National Center for Complementary and Integrative Care: 2016 strategic plan The new 2016 strategic plan was developed as part of the NIH overall plan for healthcare, was developed in cooperation with NCCIH staff, stakeholders, and scientific advisors. It serves as a blueprint to guide the development and expansion of mind and body approaches to health which include massage and bodywork professions. Five objectives are included in the plan, which outline clinical research, practical evaluation of client health outcomes, coordination of multidisciplinary practice and research, as well as dissemination of results using a wide variety of methods. A summary of objectives and strategies related to massage and bodywork are included below (NCCIH, 2016c). Objective 1: Advance Fundamental Science and Methods Development
Objective 4: Enhance the Complementary and Integrative Health Research Workforce ● Support research training and career development opportunities to increase the number and quality of scientists trained to conduct rigorous, cutting-edge research on complementary and integrative health practices. ● Foster interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships. Objective 5: Disseminate Objective Evidence-based Information on Complementary and Integrative Health Interventions ● Disseminate evidence-based information on complementary and integrative health approaches. ● Develop methods and approaches to enhance public understanding of basic scientific concepts and biomedical research. Specialty Certification Through NCBTMB Ethical practice involves the obligation to work within the scope of practice. The scope corresponds to the training, education, experience and competence to provide client care using modalities that are effective for symptoms of specific conditions. To prepare the professional for their increased role as a provider in an integrated healthcare system, the NCBTMB offers three specialty certifications that align with the NCCIH Strategic Plan: Exploring the Science of Complementary and Integrative Health. According to the NCBTMB website (NCBTMB, 2016d): The creation of NCBTMB’s Specialty Certificate Program furthers the mission of defining and advancing standards by creating another career pathway for massage and bodywork therapists. By partnering with major healthcare organizations and academic programs across the country, specialty certification empowers current and future massage therapists with top-notch education and experience necessary to succeed in various environments or when working with specific populations. A specialty certificate symbolizes advanced education and training in a particular modality or when working with a specific population. The Specialty Certificate program assists graduates to meet requirements that both massage therapy leaders and healthcare organizations agree are necessary for the practitioner to address the healthcare needs of these diverse populations. The mission of the Specialty Certificate includes the following areas to (NCBTMB, 2016d): ● Further elevate the standards of massage therapy. ● Further massage therapy’s role in integrative healthcare. ● Provide therapists access to high-quality, advanced programs for specific modalities and populations. ● Ensure patients receive the best possible care. The NCBTMB offers three areas of specialty certification as described below: 1. Massage Therapy for Integrative Healthcare This program is comprised of thirty nine semester hours and designed for students interested massage therapy and healthcare providers seeking to expand their clinical skills and knowledge in the field. Graduates of this program are prepared to work in direct client care settings to provide manipulation, massage, of the soft tissue structures of the body to prevent and alleviate pain, discomfort, muscle spasm, and stress, and to promote health and wellness. 2. Sports Massage The NCBTMB/AMTA Sports Massage Specialty Certificate Program provides a solid foundational overview on the subject via a series of six online classes
Fundamental scientific inquiry is essential to the progress of biomedicine by enhancing the understanding of how living systems work. This understanding serves as a foundation for translational and clinical studies that can lead to improved approaches to the management, treatment, and prevention of diseases and symptoms. Advance understanding of the mechanisms through which mind and body approaches affect health, resiliency, and well-being: ● Mind and body approaches such as meditation, spinal manipulation, massage, yoga, tai chi, hypnosis, and acupuncture, are being studied for their effects on a variety of symptoms and on resiliency and well-being. To design and carry out rigorous clinical research on these approaches, it is important to have insight into their biological effects and the mechanisms of action by which these approaches impact physiology. Going forward, NCCIH investments will emphasize fundamental research to advance the understanding of the mechanisms through which mind and body approaches affect health. ● Develop new and improved research methods and tools for conducting rigorous studies of complementary health approaches and their integration into health care. ● Rigorous research on complementary health approaches requires well-established methodology, including valid, reliable, and relevant research tools and outcome measures. NCCIH seeks to support fundamental science that will lead to the development of improved methodologies for complementary health research, especially those that can be used to assess symptoms such as pain, depression, and anxiety. Objective 2: Improve Care for Hard-to-Manage Symptoms ● Develop and improve complementary health approaches and integrative treatment strategies for managing symptoms such as pain, anxiety, and depression. ● Conduct studies in “real world” clinical settings to test the safety and efficacy of complementary health approaches, including their integration into health care. Objective 3: Foster Health Promotion and Disease Prevention ● Investigate mechanisms of action of complementary and integrative health approaches in health resilience and practices that improve health and prevent disease. ● Study complementary health approaches to promote health and wellness across the lifespan in diverse populations. ● Explore research opportunities to study and assess the safety and efficacy of complementary health approaches in nonclinical settings such as community and employer- based wellness programs.
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Book Code: MPA0825
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