Single-use needles mandatory?: Does anyone autoclave?

January 23, 2007

just curious, does anyone autoclave, or no of practitioners who are doing

this? i don't even see needles for autoclaving avail. in supply catalogues.

kb

On 1/23/07, Christopher Vedeler L.Ac. <ckvedeler wrote:

>

> My malpractice insurance (American Acupuncture Council) requires the use

> of single use needles. For me the expense of an autoclave makes using

> single use needles cheaper and without the worry.

>

> At $65 a treatment, if I use 25 needles on a patient, even if I use

> Seirins at almost .10 cents each, that is still only $2.50 in needles.

> I can see no benefit to re-using needles.

>

> Christopher Vedeler L.Ac.

> Oasis Acupuncture

> <http://www.oasisacupuncture.com/> http://www.oasisacupuncture.com

> 9832 N. Hayden Rd.

> Suite 215

> Scottsdale, AZ 85258

> Phone: (480) 991-3650

>

Chinese Medicine <Chinese Medicine%40yaho\

ogroups.com>

>

[Chinese Medicine <Traditional_Chinese_Medicin\

e%40>]

> On Behalf Of Phil

> Rogers

> Tuesday, January 23, 2007 9:35 AM

> To:

Chinese Medicine <Chinese Medicine%40yaho\

ogroups.com>

> Single-use needles mandatory?

>

> Hi Chris & All,

>

> I wrote:

> >> IMO, it is FAR more important to use STERILE SINGLE USE needles

> (that are NOT re-used in another session) than to swab the skin. Prion

> infection can withstand ASHING at 600 degrees centigrade! See:

> http://www.pnas. <http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/97/7/3418.pdf>

> org/cgi/reprint/97/7/3418.pdf I have pleaded on several AP

> lists for a formal BAN by National Licensing Authorities on the re-use

> of

> acupuncture needles. IMO, no acupuncturist should attempt to sterilise

> used needles for reuse. <<

>

> Chris replied:

> > California passed a law last year mandating single-use of needles.

> > Estimate was that even prior to that, something like 99% of

> > practitioners were doing that.

>

> I am delighted that California mandates that.

>

> However, IMO, ALL states/countries should ban needle re-use, at least

> BETWEEN (or across) patients. Unfortunately, some countries have NOT

> done so.

>

> Some AP colleagues argue that if CONVENTIONAL HOSPITALS/CLINICS

> may " sterilise and re-use " medical instruments, acupuncturists should be

>

> allowed the same rights, i.e. to clean, " sterilise " and re-use needles.

>

> IMO, this is a great pity. We will lose a public relations coup, whereby

> we

> could say loud and clear to the public: " we will not take ANY risk of

> cross-

> contamination of our patients by re-using needles " .

>

> IMO, ALL AP Licensing bodies should enforce that principle, and strike

> off

> any practitioner who is convicted of reusing needles between patients.

>

> Best regards,

>

> --

>

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> 1/23/2007 11:04 AM

>

January 23, 2007

I used to autoclave; it's not practical, you kind of need to check in on it, and

it makes noise, etc, meaning it's hard to do it in the office.

You save money, at least several hundred $ a year in an average practice, but

the insurance won't allow it any more, and handling the needles when they are

contaminated is actually a risk to you, the practitioner.

I found that all needles that are medal only can be sterilized. I eventually

gave my autoclave away, but in the early 80s it was a standard aspect of

training.

However, I don't agree with the mandatory requirement; ask you dentist what s/he

uses for instruments. Why is it safe in his/her clinic but not in yours?

Angela Pf