Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has emerged as a significant sector within
the health care industry as patient demand has increased, as the number and diversity of
providers has grown, and as more providers deliver evidence-based CAM modalities to
patients. The challenges confronting health care organizations that offer CAM are both
similar and dissimilar to organizations that do not offer CAM. The unique challenges will be
described in a way to provide academics and health care finance practitioners with a plan to …

Given the widespread use of diverse complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
approaches by cancer patients, research to establish their safety and efficacy is critical as is
improved patient-physician communication about their possible risks and benefits. The
mission of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is to
support exacting research and disseminate clear and compelling information on CAM.
Although many of the challenges facing such research are not unique to CAM, these …