AnthroHealth : an integrative-integrated therapeutic approach in primary care

Camphill Medical Practice NHS(CMP) and Camphill Wellbeing Trust (CWT), a Scottish medical charity, have developed an integrative medical-therapeutic approach for patients with complex needs in a primary care setting. This multi-modal approach is both integrative in its nature and integrated in its delivery. The anthrohealth approach [also known as anthroposophic medicine1] is based on the conventional medical system of diagnoses and treatment, but extends this with a specific holistic understanding of the patient in illness and in health. The prescribing spectrum is extended with medicines derived from minerals, plants and animals, and the therapeutic options with specific nursing techniques and therapies. These include therapeutic speech and art, eurythmy therapy, rhythmical massage, riding therapy and counselling /psychotherapy. A shared anthrohealth philosophy and knowledge base amongst doctors, nurses and therapists facilitates effective integration of the therapeutic modalities within patient-centred individualised therapeutic programmes. These aim to help the patient address illness, build resilience and maintain wellbeing. The approach has high patient satisfaction, particularly where conventional treatment has plateaued or has little to offer. Anthrohealth is also integrated in delivery through the joint working of an NHS practice and a third sector organisation. CMP’s core primary care services are extended with CWT’s anthrohealth services, through collaborative planning and sharing of resources, including premises and personnel. This development has been needs-led. In 1996 CMP was a single handed practice with 3 employees and patient list of around 500. Low income and increasing patient demand for anthrohealth services prompted the question:How to sustainably deliver effective anthrohealth services within an NHS primary care setting2? 15th International Conference on Integrated Care, Edinburgh, UK, March 25-27, 2015 1 International Journal of Integrated Care – Volume 15, 27 May – URN:NBN:NL:UI:10-1-117111– http://www.ijic.org/ In response two financially independent but integrated organisations were established in 1999: CMP NHS and the charity CWT [www.camphillwellbeing.org.uk]. This facilitated fundraising to support the anthrohealth services while enabling the NHS services to meet governance requirements. Parallel development of CWT’s local charity shop and fundraising capacity enabled equality of access for patients to the anthrohealth services. To secure future sustainability further restructuring and specialisation was initiated in 2012. This coupled with increased engagement with patients and other stakeholders, secured continuation of our donation-based financial model. Two years on the financial viability of this model still proves sound. Today the two organisations together employ 4 GPs, 20 staff and serve in excess of 1800 patient. CMP NHS and CWT together specialise in service provision for three groups of patient, all with complex needs: • children and adults with complex learning disability, autism and ADHD • chronic conditions: e.g. ME, chronic pain, hypertension, Parkinson's • patients with cancer3 [www.mistletoetherapy.org.uk] They work alongside the five Camphill Communities in Aberdeen City and Shire, which providing a range of services to children and adults with learning disabilities and other additional support needs. The underpinning ethos and knowledge base is consistent with the anthrohealth approach, emphasising an integration of health, education/training/work and care supported by a therapeutic environment and based on meaningful relationships 4, 5, 6. Working with the Camphill stakeholders integrates social pedagogy into the therapeutic spectrum. Regulated in the UK by CAHSC [www.cahsc.org] and with an international quality mark AnthroMed [www.anthromed.de/en], anthroposophic medicine -the basis of our AnthroHealth model is integrated with conventional medicine in hospitals, clinics and medical practices throughout Europe. Its efficiency and effectiveness has been published in a health technology assessment7. This identified 265 clinical studies with predominantly positive outcomes. These studies, as well as a variety of specific safety studies, found no major risk but good tolerability and high patient satisfaction with anthroposophic healthcare. Economic analyses are favourable. Our own research8-10, clinical experience and patient feedback confirms this analysis. Further research plus an on-going formal evaluation of outcomes would be a desired next stage. Our project indicates the potential for transferability of the anthrohealth approach to primary care in the UK.

AnthroHealth: an integrative-integrated therapeutic approach in primary care

Dr Stefan Geider MD Dr Aileen Primrose PhD Dr Simon van Lieshout
Camphill Wellbeing Trust, Murtle Estate, Bieldside, Aberdeen, AB15 9EP t: 01224 862008 e: admin@camphillwellbeing.org.uk The anthrohealth approach [also known as anthroposophic medicine 1 ] is based on the conventional medical system of diagnosis and treatment, but extends this with a specific holistic understanding of the patient in illness and in health.
The prescribing spectrum is extended with medicines derived from minerals, plants and animals, and the therapeutic options with specific nursing techniques and therapies. These include therapeutic speech and art, eurythmy therapy, rhythmical massage, riding therapy and counselling / psychotherapy.
A shared anthrohealth philosophy and knowledge base amongst doctors, nurses and therapists facilitates effective integration of the therapeutic modalities within patient-centred individualised therapeutic programmes. These aim to help the patient address illness, build resilience and maintain wellbeing. The approach has high patient satisfaction, particularly where conventional treatment has plateaued or has little to offer.
In response two financially independent but integrated organisations were established in 1999: CMP NHS and the charity CWT [www.camphillwellbeing.org.uk]. This facilitated fundraising to support the anthrohealth services while enabling the NHS services to meet governance requirements. Parallel development of CWT's local charity shop and fundraising capacity enabled equality of access for patients to the anthrohealth services.
To secure sustainability restructuring and specialisation was initiated in 2012. This, coupled with increased engagement with patients and other stakeholders, secured continuation of our donation-based financial model.
Two years on the financial viability of this model still proves sound.
Regulated in the UK by CAHSC [www.cahsc.org] and with an international quality mark AnthroMed [www.anthromed.de/en], anthroposophic medicine -the basis of our AnthroHealth model -is integrated with conventional medicine in hospitals, clinics and medical practices throughout Europe. Its efficiency and effectiveness has been published in a health technology assessment 7 . This identified 265 clinical studies with predominantly positive outcomes. These studies, as well as a variety of specific safety studies, found no major risk but good tolerability and high patient satisfaction with anthroposophic healthcare. Economic analyses are favourable. Our own research 8-10 , clinical experience and patient feedback confirms this. Further research plus an on-going formal evaluation of outcomes would be a desired next stage.
Today the two organisations together employ 4 GPs, 20 staff and serve in excess of 1800 patients. CMP NHS and CWT together specialise in service provision for three groups of patients, all with complex needs:  children and adults with complex learning disability, autism and ADHD  chronic conditions: e.g. ME, chronic pain, hypertension, Parkinson's  patients with cancer 3 [www.mistletoetherapy.org.uk] They work alongside the five Camphill Communities in Aberdeen City and Shire, which provide a range of services to children and adults with learning disabilities and other additional support needs. Their underpinning ethos and knowledge base is consistent with the anthrohealth approach, emphasising an integration of health, education / work and care supported by a therapeutic environment and meaningful relationships 4, 5, 6 . Working with our Camphill partners integrates social pedagogy into the therapeutic spectrum.
Our project indicates the potential for transferability of the anthrohealth approach to primary care in the UK.
Therapeutic art in action at CWT

Our Camphill partners
Camphill Medical Practice, Aberdeen