Creating successful integrative medicine: A case study under the lens of quantum organizational theory

The conventional healthcare system in the United States has been a matter of great concern for the public and private sectors for numerous decades. In addition to accusations of ineffective care with injudicious reimbursement practices, the current healthcare system is charged with lacking patient-centered care. Some view integrated medicine (IM) as the answer to America's healthcare dilemma. However, research regarding an IM model of care and specifically how to successfully create IM within a conventional medical setting is lacking. This study addresses this void in the literature.;A case study design was applied to the research based on its ability to offer an in depth firsthand examination of factors that contribute to successful integration. An IM facility identified by the Bravewell Collaborative as successfully providing integrative medicine in the United States was selected as the research site. Quantum organizational theory (QOT), specifically Kilmann's (2001) seven attributes of QOT, was the theoretical framework through which the study of the successful integration of complementary health approaches (CHP) into conventional medical settings was informed.;Data were collected from 3 sources: one-on-one, in person interviews with key leaders, firsthand observation in public areas, and archival data. The researcher developed and used two tools including a set of open-ended questions and a checklist of observable quantum organization (QO) traits. The logic model framework was used to interpret the data.;Findings from the study revealed that the attributes of QOT successfully allowed the expression and interpretation of the tenets of IM. Findings further showed that key leaders of the IM clinic and the clinic as an organizational system held the principles representative of all 7 key attributes that characterize a QO. The study demonstrated that the key element involved in the integration process is an internal human shift in the self-aware consciousness of key leaders rather than an external act of blending complementary treatment modalities with conventional medical practices. The fact that this study shows human enlightenment as the catalyst for the integration of approaches to healthcare suggests that intangible qualities such as Spirit are fundamental to the expansion of IM in the United States.