TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR Health, www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu, a comprehensive new website offering healthcare management resources is helping consumers “take charge” of their health and well-being. Created by national integrated health leader—the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality & Healing—in collaboration with the non-profit Life Science Foundation, the free site invites visitors to better manage and expand their healthcare options by providing information and tools in three main sections.
Create a healthy lifestyle offers self-assessments and an interactive goal-setting process that focuses on a holistic approach to health with eight aspects of a healthy lifestyle including: (1) diet and nutrition; (2) physical activity and fitness; (3) relationships; (4) life purpose; (5) stress mastery; (6) self-care and prevention; (7) the environment; (8) and emotions. You can use the website to create and track your personal health goals and improve your physical, mental, social and spiritual health.
Navigate the healthcare system helps people plan how best to use the healthcare system, including how to find a provider; evaluate information on the web; prepare for an appointment; make treatment decisions; evaluate insurance options; and increase the likelihood of a healthy hospitalization.
Explore healing practices provides in-depth information about the most commonly used integrative therapies including Reiki, Yoga, acupuncture, mind-body approaches, music therapy, homeopathy, chiropractic, healing touch, botanical medicine, intuition in healthcare, and more.
Site users can now watch video clips of sample therapy sessions and download audios for a variety of exercises, including a guided meditation. YouTube video interviews with renowned integrative healthcare leaders are another new feature now available. Current features on the homepage include: “Don’t Become An Obesity Statistic” and “Integrative Therapies Ease (Don’t Cure) Cancer Symptoms,” with a planned feature on Optimal Healing Environments in the works.
Examples of tools on the site for improving your health include the Two-Minute Relaxation breathing technique, a Shift Your Emotions exercise (downloadable as an MP3 audio or a printed document); the Body Scan exercise; a variety of Breathing Techniques; Exercise Quick Tips; a Relationships Assessment; and much more.
First introduced in 2005, the newly updated site invites visitors to broaden their options with integrative and complementary therapies; become more informed and involved healthcare consumers; and care for overall body, mind, and spirit. Created by nationally recognized experts (many from the Center for Spirituality & Healing), the new site features a revised “Healing Practices” section that offers up-to-date information about various complementary therapies and personal health strategies. A new “Conditions” section consists of 13 common health conditions, with more to be added. These conditions include anxiety, arthritis, back pain, cancer, childbirth, depression, diabetes, headaches, heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, menopause, migraines, and pregnancy.
Another new interactive feature is a Taking Charge blog written by Center director Dr. Mary Jo Kreitzer. A leader in integrative health and healing, Dr. Kreitzer will leverage her numerous roles in education, research, and advancing healthcare policy to share her own insight with consumers. Kreitzer’s blog is regularly updated and readers are encouraged to post their comments to her entries.
Dr. Kreitzer states, “Traditionally, the general public has relied on doctors to direct their healthcare. But with today’s office visits lasting an average of 15 minutes, healthcare providers have limited time to address patients’ questions and needs—transferring responsibility back to the public. The reality of our healthcare system today is that we all must take personal responsibility for our own health, and the best way to make wise decisions is to have access to credible information. Our goal in creating Taking Charge of Your Health is to provide practical information that helps people make healthy lifestyle changes, learn to better navigate the healthcare system, and explore integrative therapies and healing practices with conventional care.”
The Center for Spirituality & Healing, which is recognized nationally as a resource and leader in integrated health, is committed to transforming healthcare by educating health professionals and students about integrative therapies, conducting rigorous scientific research into complementary and non-pharmacological interventions, providing meaningful outreach programs, and working with partners to develop integrative clinical services. The inspiration behind the Center’s work is the knowledge that health and well-being are enhanced when the best of complementary and conventional care are integrated.
Visit the Taking Charge of Your Health web site at www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu, the Center for Spirituality & Healing web site at www.csh.umn.edu and the Life Science Foundation web site at http://www.lifesciencefoundation.org.
Editor’s Note: Together with TigerLion Arts, the Center for Spirituality & Healing is co-presenting “The Buddha Prince” at Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis Sept. 17-21, 2009. “The Buddha Prince” is a free, outdoor “walking” play that celebrates the life and teachings of His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama. This year's performances will honor Tibet's "50 Years in Exile” and celebrate the survival of Tibetan culture. For more information and performance schedule, please visit www.buddhaprince.org. For more events presented by the Center for Spirituality & Healing, visit http://www.csh.umn.edu.