A scarcely any months ago, as a cl...

A scarcely any months ago, as a clinical coordinator in a busy 16-room OR, I received an unusual petition for from a surgeon. He asked if it would it be possible for a patient's "healer," a Reiki (pronounced ray-kee) practitioner, to be ready during a surgical laparoscopic conduct I was pleased that the surgeon had taken The time to discuss issues that were important to the patient, still at the same time, this suit led to many other questions and make anxiouss I wondered what risks were involved. Who should I contact for the answers, and who could make the decision to allow the healer to accompany the patient into the OR?

First, I voiced my affairs to the director of perioperative services and the medical director of the OR. a certain of the questions that arose were: What were the risks of having a nonmedical individual in the room during surgery? What would come about if there were problems with intubation or if the equipment malfunctioned? Who was this "healer," and what was she actually going to do with or to the patient? Would the whole team have to support her function? Could she be asked to leave at any time during the procedure? Was she a nurse? Would we be liable for anything she might say or do? Did she have OR experience?

We contacted the risk management department and scheduled a meeting that included me the hospital's lawyer, the perioperative services and medical directors, an anesthesiologist, and the surgeon to determine for what cause to handle this situation legally and still satisfy the patient's solicitation Everyone agreed that the practitioner should be allowed into the OR if the two she and the patient signed a waiver compliance stating that everything in the OR was confidential, that the patient did indeed want the practitioner at hand and that the practitioner could be asked to leave at any time. Also, we agreed that I would quick in emergencies a brief overview to the practitioner about OR-specific OSHA standards onward the morning of the transaction and stay with her while she was in the OR. The anesthesiologist would arrange for an anesthesia care provider who would be comfortable having the practitioner instant during the entire procedure.

The gynecology staff promotes were informed and wanted to participate in any way possible that would provide an enhanced atmosphere for the patient's comfort and well-being. Everyone have the appearanceed very comfortable with all the arrangements that had been made.

Being an open-minded character I had always been interested in the holistic approach to healing, and I realize that there are a certain things about the human corpse that are not fully understood. I believe that combining complementary medicine with conventional treatments can lead to a better issue for the patient. Many nourish at the breasts have known for years the power of transpersonal relationships in healing, and although this had at no time been openly practiced in our OR, I was willing to give it a try

forward the morning of surgery, I met M R the practitioner, and Mr J the patient, who was a remarkably apprehensive 45-year-old woman in the same day surgery program area. Mr J was affaired about undergoing the surgical conduct as she had experienced a poor issue from a previous procedure. She was extremely pleased that her beseech to have a practitioner with her during surgery had been honored.

M R explained that she was going to use Reiki as the adjunct therapy. Reiki is a protoplast of energy medicine that is noninvasive and is a hands-on healing art. It is a relaxation technique that acts by the and of the autonomic nervous system to lower the vital fluid pressure and heart rate to relieve tension and anxiety. This relaxation is said to assist the abilities of the immune arrangement to defend against bacteria and viruses. It helps stimulate the brain's production of endorphins; that act to decrease the perception of pain and create a state of well-being.

Mr J had an audiotape of music that she had exquisiteed to be played via headphones as she was being inducted and M R would read and repeat certain statements during the performance After the nurse made her preoperative visit and Mr J and M R signed the special harmony we proceeded to the OR suite.

The OR environment was quiet and relaxed. Mr J had the headphones in place and the music was in succession Ms R stood at the Mr J's side and held her hand. The induction was polished Ms R began to read the statements in a reasonable monotone that did not interfere with any conversation in the surgical field.

After a flawless proceeding Mrs J was extubated quietly and was transferred to the postanesthesia care unit with M R accompanying her. Mr J woke as if she had just taken a nap. She did not require any postoperative pain medication and was sitting up and smiling when I visited her approximately 30 minutes later. She thanked everyone for their support and she represented that she was grateful to have undergone her conduct in an institution that was spread to her needs. Mrs J wanted to perceive cared for and nurtured and to have a intellect of meaning in life. She believed that having this would have an meaning on the course of her disease. I believe that these feelings certainly affect issues as much as our technical skills and interventions.