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IAHF List: King's County Natural Medicine Clinic is serving as a model for legislators world wide who seek ways to stretch the health care dollar, while also providing state of the art care. It is the first publicly funded alternative medical clinic in the USA.
By telling members of the European Parliament about it, along with legislators world wide, we can break the Pharma Cartel wide open and get them off our backs once and for all. Lets work together to insure that this happens.
Merrily Manthey has devoted more than 30 years as an educator and therapist, consultant and activist for the advancement of human potential. She has been honored for her ground breaking leadership in the creation of the landmark King County Natural Medicine Clinic, http://www.kentwa.org/ the first publicly funded natural medicine primary care clinic in the United States. http://www.kentwa.org/
She is the initiator of the City of Kent, Washington, Natural Medicine Project, which is bringing national and international attention to Kent, the Wellness Capital of America.
A Seattle native and longtime stress management consultant, she lectures, both nationally and internationally, and produces educational materials such as the award winning video, "A Message of Hope" http://www.merrily.com/foundation_for_excellence_in_hea.htm
"A Message of Hope"
Recovering lost lives through the power of Natural Medicine
Presentations available for conferences, symposiums, groups, special events
Today we are seeing the beginning of a revolution in the practice of mainstream psychiatry and conventional medicine. Nutritional methods have allowed tens of thousands of people to successfully recover from mental conditions such as schizophrenia and depression.
"A Message of Hope" presents three touching stories of recovery by former patients suffering from such terribly debilitating "mental" illness as schizophrenia and dementia. Statistics of recovery are included as well as a general overview of the pioneering protocol developed by Dr. Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD, who began this form of treatment over 40 years ago.
Practitioners using natural treatments report an 80-85% rate of great improvement or recovery, which is in stark contrast to the usual expectations with conventional treatments. Nutrient-based methods also generally foster the health of both brain and body, while avoiding the brain suppression and side affects that commonly occur with the conventional medical approach.
Evidence? "There is considerable literature in certain areas of natural medicine ... this is research done by mainstream research scientists, at universities, with medical schools ...." quote from video by Jonathan V. Wright, MD
"A Message of Hope"
Telly Award Winner in Health & Medicine
Featuring Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD, Alan Gaby, MD, and Jonathan V. Wright, MD
and other pioneers who have demonstrated the power of nutritional treatments
and have helped thousands of people regain normal lives.
Produced by Merrily Manthey, MS
Presentations available for conferences, symposiums, groups, special events
$24.95 plus shipping and handling
ISBN # 0-9702503-1-2
Visa/MasterCard accepted
To order send email to "A Message of Hope" merrily@msn.com
http://www.kentwa.org/kent_clinic.htm
Kent Clinic: A Model for the Future of Community Health Care?
National Choice Directory of Puget Sound 1997/98 edition
by Larry K. Fried
Entering the Kent Community Health Center reveals nothing particularly unusual. The lobby & waiting area arc not unlike what you might expect to find in any medical clinic, clean but sterile. Magazines for waiting patients and their families are as conventional as can be, Women's Day and the like. The building itself a one story temporarily sited facility gives no clue of the unusual nature of what is happening here.
There is a sign however, which can be seen as you approach. the building. King County Natural Medicine Clinic at the Kent Community Health center?" it reads, listing participating organizations, Bastyr University, our local naturopathic and natural medicine college, among them. Other participants include Seattle King County Department of Public Health, the Community Health Centers of King County; and the City of Kent.
With federal and state funding, this collaboration has resulted in what is believed to be a first in the entire nation: a publicly funded health clinic integrating conventional (allopathic) and natural rnedicine. There in lies what is revolutionary about this clinic and what makes it the focus of tremendous attention.
Opened in October of 1996, The Natural Medicine Clinic targets low-income people, immigrants and refugee, making natural health care available to many who were not previously able to afford it. Natural health care services offered include naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic care, stress management & nutrition counseling.
The staff includes medical and naturopathic physicians; nurse practitioners, physician assistants; acupuncturists, and dietitians. Initial funding for the Natural Medicine Clinic was provided by a one year $750,000 federal grant with an additional $500,000 provided by the Washington state legislature for the second year of the two year pilot program.
In part, the clinic was born of the 1993/94 discussion of health care reform in this country. Many advocates of holistic health took notice that natural and alternative medicine was not a part of the debate. Missing was any discussion of the promise natural and preventive health care could offer to two overwhelming and related aspects of the current health care system: rapidly raising costs and conventional medicine's lack of success with degenerative disease.
Merrily Manthey; was one who believed natural health care was usually far less expensive than high-tech conventional medicine, and often more effective, especially with long term chronic illness. Manthey was frustrated that the health care debate virtually ignored making changes in the quality and type of health care. The focus was on hot to pay for the status quo. " It got me thinking about what would constitute real healthcare reform," Manthey says.
As a member of the board of directors of both Bastry University and Harborview Hospital, Manthey was uniquely positioned to act. She first approached Harborview with an idea to open a community natural medicine clinic, as one of its more than 50 outpatient clinics. When Harborview didn't pick up on the idea, Manthey took the idea out, eventually joining efforts with Joe Pizzorno, founding president of Bastyr.
" Dr. Pizzorno has a vision to provide scientific data to support the use of naturopathic and natural medicine., said Jane Guiltinan, Medical Director of Bastyr's Health Clinic, and Co-director for Natural Medicine at the Kent clinic. In fact, Bastyr University was a recipient of one of the first National Institute for Health (NIH) grants ever awarded for alternative medicine studies.. Bastyr U's new campus in Bothell has an entire wing devoted to research.
Pizzorno wanted to set-up clinical trials where the results of natural and conventional treatments are directly com pared with respect to certain medical conditions. Manthey & Pizzorno found an enthusiastic ally on the King County Council. Kent Pullen, Council Chair, spearheaded the effort on the Council for a publicly supported natural medicine clinic that would include a research component.
Pizzorno got his chance to present his ideas to the full Council. Then something revelatory happened. As individual members questioned Pizzorno, their questions revelatory happened. As individual members questioned Pizzorno, their questions revealed that most all of them had availed themselves of natural and holistic practitioners. This was an area of common experience the Council members had not previously shared with one another. These local leaders were going public about their experience with natural health care for the first time. Finding themselves in such good company certainly must have been a moment of delight.
Not surprisingly, the Council's endorsement for a natural medicine clinic was unanimous. In a time of tight budgets, funding was another matter. To lobby for funding, and otherwise help administrate the creation of the clinic, the Council established a new staff position: Natural Medicine Coordinator to the King County Council.
The Council appointed Nancy Weaver as the first Natural Medicine Coordinator, a position unique in the country at any level of government. As a veteran legislative staff member of 26 years, Weaver was not new to government, but was quite new to natural medicine. "I had been asking council members about holistic and natural health recommendations for my own health issues. "I think that is they knew I might be interested in this position, "Weaver explained. At the time, "I was not a firm believer in natural medicine."
Weaver worked with the King County Public Health Department to draw up an RFP (Request for Proposals.) The RFP (Request for Proposals). The RFP generated approximately two dozen letters of interest from various health professionals and organizations. Eventually a number of these parties collaborated and submitted three final proposals. Ironically, Harborview was a party in one of the final submissions.
A screening panel, selected from around the country, reviewed the submissions. To Prevent any behind the scenes lobbying, the identity of the panel members was anonymous. The collaborative team of Bastyr University; King County Community Health Clinics, a private non-profit organizations; and CERC, an independent health research organization, submitted the selected proposal.
Although at the time of this writing the clinical trials have not yet begun, CERC will conduct comparative studies around three common conditions:
Migraines, Hypertension,(high-blood pressure), and Otitis Media (recurrent ear infections). The studies will last about 18 months. There is also a sociological study to track how the integrative medicine aspect of the Kent clinic is affecting the health providers and their patients.
The Natural Medicine Clinic opened as part of the already existing Community Health Clinic in Kent, and has created much change. To begin with the clinic building was relocated, picked up and moved several blocks, to allow for the space for a temporary add-on. The add-on - a double wide mobile - houses the natural medicine offices. This is a temporary solution while an entirely new 20,000 square root building is being constructed to house the Kent clinic. Scheduled to open in October 1997, the new facility allows much more space for both natural and conventional medicine facilities.
The formation of a. newly integrated clinic compelled some conventional health providers in conjunction with natural medicine providers. These providers did not necessarily plan to work in an integrated health care environment. None-the-1ess, the results, according to Tom Trompeter, Associate Director of the Community Health Centers, have been mostly very positive. "The staff has been a really good fit," says Trompeter.. 'They have worked well together. We are seeing providers consult with each other and refer patients to each other." Despite some initial resistance; and even the departure of one health care provider who did not take to the modifications, Guiltinan essentially concurs, "It is working very well, really exceeding my expectations."
According to Guiltinan, the medical doctors are learning from their natural health counterparts and in some cases modifying the way they practice medicine; while, for the naturopaths, the clinic patients themselves present the greatest need for change.
Until very recently natural medicine was generally not covered by insurance, and it was never before subsidized in a community health care system. Thus natural health care has only been. available to those who could afford to pay for it entirely out of their own pockets. ." I think naturopathic providers are learning about working with poor people & minorities," Guiltinan explained. "How do you ask somebody living on $100 a week to buy $50 worth of nutritional supplements? It is forcing us to go back to our roots, by trying to give Medicine through food. Such as having a patient put fresh garlic in food (rather than buying a garlic supplement) or teach ing them to do hydrotherapy (water. therapy) at home."
So where is this innovative experiment in community health care headed? What happens when the pilot program ends in June of 1998?
According to Trompeter, the King County Community Health; Centers has an organizational commitment to provide natural health services at all their clinics. Their participation in the pilot project came along as the; first funded opportunity to implement their plans for natural medicine. They have every intention of maintaining the natural health component in Kent, even when the pilot program expires..
Weaver feels confidant the King County Council will not only commit dollars to complete the currently under funded program in Kent, but will further its commitment to fully integrated health care. Weaver says, "Things. are going terrifically. The clinic is being extremely well received. An integrated system where people are free to choose the kind of health care they use is where we are going."
Yet, the Kent clinic project may have a reach far beyond the community health clinics and King County. It has already garnered tremendous media attention. CNN, Peter Jennings' World News Tonight, and a French Public TV film crew have all visited the clinic. All in all there have been hundreds of local, national & international media spots focused on. the clinic. Health care professionals and public officials have certainly taken notice. Manthey says, "I have had inquires. about the. clinic from all over the country. I1 can't think. of a single state I haven't heard. from."
Guiltinan believes, "If this pilot project can demonstrate through the studies that natural medicine can be as, or even more, effective than conventional medicine, while avoiding the side effects, then this can be a model. It can revolutionize the health care in this country".
To which I add- THE WORLD!
KENT, WASHINGTON- THE CITY THAT CHOOSE HEALTH
The city of Kent Washington, hopes to become the Wellness Capital of America. In January 1996, the Kent City Council passed Resolution 1449 which read: "Whereas, policies at all levels of government are changing to properly acknowledge the efficacy, professionalism, and licensure of natural medicine practitioners, the City of Kent desires to be come the home to the most comprehensive array of alternative and natural medicine services in the United States." Mayor Jim White remarked, "This is a dream come true."
E-mail merrily@msn.com or telephone 1-253-859-3355 Mayor Jim White, Kent, Washington.
Editorial Reviews
Description
"A Message of Hope" documents recovering lost lives through the power of Natural Medicine featuring orthomolecular pioneer Dr. Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD; noted authority on nutrition and health Dr. Alan Gaby, MD; world famous physician Dr. Jonathan V. Wright, MD, and other pioneers who have demonstrated the power of nutritional treatments and have helped thousands of people regain normal lives.
The Telly Award winning video was produced by internationally-known natural medicine activist Merrily Manthey, MS. She is the iniator of the landmark King County Natural Medicine Clinic in Kent, Washington, the first publicly funded integrative care primary clinic in the US. (See http://www.kentwa.org )
"A Message of Hope" presents three touching stories of recovery by former patients suffering from such terribly debilitating "mental" illness as schizophrenia and dementia. Statistics of recovery are included as well as a general overview of the science-based effective nutritional protocol developed by Dr. Abram Hoffer, who began this form of treatment over 40 years ago.
Practitioners using natural treatments report an 80-85% rate of great improvement or recovery, which is in stark contrast to the usual expectations with conventional treatments. Nutrient-based methods also generally foster the health of both brain and body, while avoiding the brain suppression and side affects that commonly occur with the conventional medical approach.
"A Message of Hope" stimulated the passage of a landmark legislation that lays the groundwork for such treatment as described in the video. King County (Seattle area) now requires increased accountability and measurement of mental health treatment for patients cared for through its system and, most importantly, sets getting people well the goal of treatment.
http://www.kentwa.org/film_star_margot_kidder_supports.htm
Film Star Margot Kidder Supports Proposed New King County Ordinance for Mental Health
Getting Patients Well is the New Goal
of County Treatment Programs
By Merrily Manthey, M.S.
In a stunning presentation four years to the day of her very public exposure that branded her crazy,actor Margo Kidder urged support for a landmark ordinance about to be voted on in King County, Washington (greater Seattle). People deserve the right to wellness,she pointed out, as opposed to a pharmacological lobotomy, which is usually what you get.
On April 25, the international film star stood before Councilmember Kent Pullen, PhD, and his customer servicescommittee agreeing that getting people well should be the goal of county mental health programs. Kidder also urged the use of natural medicine to treat the mentally ill.
The Canadian born actress, who starred as Lois Lane in the blockbuster movie series, Superman, told the Council that she had been treatedfor mental illness for most of her life. Boldly she revealed that conventional medicine provided her with very little help. But by taking charge of her own healing, discovering natural methods that dealt with the root cause of her problem, and with the help of family and friends, she got herself well.
The treatment she discoveredand assembled on her own was, in effect, orthomolecular medicine, developed by Dr. Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD and his colleague Humphrey Osmund, MD., over 40 years ago.
I had met Margot Kidder at the orthomolecular conference held to honor Hoffers 80th Birthday. I mentioned to Councilman Kent Pullen, PhD, that I wanted ask the extremely articulate and knowledgeable film star to speak to the 13-member elected body in support of our new ordinance. I imagined she would make an impassioned and reasoned argument to help people change the way they view existing treatment of those diagnosed with a mental illness. Thankfully, natural medicine advocate Pullen was tremendously supportive of my idea. And I was deeply grateful Ms. Kidder agreed to come to Seattle to make the case for important change.
Her appearance generated widespread US media attention and favorable reviewsfor the concepts she was presenting. Observers said she impressed them deeply with her humanity and personal success story, and, they told me, they would never feel the same about anyone suffering with symptoms of mental distress. Through her powerful testimony, Margot Kidder made them think differently about the biochemical differences that influence good mental health.
The Council gave special recognition to Margot Kidder for her many achievements and especially for her unselfish advocacy to help reduce human suffering. (See award at www.margotkidder.com)
King County Ordinance #2000-0294
King County treated 28,000 patients with mental health diagnoses last year, spending over $82 million in what is called a safety netsystem. Another $87 million was spent for detention-related services, much of this related to mental health struggles. Thus, county taxpayers spent $1.7 billion in 1999 with little hope of bringing realistic improvement to the lives of those who are suffering. Over $90 million has been approved and will be spent on mental health services in King County during the present year.
The new ordinance establishes, Councilmember Pullen observed, for the first time, a way to measure outcomes on county subsidized treatment programs. The ordinance would require country mental health programs to track yearly progress of people in their care and report how many were made well; and designate getting wellas the goal of treatment.
Getting wellhas not been the stated goal of the county mental health system; instead, the current goal is to provide the emergency care for those in need. As many see it, safety nets are excellent for the short-term; however, they are not designed to get at the root cause of the problem. They just catchthose who are falling.
I learned through public hearings in 1999 that 5% of patients treated in the countys current mental health system were made well in the prior year. Shocked by the dismal numbers, we set out to raise the bar. The successful passage of this ordinance, Pullen notes, will create a significant paradigm shiftin government policy. I will add here, we hope this concept will catch fireall across the North American continent.
Citing a Wall Street Journal article, New Weapons in the War on Schizophrenia, August 25, 1999, the ordinance notes that the economic cost to the United States of just one mental illness, schizophrenia, is $30-65 billion dollars per year, with 2.5 million persons afflicted. According to the NIMH, depression cost over $30 million in 1990. Present treatments for the mentally ill have generally disappointing results and are characterized as high cost Band-Aids.
The ordinance defines welland wellness.Being wellmeans, by definition, a client who is free of disability, employable, connected with friends and family; and has a generally positive outlook on life. If the person is taking medications or nutritional supplements, then the client is also free of adverse side effects. If the person is in the age range of 21-59 years, wellnessincludes being engaged in volunteer work, pursuing educational or vocational degrees, or contributing to family support. A client in that same age range lives independently or has chosen other living arrangements to facilitate the clients activities with respect to volunteerism, education, work or family. Being wellmeans that an adult client is not receiving publicly funded mental treatment except for occasional recommended periodic checkups, and has been discharged from the countys mental health system. A client who is well, the ordinance spells out, may be characterized as having a GAF score of 81 or above.
Videotape A Message of Hope Set the Stage
The award-winning videotape, A Message of Hope, which documents Hoffers work and the effectiveness of orthomolecular treatments, was the impetus for the landmark ordinance and the personal endorsement of Margo Kidder.
For more information about the videotape, A Message of Hope, contact the Foundation for Excellence in Health Care, 206 718 3334, merrily@msn.com.
To receive copies of the ordinance, contact Kent Pullen, 206 296 1009.
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