The Empowered Patient Is at the Core of Integrative Medicine

Institute of Medicine Summit Examines Patient Role in Integrative Care

Speaking at this week's Institute of Medicine (IOM) Summit on Integrative Medicine, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) Acting President & CEO Ellen Stovall emphasized that any system of coordinated, integrated care begins with an informed patient who is equipped with self-advocacy tools. 

"When people are diagnosed with a serious illness such as cancer, they temporarily lose some basic skills they are accustomed to using in their everyday lives," Stovall said Wednesday during an opening panel discussion with Dr. Mehmet Oz, Kaiser Permanente CEO George Halvorson, and AARP CEO William Novelli.  "Skills in communication, information seeking, decision-making, problem solving, and negotiating are essential to patients' ability to advocate for themselves and get access to the range of services they may need," Stovall said. 

The Summit, which takes place at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. through Friday, Feb. 27, seeks to advance the understanding and progress of integrative medicine, defined as the practice of medicine that reaffirms the importance of the relationship between practitioner and patient, focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic and preventive approaches to achieve optimal health and healing. Speakers during the opening sessions repeatedly described integrated medicine as a patient-centered, team approach that moves away from a predominantly "find it and fix it" model toward a predictive and personalized healthcare system.

At the center of this model, Stovall said, is a patient with the self-advocacy skills to express preferences in care that integrates body, mind and spirit.  A 37-year survivor of three bouts with cancer, Stovall asked the 600 Summit attendees to consider, "How would any of us want to be treated if and when we are diagnosed with cancer?"   

Recognizing the power of self-advocacy, NCCS and several leading cancer organizations created the Cancer Survival Toolbox®, a free self-learning audio program that helps people develop skills that are essential to meet the challenges of their illness. Designed to help people from the moment of diagnosis, through treatment and beyond, the Toolbox has evolved to include topics that can assist anyone who is facing hard decisions and changes in life due to cancer at any stage of their journey.  Family members and caregivers can also use the Toolbox to help them advocate on behalf of someone else who is diagnosed with cancer. 

AVAILABILITY:  NCCS Acting President & CEO Ellen Stovall will moderate a lunch discussion on Thursday, Feb. 26th and will be available at the Summit for further comment through Friday.  For assistance with arranging an interview during or after the Summit, please contact Linah Lubin at 301-562-2763 or llubin@canceradvocacy.org.