The Integrated Healthcare Policy Consortium (IHPC) understands Integrated Health Care to be a healthcare system that includes conventional, complementary, and alternative approaches, as practiced by qualified providers working in respectful collaboration to offer effective patient-centered care. It thus includes, but is larger than Integrative Medicine. Integrative Medicine is defined by the Consortium of Academic Health Centers of Integrative Medicine (CAHCIM) as "...the practice of medicine that reaffirms the importance of the relationship between practitioner and patient, focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches, healthcare professionals and disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing."
Integrated Health Care is in the early stages of development in the United States. While the chart below is not all-inclusive, it does serve to remind us of key events and organizations responsible for putting this issue on the map.
| 1991 October |
Congress passes legislation creating the Office of Alternative Medicine within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). (P.L.102-170) provides $2 million in funding for fiscal year 1992 to establish an office to investigate and evaluate promising unconventional medical practices. |
| 1993 January |
Publication of David Eisenberg's first survey of Americans' use of "unconventional" medicine in the New England Journal of Medicine. This article "Unconventional medicine in the United States. Prevalence, costs, and patterns of use." N Engl J Med. 1993 Jan 28;328(4):246-52, did much to call the attention of the medical establishment and policymakers to just how widespread use of complementary and alternative health care was in the United States. |
| 1993 | Bill Moyers' television series Healing and the Mindis aired to broad acclaim, introducing Americans to mind/body medicines via dialogue with David Eisenberg, Candace Pert, and others. |
| 1997 | Andrew Weil establishes the University of Arizona Program in Integrative Medicine—the first academic medical center fellowship program in integrative medicine. |
| 1998 October |
The Office of Alternative Medicine is elevated to become the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Congress under Title VI, Section 601 of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 1999 (P.L. 105-277). |
| 1999 March |
National Plan to Advance Integrated Healthcare submitted to Congress by a multi-disciplinary group led by Hon. Berkley Bedell |
| 1999 December |
NCCAM announces availability of grants for educational program development in complementary and alternative medicine (R-25) |
| 2000 May |
1st Integrative Medicine Industry Leadership Summit (followed by two subsequent annual gatherings) |
| 2001 November |
National Policy Dialogue (NPD) meets at Georgetown University Conference Center—60 stakeholders across the CAM and conventional spectrum including payers, practitioners and industry leaders identify a common ground agenda for Integrated Health Care. (Report of its recommendations issued in early 2002) |
| 2002 January |
Integrated Healthcare Policy Consortium (IHPC) forms out of the NPD Steering Committee |
| 2002 January |
Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine (CAHCIM) established with support from The Bravewell Collaborative |
| 2002 March |
White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy Report published |
| 2004 March |
IHPC Education Task Force initiates National Education Dialogue (NED) activity with funding from the Center for Integrative Health Medicine and Research |
| 2004 | NCCAM announces call for "reverse R-25" education grant program making support available to complementary and alternative healthcare educational institutions |
| 2004 | Academic Consortium for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ACCAHC) formed as part of IHPC's National Education Dialogue process. |
| 2004 June |
Academic Medicine publishes article, endorsed by CAHCIM, naming competencies in integrative medicine |
| 2005 January |
Institute of Medicine (IOM) publishes major report on Complementary and Alternative Medicine use in the United States |
| 2005 June |
National Education Dialogue meets at Georgetown University Conference Center—Leading educators from CAM and conventional educational institutions meet to set agenda for education future generations of health care professionals to practice in an integrated health care system. |
| 2006 May |
First North American Research Conference on Complementary and Integrative Medicine held in Edmonton, Alberta, initiated by CAHCIM, and co-sponsored by CAM and integrative healthcare organizations |
| 2008 January |
Academic Consortium for Complementary and Alternative Health Care incorporates. |
| 2008 March |
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Bravewell Collaborative announce that they will jointly convene a National Summit pm Integrative Medicine to explore how integrative medicine can improve the nation's health. |