nique directly. The
patient, the family or
staff can perform acu-
pressure.
Alternative med-
icine
Regardless of whether
it's aromatherapy,
acupuncture or acu-
pressure, there's a
growing movement to
add alternative thera-
pies to the standard protocol for treating PONV. But these therapies
should be used to buoy, not replace, traditional treatments.
"Integrated medicine is bringing the best of what we know. Of
course, we need surgery, of course we need pharmacology, but what
else? It's not either-or, it's altogether how can we make it what's best
for the patient?" says Dr. Adan. "And what's best for the patient is
really what's best for the clinician and for the business."
Alternative therapies also make sense from a business perspective.
As Dr. Adan points out, health care is becoming a consumer-driven
business, and the consumers want integrative health options from
their providers. This can be especially true in the case of outpatient
centers where competition is fierce and savvy patients are looking for
something that sets a facility apart from the pack.
"Let's face it, there are many, many outstanding surgeons out there
today. A good surgeon is what's expected from an outpatient center.
What patients want to know is, 'Why else should I go to your facili-
ty?'" says Dr. Adan.
OSM
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 8 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 8 9
• WRIST SHOT Acupuncture on the PC6 acupoint — located 3 finger breadths below
the wrist on the inner forearm inbetween 2 two tendons — is comparable to traditional
antiemetics in preventing post-operative nausea and vomiting, studies show.