What to say when your patients ask you about complementary and alternative medicine.

There is an increasing interest in the variety of healers and treatments considered as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Care managers often encourage patients to take an active role in their self-care. The approach to self-care may include CAM. Care managers need to understand CAM and help patients become educated consumers in order to enhance their health and quality of life.

Foot care: an innovative nursing service in a community nursing center.

In this article we describe how providing regular foot care for the residents of public housing at an on-site nursing clinic has become a vital part of the clinic's services for the elderly and disabled residents. Good foot care contributes significantly to the health and well-being of elderly and at-risk groups of clients. With relatively little extra education for the nursing staff and for minimal cost, foot care can become an integral part of nursing services provided in many different types of community health settings. A framework for initiating and implementing a foot care program is highlighted.