In this post, we are sharing useful insights from a recent Live Event by Dr. Sam Collins of the American Acupuncture Council, with his guest, Dr. David Miller. Their discussion revolved specifically about addressing health issues in children of all ages and the things that acupuncturists can do in order gain more traction in the western medical practice.
Here’s the gist of that discussion:
Why communication is so important. Not all patients who come to your clinic are willing to undergo treatment if they are not familiar (if not fully aware) of the process and their benefits. However, with good communication skills, a practitioner can build reputation and patients begin to trust. It is imperative to send your message across to your patient and right communication is key – to develop a more personal relation with the patient, which makes them more open to new treatment even if the method veers away from conventions .
Why you should be familiar with state laws. Every state has its rules and regulations that are unique to them, which is why it is important that medical practitioners operating in a particular state should be familiar with laws in that area. This holds also true when it comes to acupuncture and the Chinese medicine in general. There are states that allow the integration of Chinese medicine into the western medical practice, but there are also states that impose steep regulations concerning this treatment approach. When you know the local laws, rules and regulations, the chances of your practice being hampered by possible conflict with the law become minimal.
Why go for an integrated, holistic approach in treating children. When making an assessment on children’s health (and eventually addressing the possible health issue), the approach should be holistic. They may complain about back pain, but you should also check the possible underlying issues. For instance, there might also a problem with digestive functions, respiratory issues (e.g. asthma), sleep issue, among others. Such approach is quite common in Chinese medicine, and as an acupuncturist, giving importance to this holistic approach yield positive result.
Why educating doctors about the Chinese medicine is helpful. The discussion also gave highlight on how important it is to educate doctors if you want to integrate acupuncture to western medicine. It put emphasis on the fact that some doctors has little to no knowledge about acupuncture; educating them opens a lot of opportunities, including the expansion of Chinese medicine to the western practice. And the plan of action to carry out process? You need to consider a number of things, including: sending a letter, giving them specific types of cases and their results, asking for a letter of consent (should their patients come to your clinic to seek alternative treatment).
Why establishing presence in the community is important for your practice. Again, the reason why there are still a lot of practitioners who are having a second thought to incorporate Chinese medicine to the western practice is simply the lack of awareness on its benefits. This is why an acupuncture practitioner should reach out to the community. This can help build trust and recognition as you will have an opportunity to introduce this approach to them – with proof of its effectiveness. You can do that using different techniques such as joining in state associations, volunteering, giving lectures – campaigning through grass roots education.
Here’s the link to the live event video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMF2PXNuXSY
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