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County health system moves to expand integrative medicine pilots; committee asks for long‑term plan
Summary
The Health & Hospital Committee received a report on small integrative medicine pilots at Santa Clara Valley Health System, heard public and commissioner support, and asked administration to return with a long‑term strategy and cost information by November.
The Santa Clara Valley Health System presented a progress report on limited integrative medicine pilots operating in pediatrics, obstetrics and oncology and said clinicians have begun referring patients for services such as acupuncture.
“Physicians can make those referrals,” a health system official said, adding that a small number of integrative‑trained physicians will form a working group to educate peers and help expand the model. Vice Chair Abey Koga and Chair Lee both described personal and constituent experiences supporting integrative approaches; Vice Chair Abey Koga said acupuncture helped her chemotherapy‑related neuropathy.
Members of the Health Advisory Commission and public commenters urged broader adoption. Mike Rogers, vice chair of the Health Advisory Commission, said the commission unanimously recommended expanding pilots into primary care and ambulatory clinics to address chronic noncommunicable conditions.
County staff said the approach will be iterative and requires clinician buy‑in and operational investment; the administration agreed to return to the full board with a long‑term strategy, a cost breakdown and options for financially sustainable models at the November board meeting. The committee voted to receive the report.
