About 50
conventional and complementary health practitioners in Otago
feature on a new website to be officially launched next
month.
HealthSearch has been set up by Integrative Health Trust
Otago, a group of general practitioners, specialists,
complementary health practitioners, academics and members of
the public.
They began working together after a 2003 GP conference in
Dunedin attended by Australian cancer survivor and meditation
advocate Ian Gawler.
Spokeswoman for the group and University of Otago general
practice lecturer Dr Monika Clark-Grill said it was realised
that people, particularly those experiencing a health crisis,
could find it hard looking for suitable health practitioners.
People were often looking for treatment outside conventional
medicine, such as naturopathy or massage.
"We wanted to create an information tool that would enable
the local community to see who the local practitioners are,
what they are practising and what qualifications and
experience they have."
There had been "long and intense discussions" with the Otago
Community Trust, which contributed $50,000 to the project,
over the sort of information which would be displayed and
about quality control.
Dr Clark-Grill said the health trust did not endorse any
practitioner, their skill or practice methods.
Practitioners were not allowed to make undue claims, such as
that they could cure cancer, and their credentials were
checked.
The website features about 50 practitioners, and includes a
photo with a personal profile outlining the scope of
practice, qualifications and experience.
Dr Clark-Grill said it was hoped more practitioners would
register as the site became better known.
So far there are few GPs, but the list includes optometrists,
psychotherapists, podiatrists, herbal medicine practitioners
and homeopaths.
The health trust hoped that the new website would contribute
to mutually respectful co-operation between practitioners
from various fields in the best interest of patients.
Dr Clark-Grill said research showed people who chose
complementary therapies as part of treatment had a great
sense of "being more in the driving seat" in their medical
care, which contributed to their quality of life.
This was especially true of those with chronic conditions.
*Site: healthsearch.org.nz
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