RE: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

November 25, 2009

Yehuda,

I base it on the statute language and my work on my state's association

legislative subcommittee with an attorney. If a state licensing board tells you

what you can call yourself, then consider that this might be important to

follow.

If other statutes exist, such as in the medical profession statute for MDs, that

list protected titles unless you also are allowed to be licensed under that

section, then consider it a red flag. The alternative, used by many OMD's in

CA, would appear to simply list your degree following your name and avoid the Dr

prefix altogether.

As you are in CA, you might want to glance at the list of practitioners that

have lost their license as some on the list violated the doctor title issue.

Michael W. Bowser, DC, LAc

Chinese Medicine

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:20:05 -0800

Re: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

" At present time, having a DAOM does not mean you can use the doctor

title. States may have laws that preclude its usage of this as a protected

title or limitations on what an acupuncturist can use as well. You can

certainly mention you have your doctorate degree on your website, business card

and also have the suffix following your name.... "

Hi Mike,

What do you base this statement on?

November 25, 2009

Y,

Excellent point but how many of us actually had a choice in our own educational

hours? This would not be for us as much as it would be for the future. Future

plans start with a vision and the national org seems to be moving in this

direction.

Michael W. Bowser, DC, LAc

Chinese Medicine

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:16:35 -0800

Re: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

I hear you, K.

But I would like to have clarified if the two tracks are interchangeable. Some

of the most important consideration, as you allude to are cost short term, cost

long term, and earn ability. If someone is taking loans for the whole deal, and

wants the doctorate, then I would agree with you that the FPD would be the way

to go. However, if, like me, you are paying it out yourself, one quarter at a

time, and let's say that you want to just pass the state board, go into

practice, earn a few bucks, and then go back to complete your doctorate, would

one be able to do that lets say, 2/3 of the way through the FPD? In other

words, how much flexibility will candidates have?

________________________________

<johnkokko

Chinese Medicine

Tue, November 24, 2009 8:15:11 AM

Re: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

Yehuda,

Just a reminder...

the FDP is optional for schools... so there will still be Masters programs

available.

The FDP is designed for those who want to streamline the process between the

masters and doctoral levels, which should be less expensive, more cohesive

and quicker.

K

On Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 12:29 AM, wrote:

>

> I personally don't see what's wrong with the current state of affairs:

>

> 1. That the licensure and right to practice is regulated by the states, and

> that licensure is predicated upon graduating from an ACAOM accredited

> Master's program.

> 2. Should a licensed practitioner seek a more advanced level of education,

> there is the DAOM option. As we have spoken of, most DAOM programs are 2

> years, DAOM's learn academics and clinical skills not necessarily available

> to Master's students , and are entitled to call themselves doctors. In the

> networking world in which we live and work, that title should definitely

> mean greater referrals from other medical professionals and higher income.

> What else (such as greater accessability to patients in a hospital setting,

> for example) remains to be seen, but personally, I have been willing to take

> the chance based upon the potential benefit. There is no question that I am

> a better practitioner having nearly completed my first of 2 years.

>

> The only problems that I see in the current state of affairs, are the

> following, and from what I understand they are being resolved:

> 1. I believe that Master's students should be required to have a Bachelor's

> degree in order to attend.

> 2. I believe that greater selectivity should go into the admissions

> process, and entrance should not be automatic.

> 3. I believe that Master's programs should be 4 full years, should have a

> much more rigorous Western Science component and should have greater

> accountability for their clinical internships. Mine was a joke, and the

> amount of patients that I saw was certainly inadequate to properly prepare

> me for clinical practice.

> The schools really need to make a greater effort to promote their clinics

> for the benefit of interns.

>

> Please explain to me, therefore, what would be the advantage of an

> all-inclusive, first professional doctorate?What is wrong with giving a

> student the option that they currently have of either going 4 years, getting

> a masters, and being no less of a professional as a MSW, or MPT? Or if the

> student chooses, let them continue for 2 more years and get their DAOM?

> Again, though, I believe that it is our responsibility to properly promote

> and define just what we are, what a DAOM is, as the MDs, DOs and DCs have

> defined themselves.

>

> Respectfully,

>

> ________________________________

> <johnkokko <johnkokko%40gmail.com>>

>

> To:

Chinese Medicine <Chinese Medicine%40yaho\

ogroups.com>

> Mon, November 23, 2009 10:13:08 PM

>

> Re: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

>

> Doctors of chiropractic become doctors after 4000 + hours of education..

>

> In the current DAOM programs, most are 1200+ hours on top of your Masters,

> which varies between 2100 - 3400 hours, depending on the school you

> attended,

> for a grand total of 3300-4600 hours.

>

> Most schools around the country only require 2 years of college for

> entrance.

>

> The FDP should streamline the process.

> One thing for sure, is there needs to be more consistency in titles,

> entrance requirements and academic requirements in the education of a

> Chinese medicine practitioner.

>

> Here are the titles out there... L.Ac., R.Ac,.C.Ac., DOM, DAOM, OMD, AP....

>

> Every state has different rules for the practice... in some states, you

> can't practice acupuncture at all, but a dentist can.

>

> Some schools are 2100 hours, others go up to 3400...

>

> There's no wonder that people outside of the acupuncture world are confused

> about what we do and what our training entails.

>

> K

>

> On Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 5:24 PM, MercuriusTrismegistus <

> magisterium_magnum <magisterium_magnum%40comcast.net>> wrote:

>

> >

> > My girlfriend had a Masters Degree is theology. She got a Phd in Law.

> > What does one have to do with the other? Many of us did have degrees or

> > extensive work experience in biology or the health care field, though.

> >

> > -

> > " stephenwoodley " <learntcm

<learntcm%40fastmail.fm><learntcm%

> 40fastmail.fm>>

> > To:

<Chinese Medicine <Chinese Medicine%40yah\

oogroups.com>

> <Chinese Medicine%40>

> > >

> > Monday, November 23, 2009 4:24 PM

> > Re: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

> >

> > >

> > > Mercurius wrote:

> > >

> > > Most of my classmates, including myself all had Bachelors degrees

> > > when we

> > > started.

> > >

> > > Stephen:

> > > Sure, but I bet that NONE had a BS in TCM...

> > >

> > > Stephen WoodleyLAc

> > > www.shanghanlunseminars.com

> > >

> > > --

> > > http://www.fastmail.fm - Or how I learned to stop worrying and

> > > love email again

> > >

November 25, 2009

Z,

There is a lot more out there then what we had in school. Greater depth and

more cultural understanding are also important which is why many students spend

some time (a month or more) in China treating patients.

I have read responses by some DAOM students and graduates giving a very

favorable opinion to their experience that has impacted their practices

positively. Don't you think we should be considering their input before we pass

judgement of worth?

Michael W. Bowser, DC, LAc

Chinese Medicine

zaranski

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:14:14 +0000

Re: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

hey, Mike!

What did they fail to teach you in Chinese medical school that you think they

would teach you if you ended-up with a Doctor title? Is it simply a matter of a

respected title you desire?

Do you truly believe having the title Doctor will translate into respect from

MDs and DOs equivalent to that you perceive they have for each other? Good luck

there!

For the rest of the list, Do you think insurance reimbursement will be the

answer to all your practices' financial woes? Talk to MDs/DOs (DCs, too) about

how they are enjoying practice these days. I hear many complaining about how

they feel they no longer control what they can do with patients because they

must first get approval from the insurer (and this approval hinges on the

decision of accountants more often than the decision of trained medical

professionals). Doctors find they are controlled by accountants rather than by

what is in the best interest of their patient.

If you do a great job diagnosing and treating both branch and ROOT such that you

help patients correct their problems (rather than just temporarily relieving

symptoms, in effect being a substitute pain pill), you will gain a strong

reputation, people will seek-out your services, people will be willing to pay

for your services with cash (or equivalent) and you will not need to seek

insurance reimbursement. Your patients who have insurance can submit paperwork

from you (properly documented receipts) to their insurers and receive

reimbursement for their out of pocket expenses. Those who have medical flex

spending accounts or medical savings accounts can pay for your services with

pre-tax dollars (or get reimbursed with pretax dollars). You can choose to

adopt an alternative payment scale for those without ability to pay full price,

its up to you.

Many are inadequately prepared clinically, not academically. This is an issue

with the schools themselves being unable or unwilling to provide adequate

student clinic settings to attract enough patients to provide the training

opportunities. Medical schools are typically associated with hospitals. In

China, the same is true for traditional CM education (associated with a

hospital) such that extensive clinical experience is gained while still a

student.

Here (US) most schools insist student clinical experience is gained ONLY at that

school's student clinic, and many of these suffer from a lack of patients.

Students are not allowed (in most cases) to gain clinical experience (that

counts towards their required clinic hours) at private clinics. TCM hospitals

do not exisit here in the US, and most biomed hospitals are not open to TCM

academics and students learning (let alone treating) there.

Schools that remove barriers to treatment (most often $) usually have student

clinics overflowing with willing patients, and thus opportunities for students

to build valuable clinical experience.

I think those most likely to benefit from FPD are the schools.

Mark Zaranski, Ph.D. (analytical chemistry, 1986), (pending) L.Ac. (2010)

Chinese Medicine , mike Bowser

<naturaldoc1 wrote:

>

> One must be able to diagnose in order to treat as well as be able to

understand what a patient has been diagnosed with. Entry level doctorate is

what we should have done long ago and then we would not be discussing the

technician vs doctor issue. Respect is a big issue and if we are to be the

professionals of acupuncture and OM, then we need to be pushing for the FPD.

Further efforts at continued weakening of this will only undermine the gains we

have made.

>

> Michael W. Bowser, DC, LAc

>

> Chinese Medicine

> jensmeister

> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:11:45 +0000

> Re: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

>

> I do practice in California and am considered a primary care provider

that can diagnose and treat illness. Don't quite understand what that has to do

with my desire to support a unified education at a level that qualifies for a

FPD.

>

> If our profession is to survive and thrive - at a physician level, not as a

technician- in an integrative medical setting, a doctoral degree is a

requirement.

>

> Simple, but powerful example: call a doctor's office to discuss a shared

patient and tell them you are a L.Ac. Most of the time you'll be talking to the

receptionist. Call the same office and tell them you are a Doctor and you'll get

through to the MD.

>

> That of course is only one of many reasons why, if you want to sit at the

table as an equal, a doctoral degree is the next step to take.

>

> I am sure as a profession we will still have many more battles to fight to

establish and protect our scope of practice, but at least we'll be doing it from

a more elevated podium.

>

> And as far as " forcing " anyone to spend money: since the FPD will coexist with

a Master degree for the foreseeable future no one is forced to do anything.

>

> But why would you insist to stand in the way of those that would like to

transport our profession to the next level?

>

> Respectfully

>

> Jens Maassen L.Ac.

>

> Chinese Medicine , acudoc11@ wrote:

>

> >

>

> > Jens

>

> >

>

> > I must ask.....in what state do you practice for I would like to see the

>

> > LAW -Practice Scope?

>

> >

>

> > If you were licensed in Florida you would not be coming from such a

>

> > wishing/hoping position.

>

> >

>

> > The last I cared to look.....acupuncture is licensed in at least 40 states

>

> > while just a few of those states carry the MAJORITY of practitioners as

>

> > primary care providers.

>

> >

>

> > So from our position we would say............just because YOU are NOT now

>

> > diagnosing and treating illness and injury as a PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER don't

>

> > force a MAJORITY of licensees to spend more exorbitant monies to do what we

>

> > already do......which is functioning as a physician.

>

> >

>

> > Richard

>

> >

>

> >

>

> >

>

> >

>

> >

>

> >

>

> > In a message dated 11/23/09 11:18:29 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,

>

> > jensmeister@ writes:

>

> >

>

> >

>

> >

>

> >

>

> > This is so sad.

>

> > At a time when Acupuncture in this country is finally reaching critical

>

> > mass, it's been on Oprah and more and more allopathic professionals are

>

> > starting to consider the efficacy of our medicine, silly infighting could

>

> > prevent us from elevating ourselves to the next level.

>

> > If we elevate our profession by adopting the FPD, we have a chance to take

>

> > our rightful place at the table of physicians, as equals!!

>

> > If we blow this chance the rising interest in OUR medicine will be usurped

>

> > by professions that have an FPD (chiros, MDs,NDs, and even PTs) and we

>

> > will be left wondering what happened.

>

> > If we don't seize the day someone else will seize it for us!!

>

> > And to the people who are trying to undermine the standing of their own

>

> > profession I have this to say: " If you don't want an FDP, don't get one.

But

>

> > let the rest of us strive to elevate ourselves. "

>

> >

>

> > Jens Maassen L.Ac.

>

> > _Traditional_Traditional_<WBRTraditional_Tra_

>

> > (Chinese Medicine ) , " Shantileigh "

<shantileigh@sha> wrote:

>

> >

>

> ________

> Windows 7: I wanted simpler, now it's simpler. I'm a rock star.

>

http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?h=myidea?ocid=PID24727::\

T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_myidea:112009

>

November 25, 2009

I'm not sure about Ted Kaptchuk's title. I also don't know the DC regulations,

but all the DCs I know use the term doctor or Dr. before their name, even in

marketing materials (there are not a lot of NDs here, but I have seen them use

Dr. as well). DCs are regulated by their own board, LicAcs in Mass are

regulated by the Board of Registration in Medicine, so that may explain the

difference.

Chinese Medicine

acuman1

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:48:23 -0500

RE: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

What about Ted Kaptchuk's title?

MA is an academic/economic facist state, relative to " doctors " because of their

stranglehold of institutions there. What do DC's have to call themselves there?

or ND's?

In some states you can call yourself a doctor, but not a physician, and in other

states the opposite is true. It is a state to state issue.

David Molony

On Nov 25, 2009, at 10:35:31 AM, " mike Bowser " <naturaldoc1 wrote:

Emily,This is something we have to look forward to in the future. I see this as

an attempt to try to limit our marketing ability. Any idea as to who proposed

this language?

Michael W. Bowser, DC, LAc

> Chinese Traditional Medicine

> emilylists

> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:40:40 -0500

> RE: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

>

> These regulations were updated in 2009. The DAOM is not mentioned specifically

but they do state that no current doctoral programs meet their standards. They

are quite clear that the term " doctor " cannot be used at this time. The language

suggests the possibility of a recognized doctoral program in the future, but no

specifics are given as to what would qualify. Here is the excerpt: " Use of the

Title " Doctor " As noted above, the COA has not yet recognized any doctoral

programs in acupuncture or Oriental medicine as meeting the requirements of the

COA. Until such time as doctoral programs meet these requirements, an

acupuncturist may not in advertising or other materials visible to the public

use the title “doctor. " A licensee who has obtained a medical degree but is not

licensed as a licensed physician in Massachusetts should not, under any

circumstances, use the title “Doctor” in any advertising or other materials

visible to the public pertaining to the licensee’s acupuncture practice.Use of

the title “OMD”To date there are no Oriental Medical Doctor programs which meet

these requirements. Therefore, please be advised that you cannot advertise that

you hold an O.M.D. degree in your Massachusetts acupuncture practice. "

> Chinese Medicine

>

> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:02:34 -0800

> Re: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

>

November 25, 2009

Ok, before the rapid descend into spurious arguments starts to cloud the issue

at hand even more, here is the core issue (as I see it):

I, and according to recent polls a majority of the OM profession, think that we

should elevate our craft by creating a unified educational level- the FDP.

Since it will coexist with a Master level education it will be an option.

What I don't get at all is the fact that the opposition to this optional

improvement is trying, unfortunately using scare tactics and misinformation, to

prevent ANY of us from availing ourselves of that option.

WHY???

If you despise the FPD and everything it stands for (???) DON'T GET ONE.

Chinese Medicine , Jessica Feltz Wolfson

<shantileigh wrote:

>

> Here are the facts, : If ACAOM says the FPD is entry-level, states

are going to base their laws on this. ACAOM doesn't make laws, but they make

policies that lawmakers rely on. All changes to entry-level requirements in AOM

are currently at a proposal stage. ACAOM has written " standards " for an FPD

curriculum. They are trying to see if the profession wants this new degree and

if they do, ACAOM will essentially partner with any schools that want to pilot

or try these programs out. Once the trial programs begin, ACAOM can apply to

the USDE for what is called in academic terms a " change in scope " which would

then make it possible for schools to have federal loan money for such programs.

THEN, after schools pilot these new programs, have classes graduate, measure

graduation rates, evaluate the programs, etc., the entry-level can change. This

doesn't happen over night, BUT if consensus is achieved at this point in the

game, it is very likely that the profession would change entry level to the new

FPD--the poison fruit.

>

> > Chinese Medicine

> > johnkokko

> > Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:25:31 -0800

> > Re: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

> >

November 25, 2009

Emily,

Not sure why you came to this conclusion and what facts you used. This issue is

not an either or situation. You can do what is best for your patients, you can

get advanced training, communicate or understand what other doctors are doing,

and still have a doctorate.

My concern from what I have seen with many students (in a school setting) is a

lack of ability to practice effectively or understanding of diagnosis. A lot is

crammed into the 3-4 years and most of it is not useful in clinic.

For this reason, I like what SIOM has instilled in their program from the

beginning, a clinical component. I think it is also very easy to make decisions

when we are not involved with teaching in a school. For those that are, maybe

they can shed some light on these issues and how important a doctorate degree is

for them and our future. Anyone out there teaching in a OM school?

Options are what is needed and that includes allowing some of us to be involved

with insurance companies as well. Not everyone wants to focus on cash only. I

would not want to take this away for fellow colleagues.

Michael W. Bowser, DC, LAc

> Chinese Traditional Medicine

> emilylists

> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:14:48 -0500

> RE: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

>

> The doctoral discussion is not on most people’s radar out

> here (besides those of us in the Community Acupuncture Network). The state

organization has spent most of its

> time researching the feasibility of getting insurance coverage (almost no

> insurance companies in Mass. cover acupuncture).

>

> My patients already have a primary care doctor and often see

> several specialists. The last thing they

> want is *another* doctor. Calling

> myself “doctor” (were it even legal in my state) and wearing a lab coat or

> other trappings of Western medicine would alienate most of my patients.

>

> I have an obligation to do what is in the best interest of

> my patients. After listening to both

> sides of the debate since this question came up years ago, I have come to the

> conclusion that an FPD would do more harm than good.

>

> Chinese Medicine

>

> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:32:30 -0800

> Re: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

>

Emily,

>

> What is the general feeling of acupuncturists and practitioners of Oriental

Medicine in Massachusetts concerning the status quo. It is interesting that all

of the DAOM programs are on the West Coast, but why is that ? If there is

interest in changing the status quo, is any lobbying being done with

legislators?

>

________________________________

>

> Emily Konstan <emilylists

>

> TCM list <Chinese Traditional Medicine >

>

> Tue, November 24, 2009 6:40:40 PM

>

> RE: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

>

> These regulations were updated in 2009. The DAOM is not mentioned

specifically but they do state that no current doctoral programs meet their

standards. They are quite clear that the term " doctor " cannot be used at this

time. The language suggests the possibility of a recognized doctoral program in

the future, but no specifics are given as to what would qualify. Here is the

excerpt: " Use of the Title " Doctor " As noted above, the COA has not yet

recognized any doctoral programs in acupuncture or Oriental medicine as meeting

the requirements of the COA. Until such time as doctoral programs meet these

requirements, an acupuncturist may not in advertising or other materials visible

to the public use the title “doctor. " A licensee who has obtained a medical

degree but is not licensed as a licensed physician in Massachusetts should not,

under any circumstances, use the title “Doctor” in any advertising or other

materials visible to the public

>

> pertaining to the licensee’s acupuncture practice.Use of the title “OMD”To

date there are no Oriental Medical Doctor programs which meet these

requirements. Therefore, please be advised that you cannot advertise that you

hold an O.M.D. degree in your Massachusetts acupuncture practice. "

>

> Chinese Medicine

>

> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:02:34 -0800

>

> Re: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

>

Hi Emily,

>

> Again, is there any explicit law acknowledging the existance of the DAOM?

Remember that it is a relatively new designation.

>

> ________________________________

>

> Emily Konstan <emilylists

>

> TCM list <Chinese Traditional Medicine >

>

> Tue, November 24, 2009 3:34:27 PM

>

> RE: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

>

> Yehuda,

>

> I can only speak to my state, but here in Massachusetts acupuncturists are

specifically excluded from using the term " doctor " unless we have an MD. Mass.

regulations do not recognize the DAOM and there is no guarantee that they would

recognize a FPD.

>

> Emily

>

> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:20:05 -0800

>

> Re: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

>

> " At present time, having a DAOM does not mean you can use the doctor title.

States may have laws that preclude its usage of this as a protected title or

limitations on what an acupuncturist can use as well. You can certainly mention

you have your doctorate degree on your website, business card and also have the

suffix following your name.... "

>

> Hi Mike,

>

> What do you base this statement on?

>

> www.traditionaljewi shmedicine. net

>

> www.traditionaljewi shmedicine. blogspot. com

>

November 25, 2009

This is about choice. One chooses to call one's self a doctor or wear the

trappings of an MD (white coat etc). I like Hawaiian shirts. One does have to

dress professionally, however.

The point is about patient safety and the effectiveness of diagnosis and

treatment. One needs to know a fair amount of western medicine BACKGROUND to

make sure the person isn't on the edge of something really dangerous that

requires heroic treatment, or even if they give yo a list o drugs and you notice

that they interact in a negative way. Lack of knowledge is not a defense.

We also need to be aware of all the tools necessary in our field to do a job for

the best in our patients interests. I am hopeful that community acupuncture

folks refer out to those who know herbs, or have knowledge of supplements or

homeopathic treatments and other acupuncture techniques if they don't get rapid

results, but I do have my doubts, given human nature.Â

If you can't get your patients to be aware of the utility of western treatments

if they are needed in their condition, then you need to work harder to do so.

That said, very few do need conventional (my term of preference) treatment, but

when they do, they really do.

David Molony

On Nov 25, 2009, at 8:14:48 AM, " Emily Konstan " <emilylists wrote:

My patients already have a primary care doctor and often see

several specialists. The last thing they

want is *another* doctor. Calling

myself Â“doctorÂ” (were it even legal in my state) and wearing a lab coat or

other trappings of Western medicine would alienate most of my patients.Â

November 25, 2009

I could not afford to

spend the money on a doctorate and still keep my prices reasonable, which would

mean excluding a large percentage of my patients from care. Surely, that is not

in their best interest.

Unfortunately, the

issue is not just whether an individual should get a doctorate. The FPD has the

potential to negatively

impact the profession as a whole, by making acupuncture school less accessible

to incoming students and making acupuncture treatments more expensive and out

of the reach of the majority of patients.

Other

practitioners in this group have already presented the arguments against the

FPD and I won't rehash them here. Each

of us needs to form an opinion about this issue and then do what we feel is

best. The Community Acupuncture Network

has provided several suggestions for action, for those of us who oppose the

FPD.

> Chinese Traditional Medicine

> naturaldoc1

> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:08:48 +0000

> RE: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

>

> Emily,

> Not sure why you came to this conclusion and what facts you used. This issue

is not an either or situation. You can do what is best for your patients, you

can get advanced training, communicate or understand what other doctors are

doing, and still have a doctorate.

> My concern from what I have seen with many students (in a school setting) is a

lack of ability to practice effectively or understanding of diagnosis. A lot is

crammed into the 3-4 years and most of it is not useful in clinic.

> For this reason, I like what SIOM has instilled in their program from the

beginning, a clinical component. I think it is also very easy to make decisions

when we are not involved with teaching in a school. For those that are, maybe

they can shed some light on these issues and how important a doctorate degree is

for them and our future. Anyone out there teaching in a OM school?

> Options are what is needed and that includes allowing some of us to be

involved with insurance companies as well. Not everyone wants to focus on cash

only. I would not want to take this away for fellow colleagues.

>

> Michael W. Bowser, DC, LAc

> > Chinese Traditional Medicine

> > emilylists

> > Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:14:48 -0500

> > RE: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

> >

> > The doctoral discussion is not on most people’s radar out

> > here (besides those of us in the Community Acupuncture Network). The state

organization has spent most of its

> > time researching the feasibility of getting insurance coverage (almost no

> > insurance companies in Mass. cover acupuncture).

> >

> > My patients already have a primary care doctor and often see

> > several specialists. The last thing they

> > want is *another* doctor. Calling

> > myself “doctor” (were it even legal in my state) and wearing a lab coat or

> > other trappings of Western medicine would alienate most of my patients.

> >

> > I have an obligation to do what is in the best interest of

> > my patients. After listening to both

> > sides of the debate since this question came up years ago, I have come to

the

> > conclusion that an FPD would do more harm than good.

> >

> > Chinese Medicine

> >

> > Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:32:30 -0800

> > Re: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

> >

> > Emily,

> >

> > What is the general feeling of acupuncturists and practitioners of Oriental

Medicine in Massachusetts concerning the status quo. It is interesting that all

of the DAOM programs are on the West Coast, but why is that ? If there is

interest in changing the status quo, is any lobbying being done with

legislators?

> >

> > ________________________________

> >

> > Emily Konstan <emilylists

> >

> > TCM list <Chinese Traditional Medicine >

> >

> > Tue, November 24, 2009 6:40:40 PM

> >

> > RE: First Professional Doctorate (FPD)

> >

> > These regulations were updated in 2009. The DAOM is not mentioned