture, biofeedback, chiropractic care, hydrotherapy, nutritional supplements, or massage to patients in the future. Associate staff, female staff, primary care providers, and those who had personally used CAM therapies were more likely to have used, referred, or wish to offer more therapies in the future. There was little support for aromatherapy, magnetic field therapy, naturopathic medicine, or ethnic healing methods. CONCLUSIONS: Use of and desire for complementary therapies at Gundersen Lutheran was higher than expected by the Integrative Medicine Oversight Committee. Health care organizations should consider having a process in place to manage the increasing demands for complementary and alternative therapies.