The Department of Integrative Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center (BIMC) aims to introduce and incorporate the integrative medicine approach to the inpatient and outpatient facilities throughout BIMC, working with other departments and their respective directors. Since the Department's inception in 2007 under the leadership of Dr. Woodson Merrell, Chairman, the Department helps to coordinate integrative programs within BIMC and develops new clinical, research and educational programs.

The outpatient unit of the Department at the Continuum Center for Health and Healing (CCHH) has served as the initial introduction of Integrative Medicine to BIMC since its inception in 2000 and continues to be an international model for integrative healthcare, research and education. The CCHH is also the administrative and leadership core of the Department.

Watch our “Highlights” video to meet our team and learn what makes us so unique!

More information about the CCHH can be found at www.healthandhealingny.org.

Integrative Medicine represents an evolution in healthcare that combines conventional medical practices with other indigenous and western healing approaches, using scientific evidence as the rationale for incorporating these modalities into patient care. The integrative approach emphasizes patient empowerment and encourages patients to take an active role in their health.

As defined by the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine, "Integrative Medicine is 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 approaches, healthcare professionals and disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing.” Integrative Medicine blends expanded healing options, including indigenous medical practices, with traditional Western medical care. In the past, these indigenous practices and modalities were referred to as complementary and alternative approaches.

The Mission of the Department of Integrative Medicine is to promote a holistic, patient-centered approach to medical care throughout BIMC. This mission is accomplished by:

• offering expanded healing approaches for inpatients and out-patients through interdepartmental collaboration;
• providing educational opportunities and resources on these practices to patients, employees and the community;
• conducting research that will demonstrate the effect of these practices in a hospital environment

Our vision is to expand integrative medicine throughout the entire healthcare system at BIMC as a means of demonstrating how such a model can be implemented and highlight the value of humanistic, wellness-oriented and holistic care within traditional hospital environments.