Communichi

Acupuncture is relatively simple in my mind – at least, when compared with biomedicine involving surgery or pharmaceuticals. In the hands of a licensed professional, it is safe, effective and vastly underutilized in America. Why is it then, that the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) is attempting to push a requirement that entry level practitioners obtain a doctorate degree as a condition of licensure?

If implemented, this will result in increased costs for students, significantly higher debt and fewer affordable community clinics like CommuniChi. I’ve been practicing for nearly 12 years now and the proposal, while not fully articulated yet, could well require existing practitioners to “upgrade” their education to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars of increased training – for what?  In order to add more letters after our name?

I’ve come to the conclusion that institutional greed and short sightedness is motivating their decision. The official spin is that by implementing a “First Professional Doctorate” (FPD), acupuncture will become a more mainstream, recognized medical profession, and thus advance the acupuncture profession. Unfortunately, the logic of this assertion quickly breaks down upon analysis.  A chiropractor explains eloquently how this sentiment led that profession down the wrong path. Click here to read his blog.

Less clear is whether the ACAOM is actually asserting that the FPD will advance the needs of the American health care public. A critical examination of the facts easily shows once again, that it will do exactly the opposite: By lengthening the educational requirements for acupuncture students and thereby dramatically increasing the cost, these costs are inevitably passed on to health care consumers, closing the door of acupuncture access for the vast majority of Americans. Furthermore, fewer acupuncturists will be able to afford the cost of an education, inevitably excluding individuals from non-white, middle and working class backgrounds from entering the profession. As a result, fewer options will exist for patients, and again, fees will naturally increase due to simple supply and demand economics.  As for quality of care, it is doubtful whether all of this increased education would do anything to improve upon the wheel. Acupuncture works! It’s not rocket science and doesn’t need to be. Safety and competency does not require us to be doctors.

The Community Acupuncture Network formed three years ago in order to make acupuncture affordable for the vast majority of Americans who cannot afford to receive treatment at $75 to $200 per treatment (the traditional going rate). Therefore, we are opposed to this self serving move by the ACAOM as it only holds short term benefits for the existing crony capitalists who either own acupuncture schools, live off of credentialing fees or otherwise make their money off the existing status quo in the profession.

If the FPD is enacted, eventually these short term benefits will dry up and collapse, much as the mortgage downfall of 2008 crashed down upon the ethically bankrupt financiers (or more accurately, upon the American taxpayer).  Whether one subscribes to the wisdom of the East, the teachings of the Bible, or common sense fairness –  it is clear that poisonous seeds yield only poisonous fruit. Only when actions are implemented based upon an altruistic sense of universal responsibility, can positive results be obtained.

What can you do? Come in to CommuniChi  and ask to sign their petition to the ACAOM. We’re aiming for 300 signatures by the end of the year.  Join our Facebook group opposing the FPD. Make an appointment for an acupuncture tune up and support the affordable acupuncture revolution.

Thanks!

Jordan Van Voast

CommuniChi

“Community is the Heart of Health”