Hackensack Meridian Integrative Health & Medicine

Integrative health and medicine focuses on the health and well-being of the whole person — mind, body and spirit. It addresses the impact of lifestyle, environment, and genetics on an individual’s health and well-being, and understands that the provider/patient relationship is a vital component in the healing process.

Through personalized care, integrative health and medicine goes beyond solely treating symptoms of an illness or managing chronic disease. It seeks to optimize health over one’s lifespan addressing the unique circumstances of the individual through appropriate interventions from an array of scientific disciplines to help people regain and promote optimal health.

VISION STATEMENT
We, as integrative health leaders, will humanize and optimize the healthcare experience and create a culture of health through clinical care, education, research, and collaboration.

MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to empower and partner with those we serve to reach the highest expression of themselves in mind, body and spirit. We are dedicated to optimizing health through excellent service at a value our community deserves. We facilitate this through our unique care model, based on Five Pillars of Health & Well-being: Sleep, Activity, Purpose, Nutrition, and Resilience.

OUR UNIQUE CARE MODEL
Hackensack Meridian Integrative Health & Medicine’s mission is to empower community members to reach the highest expression of themselves in mind, body and spirit and to promote optimal health. We work as partners with primary care physicians and specialists to humanize care and create a culture of health.

We approach care and service from our Five Pillars of Health & Well-Being.

SLEEP: Quality and quantity of sleep is essential for the body and brain to heal, repair, and prepare for the next day. Sleeping disorders or not getting enough sleep can lead to many chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.

ACTIVITY: Physical activity is fundamental to the circulatory and respiratory systems and produces bio-chemicals such as endorphins that promote positive emotions and brain functions.

PURPOSE: A sense of purpose is that which gives meaning to one’s life. Having a reason to get up in the morning adds not only years to your life, but also life to your years.

NUTRITION: Food is the fuel by which our mind and body function. Proper nourishment helps to keep people sustained through life’s challenges.

RESILIENCE: The ability to “bounce back” and adapt to adversity are the skills needed to respond to stress in order to thrive versus survive.

INPATIENT SERVICES
Raritan Bay Medical Center’s (RBMC) care team provides integrative health therapies to patients at Perth Amboy and Old Bridge campuses.

Our integrative health professionals consult and work directly with patients and their family members to provide care. The integrative team members are fully involved in the hospital. They receive formal referrals, consult with nurses, provide bedside therapies and document their care in the medical record system.

State-of-the-art health care has been redefined by combining the latest medical advances with complementary therapies. Many complementary therapies have been around for centuries, and there are numerous benefits associated with integrative health, such as:

• Improved emotional state, which promotes health and healing
• Improved mood and outlook
• A calm mind and relaxed body which can lower blood pressure and enhance the immune system
• Pain management
• Smoking cessation
• Nausea relief, improved sleep and more energy
• Better quality of life

Patients may receive the following therapies:

• Integrative Nurse Consultation
• Aromatherapist Consultation
• Energy healing, including reiki and healing touch – (hotlink to longer description) Gentle and effective energy practices promoting healing as the practitioner uses light touch, or without touch, to bring balance and comfort, promote relaxation, ease pain and improve sleep. This helps strengthen the immune system and supports overall health and well-being.
• Movement therapy, including tai chi and qigong hotlink to longer description – A system of gentle exercises practiced slowly and evenly to improve overall fitness, balance, and agility, and increases energy flow. These exercises can be enjoyed by all, regardless of age or fitness level.
• Massage – Practitioners specialize in rejuvenating massage, Swedish massage, sports massage and other techniques which can relieve tension, restore function and alleviate pain.
• Guided imagery – A technique that uses CDs or a practitioner to direct the imagination toward a peaceful state using the breath, images, and words. Very effective in promoting relaxation and pain relief. Music and meditation CDs and CD players with disposable earphones are available by request.
• Reflexology – a system of applying pressure and massage to various points on the hands and feet to relieve pain and stress while restoring the body’s natural balance and well-being.
• Breath work