Complementary and alternative medicine: integration into nursing practiceComplementary alternative medicine (CAM) does not constitute a new medical practice that has recently emerged (Bennett, 2009). Several complementary alternative medicine therapies are: homeopathy, aromatherapy, touch therapy and music therapy, these therapies named here are only a small number of therapies that exist and have been around for two decades according to (Matthew, Whedon and Weeks, 2011) . This article will explore the accountable care organization (ACO) and how the ACO could potentially benefit the healthcare system and nursing practice (Matthew et al., 2011). In the conclusion of this article, we will emphasize the fact that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) indeed has its place in nursing practice and health systems today. With this in mind, our economy in the United States (US), over the past decade, has experienced a significant decline. Additionally, health care costs have increased; new proposals that would reduce healthcare expenses/costs and a continued growing trend involving the use of Cam (Matthew et al., 2011). Because of the economy, jobs and insurance benefits have been lost. Employees were laid off and offered Cobra benefits to preserve their medical insurance. The only problem was that Cobra insurance was double what they were paying. Legislation that supports the creation of Accountable Care Organizations (ACO, 2009) was recently signed into law as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and in 2012 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will begin to enter into contracts with ACOs (Matthew et al., 2011 pp. 669). The ACO would have a large...... middle of paper ...... active medicine and knowledge seeking by conventional health care practitioners. Contemporary Nursing, 33(1), 41-49. doi:10.1089/acm.2011.0364McCreery, H. (2010). Integrative medicine: combining conventional and complementary to improve patient care. ONS Connect, 25(11), 6-9. Retrieved from http://cinahl.com/cgi-bin/refsvc?jid=3344&accno=2010881233O'Regan, P., Wills, T., and O'Leary, A. (2010). Complementary therapies: a challenge for nursing practice. Nursing Standard, 24(21), 35-39, 5p. Retrieved from http.//cinahl.com/cgi-bin/refsvc?jid=530&accno=2010550203 Sharoff, L. (2008). Holistic nursing and medical-surgical nursing: a natural integration. MEDSURG Nursing, 17(3), 206-208. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy025.nclive.org/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=15&sid=6fd90276-71bf-4359-914c-447052b7b16f%40sessionmgr15&bdata=JnNpd