Featured Speaker: Darren O’ Rourke
J.P. (47y/o, Male) Initial visit 10/20/23
Extremely athletic: CROSSFIT 5 times a week, in addition to Pilates, yoga, and running several times a week. Clean living, no medications reported, no drugs/alcohol prescribed or recreational.
I often get asked what is the one thing I wish I knew when I started my practice. It’s relatively simple: the things you THINK will give you a successful practice and good patient outcomes are not the things that drive the most impactful results for patients. It’s amazing to me in our holistic medicine field how we can get so tunnel visioned on the perceived skill set necessary to generate exceptional outcomes with patients. A “successful” treatment or treatment plan is multifaceted, and our approach should be as well. We can be exceptionally skilled with a needle and know powerful protocols for different patterns. However, if we aren’t considering all aspects of what drives people to comply with a treatment plan, or even curating an effective plan and just letting the patient dictate things like frequency and duration of treatment, we are not getting the best result possible.
Enter your game changer: patient communication. This goes well beyond explaining how acupuncture works (which yes, we will cover in class) into delicately navigating important aspects of a care plan, and influencing patients to comply with important aspects of your recommendations. Don’t get hung up on the word influence, which gets a bad rep, but rather think about how you are helping to influence positive health outcomes for as many patients as possible. We are trusted providers who need to be able to effectively articulate all potential factors which could impact patient results. Patients need to know, like, and trust us. If there is one thing which can drastically improve patient results in your practice, it’s learning to properly communicate in any setting.
I met Master Deng Hua Qing in the small village of Yi Chun in Mainland China in 2001. This was the longest stop of our month long trip, 10 days to train with Master Deng in Tai Ji Quan, Lan Shou Quan, and Qi Gong as well as our daily hours at the regional hospital. Master Deng was from the northern city of Harbin but traveled to Yi Chun for our training.
We started each morning around 6am. 60 minutes of Qi Gong followed by 60 minutes of Yang style Tai Ji Quan. Most of our group would leave after Tai Ji practice. A few of us stayed for Tai Ji applications, push hands, and Lan Shou for the last 60 minutes.
As an Acupuncturist, low back pain is likely a common complaint you treat. You likely have your tried-and-true ways of treating it, whether it’s deep needling of the Huatuojiaji points, Master Tung points, or something else. You also likely have impressive success stories using these techniques to solve problems that other practitioners could not solve. This is a tremendous feat that I’m sure those patients are grateful for.
What I will cover in the first session of my lecture, Lumbo-Pelvic-Hip Complex: Testing, Assessment, and Programming, will be straightforward and easy to implement orthopedic and muscle tests to better understand the nature and anatomy of the common pain syndromes afflicting the lumbopelvic region. Being more proficient in our anatomy and ability to stress anatomical structures for a more concrete orthopedic understanding of the patient’s pain is always a valuable endeavor. After all, our bodies are biomechanical machines, and our pain syndromes often present themselves within the machinery. They are obviously much more than this, but a working diagnosis from this context is a great step towards an actionable treatment plan. For instance, if I can produce 3 or 4 positive tests for the illusive sacroiliac joint pain, I feel strongly that my plan should include direct treatment to the SI joint. That’s a solid anatomical starting point. From there, we can branch off to holistic treatment of the entire person in front of us, knowing we are stepping from solid ground.
Mental health imbalances including depression, anxiety, ADD, addictions, and PTSD are rampant in our society. Perhaps some of us are guilty of thinking depressed people in our lives should just “buck up” and be grateful for what they have. Many of these people consider that these conditions are somehow their fault. In working with these patients through the years, I previously had some success—but nothing spectacular - until I began working with the genetic variants. This lead to a greater understanding of the causes of these conditions and greater levels of compassion.
While there can be a myriad of different causes for depression, genetic variants can be particularly causative. Specifically, the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene can cause a person to be apathetic and depressed due to low dopamine and adrenaline levels. Dopamine is a catecholamine that is a precursor of adrenaline (an adrenal hormone associated with energy). Dopamine has a powerful effect on our reward system. Low dopamine levels have been associated with depression and addictive behavior. In addition, this same genetic variant is responsible for the production of serotonin, our other brain chemical associated with increased mood.
Working with the environment and utilizing sustainable practices is essential today. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is deeply connected to the environment, farming, and agriculture, especially regarding manufacturing herbal formulas.
Using herbal formulas that have been sustainably sourced and manufactured safely to avoid contaminants allows for the best treatment results. Herbal formulas are crafted from a blend of herbs, which promote health and balance in different ways. Western pharmaceuticals often involve environmental impact reports, but some negative results show up later and may be more damaging than expected. Using properly sourced herbal formulas can help both the patient and the planet.
Each of us, when in school or reading our various reference books, whether it be point location (Where the red and the white meet) or identifying certain patterns (red face/malar flush) was exposed to a glowing error in education and practice standards that continues to be repeated even in mainstream medicine. When we speak of the “4 Pillars of Diagnostics”, no single pillar is more important than another. Clearly, we lacked exposure to any but lighter skinned examples of disharmony in a majority of educational settings. I use the newer term melanated on purpose. This term, to me, expresses the wide range of skin tone variation and is the most medically relevant term available.
What is melanation/melanated? The word “melanated" refers to the presence of melanin in the skin, hair, or eyes. Melanin is a pigment produced by cells called melanocytes and is responsible for determining the color of skin, hair, and eyes. People with higher levels of melanin are often described as melanated. It is also a term that is now commonly used to celebrate people of black and brown skin tones.
Featured Speaker: Lisa Lapwing, AP
A 31-year-old patient came to me with the chief complaint of male infertility. In his case, he had low sperm morphology and motility which was diagnosed in 2020.
When previous bills intended to restrict the use of the words “physician” or “doctor” in professional titles were introduced in Florida, they gained little traction or support. What made Senate Bill 230 different was not its language or timing, but instead the legislative leadership backing the Bill. Unlike previous efforts, in 2024, Florida’s State Senate leadership shared that SB 230 was a cornerstone in their healthcare reform agenda. Sponsorship of SB 230 was entrusted to the Health Policy Committee chairperson in the Senate, and a medical doctor elected to the leadership of the State House of Representatives. This gave gravitas and political life to an issue that had previously been floundering.
The Senate and House versions of SB 230 essentially would have banned anyone but medical doctors and osteopathic physicians from using the words “physician” in their advertisements and daily interactions with patients. Exceptions were made for chiropractic physicians, who are authorized in their practice to identify themselves as chiropractic physicians; as well as dentists and podiatrists, whose specialty recognitions and licenses can include the terms doctor, physician, and surgeon.1
Galina V. Roofener AP
Dear FSOMA Members,
The FSOMA, as a 501(c)6, not-for-profit professional association, has been serving Florida Licensed Acupuncturists since 1994. During our long history, FSOMA has had tremendous success in gaining respect and acceptance for our profession at the State and National levels.
The American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA) held their annual conference in Washington DC April 5-8. The meeting began with a national council meeting with representatives from 34 states and DC. ASA is supported by state associations who gather to share ideas and challenges of the acupuncture profession nationally. Representing FSOMA at the conference were: President Galina Roofener, Membership Chairman Dickie Walls, and Cynthiaann Hayes-Hurst, Advocacy Chairman.
Discussion was centered around efforts to support HR4803, the Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act. This bill will allow licensed acupuncturists to be authorized providers of Medicare benefits. There are many reasons why this is important for our profession. Recognition by Medicare will:
The sequence of determining the depth to a TCM diagnosis is never exact. Unlike our western medical colleagues, we keep an open mind in developing our diagnosis and treatment plans. I have noted this difference in other blogs. However, I will now further highlight how this “inexactness” manifests in my treating relationship with the patient. The initial intake is the best example in demonstrating the differing philosophy of both fields.
The TCM intake takes on much more significance in comparison to a typical western intake. Specifically, the TCM practitioner spends much more time in gathering “peripheral” patient information. Matters such as lifestyle choices, diet, and exercise patterns are heavily emphasized in the TCM intake.
BREAKING NEWS
Editorial Staff | DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
Employment contracts, from both an employer and employee perspective
Renegotiating contracts with insurance plans, and how to find the right person within the insurance company to do that
SOURCE: American Specialty Health Incorporated Health Services Department
This study underscores the importance of expanding access to acupuncture for a broader range of patients, emphasizing its potential to positively impact healthcare outcomes. With high patient satisfaction rates and notable improvements in pain management and overall well-being, acupuncture presents a promising avenue for enhancing and improving patient care.
Originally presented in webinar format by David Bibbey, LAc. The webinar is available to all FSOMA members here. Log into your membership account to gain access.
Congratulations on completing your academic journey in acupuncture! Now, it's time to turn your knowledge into a thriving practice. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the crucial steps involved in opening your first acupuncture clinic.
Originally presented in webinar format by David Bibbey, LAc. The webinar is available to all FSOMA members here. Log into your membership account to gain access.
In recent years, acupuncture has gained recognition and acceptance as an effective complementary therapy for various medical conditions. Many patients are seeking acupuncture treatments to manage pain, improve overall health, and enhance their well-being. This article will explore the availability of acupuncture coverage under Medicare and Medicaid, shedding light on how these government programs can significantly impact the accessibility of acupuncture services for patients.
Originally presented in webinar format by David Bibbey, LAc. The webinar is available to all FSOMA members here. Log into your membership account to gain access.
In today's digital age, where information is readily available at our fingertips, local newspapers remain a powerful platform for community engagement. As a healthcare practitioner, sharing your expertise through newspaper articles can be a game-changer for your practice and community outreach. In this guide, we'll walk you through the essential steps of crafting compelling articles for submission to your local newspaper.
Originally presented in webinar format by David Bibbey, LAc. The webinar is available to all FSOMA members here. Log into your membership account to gain access.
Starting and managing an acupuncture practice involves more than just clinical skills. Acupuncturists must navigate various administrative and regulatory requirements. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the steps required to set up an acupuncture practice; including: obtaining a business license, managing tangible property taxes, and understanding the complexities of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
In today's digital landscape, websites play a pivotal role in connecting businesses and healthcare providers with their target audiences. However, the digital realm is not always inclusive, often presenting barriers for individuals with disabilities. This comprehensive guide addresses two essential components that bridge the gap of inclusivity: ADA compliance for businesses and web accessibility for healthcare providers. Let's delve into the significance of these aspects, the guidelines to adhere to, the potential legal ramifications, and the actionable steps required to create an all-encompassing online presence.
As technology evolves, the importance of ensuring that websites are accessible to everyone becomes increasingly evident. This guide amalgamates the realms of ADA compliance and web accessibility to provide a comprehensive understanding of the requirements and practices needed to establish an inclusive digital environment.
