Complementary Medicine draws upon various therapeutic modalities to bring a comprehensive approach to each individual's plan of care. It is an inclusive philosophy that ensures a balanced approach to your health care.
Complementary Medicine at Benedictine Hospital encourages a partnership between you and your practitioners for the appropriate use of all methods to facilitate the body's natural healing process. It strives to take into consideration all the factors that influence your health and well-being. This includes mind, spirit and community as well as the physical aspects of your care.
An ancient Chinese system of painlessly inserting very fine single-use, sterile needles into specific points on the body. Eastern medicine believes the needles affect energy channels in the body and Western medicine recognizes that the treatment can encourage the immune system, promote natural healing and suppress pain.
The use of aromatic, essential oils derived from herbs, flowers, and fruits for their therapeutic effects when inhaled, consumed or applied directly to the skin.
A cart loaded with brushes and paints, colored pencils and pens, pastels, collage materials, journals, modeling clay, colored paper and sketchbooks taken to your bedside.
Benedictine is proud to be the first hospital in the world to provide these innovative bedside healing environments to every patient in the hospital. Bedscapes, consisting of a beautiful nature photomural hung on the cubicle curtain combined with a soothing soundscape (birdsongs, flowing water), help patients (and their bedside visitors) to relax and feel more comfortable.
Creates and performs improvisational pieces for patients, their families and friends in the hospital and at home. (Also available as an outpatient therapy.)
A state of deep relaxation and focused concentration attained by slow, deep, focused breathing.
Singers/musicians visit and sing your favorite songs-show tunes, folk music, hymns and more.
Our registered dietitian or certified nutritionist/dietitian will visit your bedside to develop an individualized, balanced diet to promote your recovery and wellness.
A visit from a member of our pastoral care department may be requested at any point during your stay. They will be happy to pray with you or just spend time with you. As a spiritually- based institution, we believe that prayer, in many ways similar to meditation, can help bring peace and comfort. Mass is celebrated in our Chapel. The Chapel is also available for private contemplation or simple solitude.
A visit from a certified dog and handler can significantly improve human physical and emotional health.
Be amused and enchanted by her dazzling magic and clown antics. After all, laughter is the best medicine!
Focus on pleasant mental images to reduce stress and even slow heart rate, guided by tape or facilitator.
Presentations and discussions on complementary therapies, treatments and techniques with guest speakers from the community and beyond.
Led by local artists and guest instructors, patients, family and friends learn a variety of art skills from painting to multimedia, including individual and group projects.
A variety of programs scheduled throughout the year including:
Please avail yourselves of our many support groups including:
Toward our goals of offering complementary medicine as part of routine patient care and helping to keep you informed about your health, most of our inpatient and outpatient services are offered free of charge or at nominal cost. For those that aren't, insurance coverage is accepted whenever applicable. More detailed information can be found in individual brochures on these modalities available at the hospital, or by calling the numbers provided.
Your practitioners-therapists, social workers, and nurses are all NYS licensed, credentialed by Benedictine Hospital and specially trained in working in acute care settings, with various medical conditions. They are part of your treatment team.
Referrals for any modality may come from any member of your treatment team-physician, nurses, physical therapists, social workers- as well as family members or patients themselves. All hands-on treatments are performed only with physician collaboration, consultation, or prescription.
Our initiative to bring complementary medicine into our hospital is an extension of Benedictine Hospital's philosophy of treating the whole person.
The Complementary Medicine Program will provide a broad range of complementary therapies to both inpatients and outpatients. At Benedictine, we distinguish between alternative and complementary therapies; a crucial distinction in the current arena of medicine. Alternative therapies are by definition less well documented or unproven by traditional medicine standards. We do not offer "alternative" therapies. The complementary therapies employed are rational and backed by data indicating their value and utility. Our interventions are geared to enhance the body, mind and spirit. The opportunity to provide both traditional and complementary medicine will build a relationship between providers of both, so that those patients who choose both will be better served.