Incorporating Complementary and Integrative Medicine in a Comprehensive Cancer Center

This article provides a model of integrating complementary and integrative medicine into cancer care in a comprehensive conventional cancer center. This model requires a patient-centered approach with attention to patients' concerns and enhanced communication skills. A discussion of patients' psycho-social-spiritual perspectives is a crucial component in this approach. In addition, complementary and integrative medicine practitioners and conventional practitioners' involvement and cooperation in developing this integration process are essential. This process requires tremendous team effort, institutional culture change, trust and open communication between all members of the health care team, and support from institutional leaders.