Memorial Hospital joins academic consortium’s global integrative health network

CARTHAGE, Ill. — Memorial Hospital is joining nearly 80 medical centers and health systems as part of the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health. The Academic Consortium is the world’s most comprehensive community for advancing the practice of whole health care, with leading expertise in research, clinical care, education and policy.

“Whole-person healthcare is at the center of the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health,” Academic Consortium chair Dr. Amy Locke said in a press release. “Memorial Hospital’s institutional knowledge and experience in establishing an integrative medicine program as a rural critical-access care hospital will be integral to understanding the myriad ways in which we can promote whole health for every person.”

Memorial Hospital CEO Ada Bair said, “Joining the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health marks a significant milestone for Memorial Hospital on our journey towards whole-person healthcare. Our commitment to integrating evidence-based practices into patient care and fostering collaboration with academic institutions aligns seamlessly with the Consortium’s mission.

“As we embark on this transformative partnership, we look forward to contributing our institutional knowledge and experience to advance the practice of whole health care globally. Together, we can promote meaningful and impactful clinical, academic, research, and education programs that empower every person on their path to optimal health and healing.”

With more than 70 years dedicated to high-quality patient care, Memorial Hospital was founded to become a sustainable regional center of excellence for health and healing while creating clinical, academic, research and education programs. A rural critical-access hospital, Memorial Hospital has been working since 2015 to establish evidence-based integrative medicine services for their patients by partnering with more than 38 academic institutions.

Dr. Yoon Hang Kim is at the forefront of the newly-founded Memorial Institute of Health and Healing, which seeks to provide care through five key areas of focus — integrative oncology, integrative pain management, integrative and functional medicine consultation, lifestyle medicine aimed at reversing type II diabetes and integrative primary care.

Preparatory initiatives in developing the Memorial Institute of Health and Healing included creating a teaching kitchen, developing a team of highly engaged registered dietitians to participate in community education events and hiring a chef to make specialized meals for all patients, staff and providers at Memorial Hospital.

Membership with the Academic Consortium will help Memorial Hospital expand its integrative medicine program. It will also connect them with other institutions working toward the same goal and provide support for their efforts in expanding their collaborative networks for clinical research.