Today many men and women are looking beyond conventional medicine alone to keep themselves well. Increasingly their choices include the integration of complementary and alternative approaches which address the mind, body and spirit in restoring health. At the Continuum Center for Health and Healing we stand at the forefront of this evolution in healthcare—helping to develop a new type of medicine that combines the best of both conventional and complementary/alternative therapies. We find patients benefit most when working in partnership with their health care provider—we value our patients’ experience and voice.

Located at 245 Fifth Avenue (between 27th and 28th Streets) in New York City, the Center offers the following services:
Primary Care, Women’s Health Services,Men’s Health Services,
Children’s Health Services, Holistic Psychotherapy/Stress Management & Wellness Services, Complementary and Alternative Therapies, Traditional and Indigenous Healing Systems, Focus on Fitness, Welcome New Center Staff, Urban Zen Initiative, Holistic Pre-and Post Surgery Program, Collaborative Care — Acupuncture and Chiropractic, Holistic Fertility Care, Leech Therapy.

The Center can also help design and host Professional Meetings and One-Day Retreats.

Primary Care: Family Practice and Holistic Internal Medicine for Adults
Primary care focuses on optimizing health, preventing illness and treating acute and chronic conditions. An integrative perspective emphasizes all aspects of an individual’s life, including family and community. A holistic approach includes diet, exercise, stress reduction, self-care and spiritual renewal. The doctor or other primary care practitioner becomes a partner in supporting his/her patient toward an optimal balance of mind, body and spirit. Family Medicine Physicians, Nurse Practitioners and Internists offer primary care at the Center. In addition, Family Medicine practitioners also provide primary care for inflants, children and adolescents (see Children’s Health Services).

Many practitioners at the Center use an integrative, science-based health care approach called Functional Medicine to improve the management of complex chronic disease. This system focuses on the biochemical assessment of each patient, and then individually tailors interventions that help restore physical, mental, emotional and structural balance.

Because much of the risk of chronic disease is due to modifiable lifestyle practices, a great deal of attention is paid to lifestyle change. That means that what you eat, how you exercise, what your spiritual practices are, how much stress you live with and how you handle that stress are all elements that will be addressed in a comprehensive approach. Working in partnership with a doctor trained in functional medicine, patients make dietary and activity changes combined with nutrients targeted to specific functional needs. Pharmaceutical drugs or herbal medicines, detoxification protocols, physical medicine interventions and stress-management strategies may also be used. These provide patients with tools to positively impact their health and effect the outcome of disease.

Practitioners at the Center using a functional medicine approach include Dr. Martin Ehrlich and Dr. Roberta Lee.

Click here to make an appointment with a Center primary care practitioner.

Women’s Health Services
All women, from early adolescence to later adulthood, seek health care that addresses their complex health needs. Our women’s health services are comprehensive and holistic, complementing our primary care services by focusing on women’s reproductive health and well being. Services include sexual and reproductive health, pregnancy, fertility, and peri-and post-menopausal health.

Integrative gynecological care is a blend of conventional gynecological treatments and the best clinically proven complementary and alternative therapies. Each treatment program is designed for the individual needs of the patient using an integrative approach. This holistic orientation to gynecological care combines lifestyle management (nutrition, exercise, stress management skills), western herbs, and natural hormones with other therapeutic approaches offered by Center practitioners including Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Chiropractic, Integrative Nutrition and Mind-Body Medicine.

Our women’s health services are provided by an Obstetrician/Gynecologist, a Physician Assistant specializing in holistic gynecology, and Family Medicine physicians.

Click here to make an appointment with a Center women’s health care practitioner.

Men’s Health Services
Often it has been remarked that men don’t know who to turn to for their health care needs. Most men wait until a health crisis arises or they reach a later stage of life before they attempt to find a doctor.

Perhaps you, like many adult men, live with a fear about a family history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes or cancer and have never been evaluated to know if in fact you are at risk. Genetics is not destiny — and we know more than we ever did about how to advise and treat in order to minimize those risk factors.

Modern life is complex. This can impact our sexual health and vitality, our relationships and our ability to fully enjoy life. It’s good to have a solid relationship with an experienced internist who keeps current about men’s health issues and is skilled at diagnosis and treatment.

Click here to make an appointment with Dr. Martin Ehrlich or other Center practitioners.

Children’s Health Services
At the Center, Family Medicine Physicians and Nurse Practitioners provide primary healthcare for infants, children and adolescents that supports your child’s physical, mental, and emotional progress. Well-child care includes evaluating your child’s growth and development, physical health, and emotional well being, keeping in mind the impact that social and environmental influences have on your child’s health. When we see your child for illness we blend both conventional medicine with safe complementary therapies to support their full recovery. Integrative Family Medicine incorporates Nutrition, Massage, Aromatherapy and other natural therapies for symptom relief and immune system support. When needed, other Center services such as Chiropractic, Homeopathy, and Acupuncture may be recommended to support your child’s overall health.

Click here to make an appointment with a Center Family Medicine Practitioner.

Holistic Psychotherapy/Stress Management & Wellness Services

The Center offers a humanistic, comprehensive treatment approach in which our psychotherapist collaborates with medical and complementary practitioners to promote emotional and physical health and well being. Our program uses evidence-based practices (scientifically proven) which are customized to meet the specific needs and goals of each individual. The objective is to help you feel better faster by giving you tools you can use in your everyday life.

Click here to make an appointment with Caroline L. Werner, JD, LMSW, SWC(c).

Help is available with the following:

Depression

Worry, Anxiety, and Panic

Psychological Distress

Coping with Chronic Illness / Pre-surgery Anxiety

Interpersonal Relationships / Communication

Stress Management

Finding Satisfaction at Work and at Home

Work Life / Personal Life Balance

Wellness Counseling and Mind-Body Connection

Loss and Bereavement

Women’s Health

Life Transitions, including Pregnancy, Child-rearing, and Retirement

Social Phobia / Connecting with Others

Our Psychotherapist / Certified Stress & Wellness Consultant uses the following approaches:

Work with Individuals, Groups, and Couples

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (“Talk” Therapy)

Systems Therapy

Short-term Counseling

Stress Management / Skills Training

Wellness and Mind-Body Techniques

Self Management

Relaxation, Breathwork, and Autogenic Relaxation Training

Affirmations and Visualizations

Guided Imagery and Meditative Techniques

General
Acupuncture
Acupressure/Shiatsu
Alexander Technique
Aromatherapy
Art Therapy
Biofeedback
Chiropractic
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cranial Therapy
Dance Therapy
Exercise
Feldenkrais Method
Herbal Medicine
Homeopathy
Hypnosis
Imagery
Massage Therapy
Meditation/Relaxation
Music Therapy
Nutrition/Supplementation
Osteopathy
Prayer
Qigong
Reiki
Rolfing
Tai Chi
TENS
Therapeutic Touch
Trager Approach
Yoga

Click here to make an appointment with a Center complementary health care practitioner.

Traditional & Indigenous Healing Systems
Over thousands of years a variety of healing systems were developed by indigenous cultures around the world. These are complete systems of medicine in their own right and are still used today as the principle form of medical care in a great portion of the world. The Center is committed to learning from and integrating these healing systems into our health care practice in order to create a more complete approach to the understanding of health, wellness and healing.

The following traditional and indigenous healing systems are currently offered at the Center. Click on any of the systems to learn more about the history and practice of the healing approach. To learn about other healing systems not yet offered at the Center, please visit the Traditional & Indigenous Healing Systems section of our web site.

Ayurveda
East Asian Medicine
Kampo
Native American Medicine
Tibetan Medicine

Click here to make an appointment with a Center traditional and indigenous health care practitioner.


FOCUS ON FITNESS
The Continuum Center for Health & Healing in conjunction with the Division of Orthopaedic & Sports Rehabilitation announce the opening of its new, state-of-the-art Physical Therapy/Physical Fitness Training center, we Focus on Fitness. This new center is located at 245 Fifth Avenue, 1st floor, at East 28th Street.

Through an integrative approach the program will focus not only on injury rehabilitation, but will emphasize fitness training programs choreographed to maintain and improve quality of life. Through the implementation of exercise counseling, nutritional guidance and mind/body modalities, one’s maximum potential can be attained. Speciality programs for youth-fitness and weight training, classes for moms to be, and special trainig programs for the arthritic population are just a few of the services offered at We Focus on Fitness.

Staff:
Robert S. Gotlin, D.O., Program Director
Lisa M. Bartoli, D.O., M.S., Attending Physician
Yvonne Johnson, PT, Program Manager
Geralyn Petrilyak, PT, M.S., Physical Therapist
Jeffrey Young, B.S Ex. Phys, personal training

To make an appointment at the new fitness center, call 646 935-2266.


Welcome to New Center Staff

Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Initiative funds Optimal Healing Environment for Beth Israel’s Cancer Patients, Families & Caregivers

The Continuum Center for Health and Healing and Beth Israel’s Department of Integrative Medicine proudly announce receipt of a generous grant from the Urban Zen Initiative, a program launched and sponsored by internationally acclaimed fashion designer Donna Karan.

Under the leadership of Dr. Woodson Merrell, Chairman of the Department of Integrative Medicine and M. Anthony Fisher Director of Integrative Medicine at the Continuum Center for Health and Healing, this initiative at Beth Israel will help to transform 9 Dazian, the medical oncology unit, into an “Optimal Healing Environment.”

The Urban Zen grant will cover feng shui-inspired physical renovations, yoga therapy, holistic nursing training, a patient navigator to help guide patients through the often complex process of cancer care, and a research study to determine clinical- and cost- effectiveness, which is important in establishing this as a replicable model for cancer care.

Questions about the Urban Zen Initiative at Beth Israel may be directed to Jeanne Kenney, Program Manager, at 646-935-2275.

Holistic Pre- and Post-Surgery Care Program for Patients Considering Surgery
This program was designed to support patients through the surgical experience. Aurora Ocampo, MA, RN, CS, CCHH’s Clinical Nurse Specialist who directs this program, is an experienced nurse clinician with certification in biofeedback, therapeutic touch, clinical imagery, aromatherapy, Reiki and clinical hypnotherapy. Current research shows that mind-body interventions help patients achieve better surgical results and lessen emotional and psychological stress. Benefits include a reduction in anxiety, discomfort and pain perception, reduced length of hospital stay and improved coping skills.

Due to the program’s notable success in helping patients feel more comfortable and reduce medication usage during and following surgery, Ms. Ocampo has been educating and training nurses throughout surgical units at the hospital to teach patients breath control techniques and clinical imagery for pain management. According to a survey tool used on the surgical unit, patients who receive the holistic nursing therapies while also taking pain medication report a higher level of pain relief when compared to those patients who received only pain medication. Nurses who provide the services also feel a deepening of their relationship with patients and feel more effective in managing patients’ pain. The Department of Nursing incorporated these therapies into a new nursing care protocol for pain management in the unit. This is a significant accomplishment in CCHH’s ongoing efforts to integrate holistic nursing throughout Beth Israel’s in-patient units. Ms. Ocampo recently was awarded two grants to expand and continue this nursing education model.


Collaborative Care: Acupuncture and Chiropractic
The Center proudly offers a program of collaborative care within the integrative specialties of acupuncture and chiropractic. This team approach offers the patient an opportunity to see two practitioners during a single visit to the Center and provides a comprehensive approach to the treatment and management of a variety of health conditions including acute and chronic pain of the back, neck and joints; headaches, ear, nose and throat problems; sinus congestion and rhinitis, as well as digestive and gynecological symptomology.
This method assists in facilitating a faster healing time by addressing multiple facets of a health problem simultaneously. The practitioners work collaboratively with each patient to design an appropriate treatment plan.

Patients that have chosen this program have reported positive results from the focused coordinated care.

Click here to make an appointment with our acupuncturists, Basia Kielczynska and Dr. Arya Nielsen, and our chiropractor, Dr. Sharon Ufberg.

Holistic Fertility Care
The East Asian Medicine Division and other providers at the Center have joined together to provide holistic care for women seeking fertility support. For women who have already chosen to support their fertility through holistic treatments, this program has been designed to provide a well-balanced, natural approach to conception. Women who choose assisted reproductive technology can also benefit through natural approaches known to improve the outcomes of assisted reproduction, such as acupuncture before in-vitro fertilization. This approach supplements women’s gynecological care with fertility awareness training, acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, dietary consultation, chiropractic as well as other services such as stress management and Ericksonian hypnotherapy.

Basia Kielczynska, MS, LAc an acupuncturist, Aurora Ocampo RN a stress management specialist, and MaryBeth Augustine RD, a dietitian/nutritionist, coordinate the program and make referrals to other providers at the Center and in the community. The team works closely with Ilene Richman of the Fertility Awareness Center in Manhattan (www.fertaware.com). Practitioners address issues related to fertility that are often overlooked, such as structural imbalances, imbalances related to stress, diet and lifestyle or the environmental challenges.Click here to make an appointment with Basia Kielczynska, LAc, Aurora Ocampo, RN or MaryBeth Augustine, RD.


Leech Therapy
The Center for Health and Healing will provide leech therapy in a clinical setting with medical support. The Center treats osteoarthritis in a variety of ways including acupuncture and nutrition counseling, as well conventional medical care with physical therapy. We are the first hospital in the US to incorporate leech therapy for osteoarthritis and are conducting a study on the outcome of leech therapy in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Introduction
Leeches are a form of therapy used historically by early Western medicine as well as traditional medicines of Asia and Africa. Hirudo medicinalis, the medical leech, is regulated by the FDA as a medical device and is currently used in the surgical department in hospitals across the US, Canada, Europe and Russia including Beth Israel Medical Center, for post surgical wound care. Leech therapy for osteoarthritis has been studied in Germany with excellent results and few risks or side effects. Patients with osteoarthritis of the knee have experienced rapid pain relief, increased flexibility and decreased stiffness, with some benefit lasting 3-6 months. While there are a variety of current standards of care for osteoarthritis, some patients may not elect or be eligible for those interventions. Leech therapy provides an option for those patients who qualify medically.

The Center is working collaboratively with the Integrative Medicine Department at the University of Duisburg-Essen and the Kliniken Essen-Mitte in Germany where leech studies have been done (see abstract below) and where leech therapy has been offered for years for osteoarthritis of the knee, thumb, hip, and for epicondylitis, as well as for reduction of areas of blood congestion due to injury.

The Treatment for Osteoarthritis of the Knee
The leech therapy visit takes approximately 3 hours. Three to five leeches are applied to the knee for approximately 60 minutes, each falling off when their work is done. A press bandage is then applied and the patient is scheduled for a follow-up examination the next day, and in a week.

Fees
The fee of $600.00 includes the leech therapy session and two follow up examination visits, the day following leech therapy and in a week.

General Requirements for leech therapy
Contact the Center for Health and Healing for specific requirements for leech therapy. In general, a person must have a diagnosis of osteoarthritis, have had a recent physical examination with blood work including a CBC, Complete Metabolic Panel, ESR, and PT/PTT, and be prescribed a prophylactic antibiotic.

A prospective patient may see their own physician for this work-up or make an appointment with a physician at the Center.

At this time we are not treating patients with leech therapy who have the following conditions:

Anemia
Poor wound healing
A history of prolonged bleeding time (hemophilia, von Willebrands, etc)
Long-term steroid use with thinned skin
Polyneuropathy
Diabetes mellitus
Rheumatoid arthritis or other systemic joint disease
Severe joint inflammation/swelling
Other serious debilitating illness

Other exclusions for leech therapy include:

Patients who have had recent (within 3 months) knee arthroscopy, surgery or joint injection
Patients on anti-coagulant therapy (blood thinners such as Coumadin)
Patients taking Plavix

Leech Study
Arya Nielsen is the Principal Investigator of “Hirudotherapy (leech therapy) for symptomatic pain and immobility in osteoarthritis: A pilot study.” A study means that we will collect outcome data from patients who elect to have leech therapy. This study is not a clinical trial and is not funded.

To Make an Appointment
To make an appointment you will first need to review the leech therapy information packet. This can be mailed or emailed to you by contacting Arya Nielsen at anielsen@bethisraelny.org, or 646-935, 2231. Please include your name, phone number, postal or preferred email address. Or contact the Center for Health and Healing at 646 935-2259 for an appointment.

Recent study abstract on leech therapy and osteoarthritis
Michalsen A, Klotz S, Ludtke R, Moebus S, Spahn G, Dobos GJ. “Effectiveness of leech therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, controlled trial.” Annals of Internal Medicine. 139(9):724-30, 2003.
Leech therapy was commonly used in traditional medicine for treating localized pain and has been shown to provide clinically significant pain relief for osteoarthritis of the knee in a pilot study. This randomized controlled trial sought to evaluate the effectiveness of leech therapy for symptomatic relief of osteoarthritis of the knee in patients at an academic teaching hospital. Fifty-one patients with knee osteoarthritis received either leech therapy in a single treatment with 4 to 6 locally applied leeches or topical diclofenac therapy in a 28-day regimen (control group). Mean of the pain, function, and stiffness subscores of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and physical sum score of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey with group comparisons at days 3, 7, 28, and 91 were used as measurement tools. The primary end point (pain at day 7) was reduced from a mean of 53.5 to 19.3 after leech therapy compared with 51.5 to 42.4 with topical diclofenac (estimated group difference, -23.9). Differences for function, stiffness, and total symptoms remained significant in favor of leech therapy until the end of study and for quality of life until day 28, although the difference between group pain scores was no longer significant after day 7. Thus, leech therapy was shown to help relieve symptoms in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Content last modified on May 14, 2008