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Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic

A Good Idea

Description

The Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic (CMCC) provides free complementary alternative medicine (CAM) for low-income women with cancer. CAM treatments such as acupuncture, Chinese and western herbs, massage therapy, homeopathy, therapeutic imagery, and other holistic modalities effectively ease the disabling symptoms of chemotherapy (nausea, pain, fatigue), increasing the probability that clients can complete their prescribed treatments on time and in the recommended doses. Research indicates that such timely completion may reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and is therefore a critical factor in improving survival chances. CMCC integrates evidence-based CAM with social services, transportation, organic foods, and on-site cancer survivorship programs (exercise and group support, cancer-specific nutrition education) to address the combined challenges of cancer and poverty. CMCC has well-defined, stage-appropriate treatment and support whether women are in active treatment, in remission and requiring support for immune recovery, living with the challenges of advanced cancers, or contending with a diagnosis of end-stage cancer.

Goal / Mission

CMCC’s mission is to ensure more equitable access to the full range of evidence-based cancer treatments, programs and resources that could potentially benefit individuals diagnosed with cancer, allowing the women who come to our clinics to make informed choices about their health care and their lives.

Results / Accomplishments

CMCC serves approximately 800 low-income women using a highly skilled corps of 440 CAM practitioners. Bilingual practitioners and interpreters increase linguistic access for women with limited English proficiency (40% of client population). CMCC is a nationally recognized model for providing compassionate, cost-effective care within the public health care setting.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic
Primary Contact
Connie Herrick, Executive Director
610 16th Streeet, Suite 426
Oakland, CA 94612
510-601-7660 ext.20
connie@charlottemaxwell.org
http://www.charlottemaxwell.org
Topics
Health / Alternative Medicine
Health / Cancer
Health / Women's Health
Organization(s)
Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic
Source
Acupuncture Today
Date of publication
Mar 2010
Date of implementation
1989
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
Oakland and San Francisco, CA
Target Audience
Women