UCLA Center for East-West Medicine
Clinical Specialty
The UCLA Center for East-West Medicine began as a subspecialty consultative clinic in 1993 and has since become known throughout the UCLA Health system for its patient-centered approach utilizing therapeutic practices from both the Western medical model and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Patients throughout the spectrum of disease often benefit from the combination approach, and the center also has become known as the clinic of last resort for patients whose conditions are resistant to the best of modern Western medicine. Patients in consultative care are empowered to take part in their healing process through patient-centered education, focusing on self-care techniques, a home exercise program, and integrative Chinese nutrition. Currently, there are four UCLA Health locations offering East-West medicine consultative care: Santa Monica, Westlake Village, Palos Verdes, and Torrance.
Providers: Kakit Hui, MD, FACP; Malcolm Taw, MD, FACP; Lawrence Taw, MD, FACP; Andrew Shubov, MD; Katie Hu, MD; Grant Chu, MD, MS; Annie Zhang, MD; Alan Chu, MD; Tamara B. Horwich, MD; Mihaela Taylor, MD
Website: East-West Consultive Care
Inpatient
The East-West inpatient consult service aims to relieve pain, nausea, anxiety, and other common inpatient conditions within the hospital setting by blending Traditional Chinese Medicine, internal medicine and integrative medicine using a variety of nonpharmacologic techniques, including acupuncture; trigger point injections; mindfulness; and lifestyle medicine. Andrew Shubov, MD, and Annie Zhang, MD, are now available for inpatient physician consultations at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center.
Providers: Andrew Shubov, MD; Annie Zhang, MD
Website: Inpatient East-West Medicine
UCLA Health Inpatient Wellness Bundle
The UCLA Health Inpatient Wellness Bundle promotes healing in the acute care setting by optimizing patient health through evidenced-based methods rooted in five domains: comfort, nutrition, mobility, dental and general hygiene, and rest and recovery. Addressing these domains will enhance pain management, reduce malnutrition caused by treatments, reduce debilitation from bedrest and inactivity, improve hygiene, and create a quiet environment to promote uninterrupted sleep and reduce delirium. The bundle allows for patients to be in the best possible condition to be actively engaged in getting well and going home.
UCLA Health Inpatient Integrative Therapy Program
UCLA Health offers a unique Integrative Therapy service designed to enhance the care of our hospitalized patients. The UCLA Health Inpatient Integrative Therapists provide the following nonpharmalogical modalities to help create a healing environment and promote relaxation.
Email: wtucker@mednet.ucla.edu
Website: uclahealth.org/rehab/integrative-therapy
UCLA Health Heart Touch Project
The Heart Touch Project offers gentle touch and pediatric massage services for children hospitalized at UCLA who meet appropriate medical criteria. Specially trained volunteer massage therapists and nurses provide positive touch experiences that promote comfort and well-being.
Email: wtucker@mednet.ucla.edu
Website: uclahealth.org/mattel/support-services
UCLA Health Massage Therapy
UCLA patients (in room) and their family members can enjoy a 20-minute chair massage, perfect for reducing muscle tension and renewing a sense of well-being.
Website: uclahealth.org/rehab/massage-therapy
UCLA Health People-Animal Connection (PAC)
The UCLA Health People-Animal Connection (PAC) program is UCLA's animal-assisted therapy program. Volunteer teams, comprising a dog and its human handler, offer companionship and warmth to critically ill children and adults. PAC teams enhance physical and emotional healing by providing a positive bonding opportunity between canines and patients of all ages, cultures, and socioeconomic levels. PAC teams meet UCLA's strict eligibility criteria and successfully complete a nationally standardized behavioral exam, along with extensive training before engaging in bedside visits. Since its inception in 1994, PAC teams have recorded more than 120,000 inpatient visits, as well as hundreds of thousands of unrecorded visits to families and guests at UCLA medical centers and community events.
Email: uclapac@mednet.ucla.edu
Website: uclahealth.org/PAC
Music Therapy Program
Music Therapy facilitates nonpharmacological symptom management, developmental support, and psychosocial and emotional support. Clinical Music Therapy goals focus on rehabilitation and/or comfort support through individualized and evidenced-based music interventions used within the therapeutic relationship. Music Therapy provides family-centered care and aims to empower participants and improve the quality of life of individuals across the entire lifespan by nurturing their cognitive, emotional, psychological, physical, physiological, neurological and spiritual well-being. Interventions might include songwriting, lyric analysis, guided music meditation, music improvisation, therapeutic music lessons, co-treatment with the rehab team involving evidenced-based musical cues, creative arts, and journaling exercises to music, and recording/producing.
Contact: Jenna Bollard
Email: jbollard@mednet.ucla.edu
Website: uclahealth.org/mattel/music-therapy
UCLA Art & Music at the Bedside
The UCLA Health Creative Arts Program, administered through UCLA Health Volunteer Services, includes art and music at the bedside. Volunteers deliver art kits and supplies to patients at the bedside for their relaxation and enjoyment. Activities include mandala coloring, origami making, and journaling. Volunteers also assist patients, engage in conversation, or foster creativity to enhance the artistic process.
Music at the bedside provides relaxing music from volunteer musicians. Types of music offered include guitar, cello, keyboard, and harp. In addition to playing music in the patient's room, volunteers also play in hospital waiting areas and the main hospital lobby.
Email: cmccarthy@mednet.ucla.edu
UCLA Health Chase Child Life Integrative Approaches
UCLA Health Chase Child Life Integrative Approaches seeks to empower pediatric patients to become part of their hospital experience through therapeutic and developmentally appropriate play opportunities, guided medical play, psychosocial preparation and teaching, guided imagery, and the development of transferable coping skills.
Email: childlife@mednet.ucla.edu or Tracey Mariano TMariano@mednet.ucla.edu
Website:uclahealth.org/mattel/chase-child-life
UCLA Health Relaxation Options
UCLA Health also offers:
