Much discussion was centered around the failings of our healthcare system on the organizational level. Problems of overworked nurses, declining physician reimbursements, and accessibility for the approximately 46 million Americans without health insurance, are endemic to our current system. A realistic assessment of the political climate led to the prediction that healthcare reform will occur on a state-by-state basis rather than through some grand design ala the Clinton plan.

One interesting discussion concerned the need for more research in the field of CAM. The majority of research, funded to a large degree by the pharmaceutical industry, is tilted toward the testing and validation of a single element (drug, protocol, etc.) being used on a single population (demographic, diagnosis, etc.). This the research pathway used to bring new drugs into the market. It is much more difficult to design rigorous research that takes a broader view favored by practitioners of integrative medicine. The traditional allopathic approach is (forgive my gross oversimplification) to diagnose specific symptoms and prescribe specific treatment protocols resulting in the absence of disease. The integrative approach seeks to promote total health/wellness (a broader more vague concept) through the application of practices more geared to prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyles (again, a gross generalization). Both approaches deserve to be researched. And both approaches belong in our hospitals. The integrative approach is still the exception rather than the common accepted approach in most hospitals.

Finally, the point was made that everyone (another generality) working in healthcare must have within themselves the desire to be a “healer.” This healing impulse is a natural part of human nature. As a society, we need to support the creation of a healthcare system that supports the realization of the fullest potential of all the individuals working within it. The financial underpinnings of the healthcare system must encompass prevention and wellness promotion, as opposed to the current fee-for-service system that perpetuates the highest cost-per-capita in the world while delivering a level of healthcare that has been documented as being lower than many other countries in the developed world. This conference revealed desirable directions and trends for the future as well as highlighting some current model institutions led by outstanding role-models for leadership in this complex field.