Integral Leadership in Health Care

The united states is in a health care crisis. Although I am aware that this is an obvious statement, i must point out the irony that in the richest country in the world we have people that are malnourished, we have increasing numbers of the uninsured, a nursing shortage, extraordinary high rates of  malpractice insurance, and an aging population that will continue to expand without enough supports and services that are needed to promote high quality of life. And this is just the begining. …That being said, it is imperative that we have a strong network of leaders in the health care industry. These leaders are needed at many levels and it almost seems an impossible goal to reach because it is such a complex issue. Providers, management , policy, insurance, informed consumers etc.

As a registered nurse I have had a lot of exposure to many different facets of health care… ER, alternative medicine, long term care, policy research in DC, and as a consumer. As a whole, the system  is fragmented and narcisstic.  Please excuse my frustration, but my father who is only 59 years old recently delcared  that he is “checking out” at age 70, no matter what..because he cannot bear the thought of getting old in this country….I am sure many others feel this way and as a RN I am angry that this system that is supposed to “help and heal” people has left them utterly hopeless.

But I am not giving up!!  I am pursuing the opportunity to become an integral leader in health care.

So where do we begin? I understand that I-I will have an integral medicine training in 2007. What other efforts are brewing?

Thanks for reading.

Monica RN.BSN

Re: Integral Leadership in Health Care

rachel naomi bremen has some books now that are in trainings for doctors, and i think has helped to get a course in the med system as well. her books 'kitchen table wisdom' and 'my grandfather's blessing' both have a lot of different stories about her work with people on their health/emotional issues.

a friend is working on lighting issues and how they affect the health care industry in ways many others do not know about.

i think healthcare is a complex situation and much of the issue with it is that our country measures its own health based on 'finances' and that is the measure that is displayed much of the time most prominently. our 'nasdaq' score. we don't measure our success based on fulfillment in many cases or even on health. often the financial success of  the 'healthcare' field is what is touted, not the failings of the industry. i think if we as a country are to be integral on any level that we need to have other measures that we watch as a whole. we talk about weight a lot and money a lot. thin and rich folks are often not very fulfilled, unless they are integrating beyond those ideas.

we can innovate within the system, but i think we need to innovate throughout the marketing of many things and the honesty with which we deal with addictions socially that lead to the health issues in the first place, so we are not arriving at the crisis points and wondering why we are there in the first place. looking at the healthcare situation as not just the medical centers, but the nutrition (which you mentioned) and the day to day quality of life for people in a number of different areas - fulfillment, nutrition, community, connection, nature, thinking, lifestyle all interrelated components and maybe even overlapping in that list as it is just off the cuff, but a start to the dialogue, or early continuation.

-d 

Re: Integral Leadership in Health Care

d-
Thanks for the response and recommendations. I will do some research. The lighting project is very interesting..I would like to inquire about the findings. I agree that health care is a complex issue, addressing these issues from various perspectives is a strong integral approach. Currently, my experience has been that there are those that focus on purely an allopathic and cost effective model and those that focus on prevention {nutrition, emotions, everything you mentioned. etc}. There are few that integrate the two, or the all, really. To keep it simple, there is a lack of the marriage of sense and soul. Everyone’s way is the only way.

I believe that we need to innovate with in the system as well as outside of it. Fortunately, I am in a position where I can innovate from within and still maintain my integrity while doing it.

Monica

Re: Integral Leadership in Health Care

i think you are absolutely right about needing innovation from within and i applaud your interest and efforts truly. my friend into the lighting stuff is also a zaadster (actually the one who got me into zaadz) so i will see if i can find his info for you and forward to you. you and he should definitely know about each other.

-d 

Re: Integral Leadership in Health Care

Certainly bringing together allopathic practices and preventative or naturopathic practices is important,. This notion is carrying the integrative medicine movement through pioneers at Duke Medical and IONS (Institute of Noetic Sciences). However, he real key to an Integral medicine is to recognize and give care to the interior of the healer, thus bringing in the UL quadrant, a quadrant often sacrificed to the intense exterior demands that the profession thrives on. An integral medicine will recognize that to truly be able to create health and balance on the outside, the healer must work towards a more balanced and healty interior. This can be done most immediately through an integral life practice, or a series of modules dedicated to developing the individual on many developmental lines. But most important, in my eyes, for a health care professional would be the mental and spiritual modes, as well as ethics, morals, and compassion. These lines can be developed through different contemplative practices and mental exercizes, as well as psychotherapy and shadow work. Through these practices, the professional will be more open to experience and more dynamic in their own healing capacities.

Peace,
A