With growing health care costs and – according to the Institute of Medicine – the large amounts of unnecessary health care spending, will penny-pinching bring a paradigm-shift in health care? And if so, what forms of care will that include? Eric Bashor in the Christian Science Press Room discusses this issue in a short video, with a concluding
In a recent article in the Clearwater Patch, Health Blogger Bob Clark brings his readers’ attention to the liberating idea to become “the CEO of your own health”, quoting Dr. Travis Stork, author of ”The Doctor is In”. He also shares author and researcher George Barna’s seven points that underlie Jesus’ healing ministry from the perspective of
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Images of the category EF-5 tornado that went through portions of Oklahoma on Monday and the trail of destruction it left behind can be disturbing to watch. And, as in the case of other recent tragedies, such as hurricane Sandy, the Newtown massacre and the Boston Marathon bombing, our hearts yearn for everyone involved to find comfort and peace, along with any needed provisions.
Perhaps we recognize familiar sentiments from these words of the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah when he wrote in the book of Lamentations¹ about devastation:
A guest post written by Ingrid Peschke, a Christian Science practitioner and a legislative advocate for spiritual healing in Massachusetts. You can also read this post on her weekly syndicated blog, “Health Conscious” at MetroWest Daily News.
Ingrid Peschke (Photo courtesy of Ingrid Peschke)
Hope.
That’s the word I came away with this past weekend after I took part in a panel discussion on the topic of “Spirit and Healing in the 21st Century” at the Open Spirit Center in Framingham. The motto for the center: “A place of hope, health, and harmony” to address the deeper spiritual yearnings of the wider community.
I joined four local spiritual leaders on the panel, along with two keynote speakers: a clinical psychologist with a specialization in health psychology, and a cancer survivor.
A repeating theme was that spiritual practice is incredibly important, if not vital, to healing. Nancy Gaulin, the psychologist, opened the 3-hour event, speaking from her twelve years of experience in the greater Boston area. She said she spends more time now asking her patients about their spirituality and exploring their beliefs, their morals and values, and even discussing their family upbringing–all contributing factors to health and well-being.
My mother – through her example and her actions – instilled in me a recognition of the value of spirituality as it relates both to health and to everyday life. She didn’t push spirituality at others, she quietly lived it – in patience, caring, tolerance, and in a daily practice of Scripture reading and prayer.
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The Michigan Legislature passed a resolution recognizing National Nurses Week – May 6-12 – here in Michigan. It points out that the “146,488 nurses in Michigan comprise the largest group of health care professionals in the state.” And it calls on the residents of Michigan to honor our nurses and appreciate their efforts to improve the health of our state.
I’d especially like to honor the recognition by most nurses of the value of spirituality and spiritual care in nursing.
Here are some examples in which this is evident:
Treating the whole person
In 2007 Malkia Newman was appointed to the board of the Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority and she now chairs this board. Speaking at last month’s Public Services Committee meeting, she shared her insights from being the only person ever to be treated by the program and, then, to become its board chair. “Having received the treatment, having received the education, because education and treatment go hand in hand – you can’t just throw medicine at a problem, you have to treat the whole person.”
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Today is National Day of Prayer (see Presidential Proclamation — National Day of Prayer, 2013). Here’s a guest post written by Cynthia P. Barnett, media spokesperson and legislative contact for Christian Science in North Carolina, who shares her thoughts on the power of prayer.
It’s a little word, really. One that often gets overlooked in the drama of an exciting story as it’s told or recorded. The word is a soft one to say; it’s a meek word. But more than most, it’s a mighty word.
In a brief video, Eric Bashor in the Christian Science Press Room shares how some mental health treatments today go beyond a drug-based approach. Bashor cites a Washington Post article by Tony Lobl entitled, World Alzheimer’s Day: The healing depths of togetherness. The article includes this guidance from Professor John Swinton of the University of Aberdeen: “…good dementia care has to do with
How can changing our ideals bring excellence to health care? Russ Gerber takes up this question in a recent in-depth article in The Washington Times entitled, “First, health care excellence” – apparently inspired by a question asked at a recent talk sponsored by the Harvard Medical School. Gerber draws some interesting lessons from placebos and the