Lesson Three - Management
Completion requirements
Treatment
Part of the job of the healthcare team is to help the patient understand the treatment options that are available to them. Once possible treatments are discussed, the patient and family (if applicable) will decide on which treatments to explore. It is important to remember that treatments are not cures; they are supported ways to manage the patient’s condition(s). Treatments can be classed as medical or integrative health. The treatment pursued will depend on a number of factors, including the cultural background and personal beliefs of the patient and their family.
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Medical treatment is also known as Western or Mainstream medicine. The treatment that is recommended will depend on the diagnosis. Some common treatments include:
Pharmaceuticals are the medicines that are taken for treatment and management of a condition. They can be over-the-counter and not need a prescription, or they can be by prescription from your doctor.
Surgery, or operations, treats disease or injury while the patient is under anesthesia, either with the body part numbed or the patient asleep. Surgery can be done to perform a biopsy or to repair or alter a body tissue or organ with the goal of increasing functioning and/or decreasing pain. Because all surgery carries risk, it is not recommended unless the doctor and surgeon see it as the best option for treatment.
Nutrition Counselling uses one-on-one teaching and group sessions. In nutrition counselling, a registered dietitian helps patients who need to follow a special diet or improve how they eat.
Physiotherapy helps to improve physical functioning and increase the patient's ability to move. Physiotherapists may employ a variety of treatments
including heat, cold, water therapy, stretching, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation.
Occupational Therapy is a series of treatments used to help people live as fully and independently as possible. An occupational therapist will use a wide variety of games and work tasks to help develop and strengthen the muscle groupings needed to perform tasks. The occupational therapist may also suggest adaptations to the task or tools to help make tasks easier.
Occupational Therapy is a series of treatments used to help people live as fully and independently as possible. An occupational therapist will use a wide variety of games and work tasks to help develop and strengthen the muscle groupings needed to perform tasks. The occupational therapist may also suggest adaptations to the task or tools to help make tasks easier.
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Pharmaceuticals are the medicines that are taken for treatment and management of a condition. They can be over-the-counter and not need a prescription, or they can be by prescription from your doctor.
Surgery, or operations, treats disease or injury while the patient is under anesthesia, either with the body part numbed or the patient asleep. Surgery can be done to perform a biopsy or to repair or alter a body tissue or organ with the goal of increasing functioning and/or decreasing pain. Because all surgery carries risk, it is not recommended unless the doctor and surgeon see it as the best option for treatment.
Nutrition Counselling uses one-on-one teaching and group sessions. In nutrition counselling, a registered dietitian helps patients who need to follow a special diet or improve how they eat.
It is not uncommon for people diagnosed with chronic conditions to turn to integrative health treatments in addition to—or instead of—mainstream medical treatments. This is done for a number of reasons personal to the patient. Other terms for integrative
medicine include complementary medicine, alternative medicine, and natural medicine. A few of the more common integrative treatments include:
Oriental Medicine is the oldest continuously practiced type of medicine. It is recognized by the World Health Organization as being effective for over 43 conditions. It uses acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, dietary therapy, bodywork, and tai chi and qi gong.
Chiropractic Medicine is spinal and joint manipulation with the purpose to relieve pain and improve function.
Naturopathic Medicine uses herbs and dietary supplements. Some naturopathic medicines have been studied and tested, but most have not. It is important for patients that use naturopathic medicine to inform their medical doctor, as some herbs and supplements can have negative interactions with prescribed medicine.
*It is important to note that while mainstream medicine is regulated in Alberta, not all integrative medicine is. This means that the training and methods used by practitioners will vary.
Oriental Medicine is the oldest continuously practiced type of medicine. It is recognized by the World Health Organization as being effective for over 43 conditions. It uses acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, dietary therapy, bodywork, and tai chi and qi gong.
Chiropractic Medicine is spinal and joint manipulation with the purpose to relieve pain and improve function.
Massage Therapy works the soft tissues of the body, especially the muscles, to promote relaxation, relieve pain, and allow for a greater
range of motion. There are over 80 types of massage with a wide variety of techniques used.
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Naturopathic Medicine uses herbs and dietary supplements. Some naturopathic medicines have been studied and tested, but most have not. It is important for patients that use naturopathic medicine to inform their medical doctor, as some herbs and supplements can have negative interactions with prescribed medicine.
*It is important to note that while mainstream medicine is regulated in Alberta, not all integrative medicine is. This means that the training and methods used by practitioners will vary.