As the CEO of Memorial Hospital, with a background in nursing, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with physicians who prioritize understanding the complete well-being of each patient during their visits or hospital stays. Over the years, I have noticed a shift in how care is delivered. Today, providers have limited time for comprehensive evaluations and seek alternatives to prescriptions whenever possible. For instance, instead of relying on opioids, they explore options like acupuncture to alleviate pain.
In 2015, as we conducted our community health needs assessment, I listened to patients who embraced this approach and were willing to travel long distances to seek such care. Memorial Hospital has always aimed to provide safe, effective, and locally accessible healthcare. To provide the care community members wanted, we recruited a physician to lead our integrative medicine service line, which combines medical wellness, fitness, and holistic approaches. We also visited various medical fitness facilities across the state and consulted experts in the field from around the country.
Integrative Medicine, also known as Holistic, Complementary, or Functional Medicine, has gained popularity by focusing on evaluating and treating the whole person—mind, body, spirit, and social/emotional well-being. It empowers patients to take responsibility for their health by modifying critical lifestyle factors that promote optimal well-being. In fact, these lifestyle adjustments can often prevent or even cure diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and stroke.
Here are eight lifestyle factors that we can change to optimize our health:
- Diet: Follow a Mediterranean diet.
- Exercise: Engage in 30-60 minutes of physical activity daily.
- Eliminate Toxins: Avoid exposure to harmful substances (A-T-P).
- Reduce Stress: Implement strategies to manage and reduce stress levels.
- Sleep: Aim for eight hours of quality sleep within a 24-hour period.
- An attitude of Gratitude & Forgiveness: Cultivate a positive mindset and practice forgiveness.
- Social Connectivity: Foster meaningful connections and maintain a robust social support system.
- Spiritual Well-being: Nourish your spiritual self through practices aligned with your beliefs.
By addressing these lifestyle factors, we can make positive changes to enhance our overall health and well-being. I am proud to introduce our newest service line, “Memorial Medical Integrative Medicine,” and new provider Yoon Hang Kim, MD, Chief Wellness Officer. Having a physician locally who can support our local healthcare providers by addressing complex cases and offering safe alternative care options will improve patient outcomes. Dr. Kim offers Integrative Medicine, Acupuncture, Low Dose Naltrexone Therapy, and Functional Medicine at Memorial Institute of Health & Healing located at 630 Locust Street in Carthage, IL.
