Behavioral Medicine at South Miami Hospital
What is Behavioral and Collaborative Medicine?
Clinical experience and medical research recognize that the mind and body are intrinsically connected. Social support, mood, stress and other lifestyle factors all have been found to affect disease prevention and recovery. Integrating this knowledge into modern healthcare helps people deal with life stressors such as illness in a positive and constructive way.
South Miami Hospital has been a pioneer in the movement to treat the patient as a whole person. Behavioral medicine — the use of mind-body techniques and strategies to promote optimum health — in collaboration with traditional medical treatment, has created a unique approach with maximum benefits.
The Behavioral and Collaborative Medicine program offers a broad spectrum of evidence based services for people who are dedicated to maintaining good health. Those at risk for heart disease or other conditions and those already dealing with illnesses may also benefit from lifestyle modification and innovative therapies.
These services include:
Stress Management
• Stress management classes and workshops
• Mindfulness-based stress reduction
• Meditation tapes
Expressive Therapies
• Poetry-journaling therapy
• Dance-movement therapy
• Art therapy
• Music therapy
Mind-Body Exercise Classes
• Tai chi-style*
• Yoga-style*
• Prenatal yoga-style*
Massage Therapy
• Swedish massage
• Neuromuscular therapy
• Reflexology
• Pregnancy massage
• Cranial-sacral therapy
Support Groups
• Parenting
• Bereavement
• Medical conditions
• Health and wellness
Counseling Services
• Individual, couple and family therapy
The Arts in Healthcare Program
We believe that using creative arts enables and enhances the body’s and mind’s ability to cope with life stressors and to handle illness in a more positive and healing way. We give patients on 6 Pavilion as well as in Radiation Therapy and Maternity a chance to create a variety of projects from our “Art Kart.” We also accept other patients from referrals on a case-by-case basis. The service is free to our patients, their family members, visitors and employees. Arts in Healthcare’s goal is to provide many forms of creative arts throughout the hospital, creating a more peaceful and soothing environment for visitors, families and hospital staff.
For more information about the program, call the Behavioral and Collaborative Medicine program at 786-662-5200. The Arts in Healthcare Program is looking for Certified Pet Therapy and musical performer volunteers. To volunteer, call Beth Ruhmann at 786-662-8399.
We also provide referrals to credentialed providers within Baptist Health for biofeedback, hypnotherapy, acupuncture, nutritional counseling and fitness evaluation.
All services are provided by licensed, certified and/or registered professionals who address issues of life and illness from a mind-body perspective in an accredited, reputable and comfortable environment.
Some of our services, such as support groups, are offered free of charge. Others are offered at reasonable fees and may be covered by your insurance. For more information about our Behavioral and Collaborative Medicine program, including a schedule, please call 786-662-8106.
*Tai chi-style and yoga-style classes focus on movement instruction, rather than religious aspects of tai chi and yoga.