Allegany College of Maryland is committed
to a comprehensive health and wellness plan which extends to patients
influenced by our Nursing and Allied Health students/graduates, college
staff and our students.
Through
the efforts of a visionary integrative health team which started
in 1997, a new movement was initiated that planted a seed across
our campus. This new concept was based on the philosophy that in
order to treat patients effectively, one must address the whole
person. Conventional medicine is blended in this model with complementary
and self-care approaches used to support the patient’s journey
to health.
The college integrative mission is to encourage open dialogue about
emerging approaches to healing. We are committed to educating compassionate
healers who promote wholeness in themselves, patients, and society.
As a result of years of immersion in the integrative health concept,
the college has truly infused the principles into practice across
these different dimensions:
Healthcare providers/Community Partners
The college has hosted many workshops for providers
featuring nationally acclaimed experts. The workshops provided
education on integrative health as well as the constant theme
that in order to care for patients; we must first care for ourselves.
This has had a positive effect on local healthcare practitioners.
Students
Stress reductions techniques and education on
integrative health have been provided to students. Students
also have to option to experience the integrative health movement
by taking courses on yoga, medicinal botany, mind-body skills,
etc.
Employee wellness
The college has initiated a wellness committee
that uses the concepts of self-care and complementary medicine
to build a program for employees. The employee has access to
integrative health education, a serenity room and serenity garden
area with a labyrinth for meditation, fitness activities like
aerobics, integrative health courses, and health topics presented
at lunch, etc.
Integrative Health and Core Curriculum
Project
ACM was awarded a federal HRSA grant to develop
a national model to create a core curriculum for integrative
health education.
Through
the efforts of a visionary integrative health team which started
in 1997, a new movement was initiated that planted a seed across
our campus. This new concept was based on the philosophy that in
order to treat patients effectively, one must address the whole
person. Conventional medicine is blended in this model with complementary
and self-care approaches used to support the patient’s journey
to health.