A growing number of hospitals are adding complementary or integrative therapies to their menu of services. One reason for the growth is the rise of consumerism in health care. “As patients want this, providers are being forced to help deliver some of these services,” says Andrew Ziskind, M.D., a senior vice president at Premier Academic Alliance.

Another factor is growing acceptance among clinicians of various nonconventional therapies as an adjunct to traditional medicine, he says.

In addition to Reiki, complementary therapies include acupuncture, massage therapy, deep breathing exercises, meditation, guided imagery and yoga.

Service models vary measurably. Some hospitals create comprehensive outpatient integrative medicine centers, others weave specific complementary services into inpatient care, and some offer a combination of outpatient and inpatient services.

Read the rest here.