COVID-19 support registry developed for integrative practitioners

Integrative and complementary medicine practitioners are among those providing supportive care during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. To help track these efforts, the National University of Natural Medicine with leadership from its Helfgott Research Institute in Portland, Oregon, established a Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Health and Medicine COVID-19 Support Registry.

The purpose of the registry is to gather information on integrative and complementary health practices, contributions to public health and patient care, and case outcomes, recording critical case details in a single data bank. The findings gathered will help highlight integrative approaches to COVID-19 management and risk reduction and potentially provide data for both promising and potentially harmful treatment protocols in the future. The organization may also use information to bolster advocacy efforts for the naturopathic profession.

The global effort, led by Ryan Bradley, ND, MPH, director of research at the Helfgott Research Institute, is relying on the international integrative and complementary health community to contribute cases to the registry, which may be done online. Submissions can be completely anonymous without required reference to a practitioner or practice. The registry does not collect any protected health information regarding patients or clients.

The organization encourages practitioners to submit both positive and adverse treatment experiences or observations, as there is a learning opportunity for other providers.

The registry has garnered initial support from several organizations worldwide, including but not limited to the Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health, the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the Integrative Health Policy Consortium, and the Maryland University of Integrative Health.

Editor’s note: Click here for more information and ongoing COVID-19 updates for integrative healthcare professionals.