Guest guest Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 We all know how much training MD, DC etc. have to start practicing acupuncture. I want to know how they should designate themselves. Last week I got a patient who checked acupuncture credentials of a DO who is acupuncturist also. On that DO's web site she calls herself a licensed acupuncturist. I decided to check her credentials myself and I did not find her name among LAcs or certified acupuncturists. She was not on list among those who certified in medical acupuncture. To my surprise there are very few doctors certified in medical acupuncture in USA. The rest who use acupuncture do not bother to take exams to become certified. Is it a fraud? What would the office of profession do if I decide to call myself a homeopath (I have years of training in homeopathy)? Many of us have training in different manipulations and never seen anyone who called themselves a DO or DC.. I think that people in our profession are honest, sincere and passionate and that makes me to be proud of the profession and sad at the same time. Sad, because the profession is so unprotected... TG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 I heard last week that there were 5000 new Medi-acupuncturists ( M.D.acupuncturists) practicing acupuncture last year. (Some took the weekend class; the correspondence course or none at all) That is over twice the amount of graduates from TCM programs from last year. At this rate, there will be more Medi-acupuncturists in the U.S. than NCCAOM or CA board licensed acupuncturists. There are over 800,000 medical doctors in this country. There are less than 20,000 practicing licensed acupuncturists. That ratio is 40:1. The medical establishment has more than 40 x the power than the acupuncture establishment financially and politically. Are we wrong to say that licensed acupuncturists need to unite, in order to protect the authentic traditions of these ancient art forms? k. On 5/14/07, Tatiana Gaidarenko <tvgaid wrote: > > We all know how much training MD, DC etc. have to start practicing > acupuncture. > > I want to know how they should designate themselves. Last week I got a > patient who checked acupuncture credentials of a DO who is acupuncturist > also. On that DO's web site she calls herself a licensed acupuncturist. I > decided to check her credentials myself and I did not find her name among > LAcs or certified acupuncturists. She was not on list among those who > certified in medical acupuncture. To my surprise there are very few > doctors > certified in medical acupuncture in USA. The rest who use acupuncture do > not bother to take exams to become certified. > > Is it a fraud? > > What would the office of profession do if I decide to call myself a > homeopath (I have years of training in homeopathy)? Many of us have > training in different manipulations and never seen anyone who called > themselves a DO or DC.. > > I think that people in our profession are honest, sincere and passionate > and > that makes me to be proud of the profession and sad at the same time. Sad, > because the profession is so unprotected... > > TG > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 John: What concerns me is that they bill this as superior treatment. Just the name Medical Acupuncture. I remember a few years back reading an article in Parade magazine by their resident MD, Rosenfield (close spelling). He did a whole article on acupuncture, describing it for the general public. At the end of the article he reminds people to get a medical, md acupuncturist. The public has no clue on the level of training. You're right, we are not very well protected as a profession. Anne -------------- Original message ---------------------- " " <johnkokko > I heard last week that there were 5000 new Medi-acupuncturists ( > M.D.acupuncturists) practicing acupuncture last year. (Some took the > weekend class; the correspondence course or none at all) > > That is over twice the amount of graduates from TCM programs from last year. > At this rate, there will be more Medi-acupuncturists in the U.S. than NCCAOM > or CA board licensed acupuncturists. > > There are over 800,000 medical doctors in this country. > There are less than 20,000 practicing licensed acupuncturists. > That ratio is 40:1. > The medical establishment has more than 40 x the power than the acupuncture > establishment > financially and politically. > > Are we wrong to say that licensed acupuncturists need to unite, in order to > protect the authentic traditions of these ancient art forms? > > k. > > On 5/14/07, Tatiana Gaidarenko <tvgaid wrote: > > > > We all know how much training MD, DC etc. have to start practicing > > acupuncture. > > > > I want to know how they should designate themselves. Last week I got a > > patient who checked acupuncture credentials of a DO who is acupuncturist > > also. On that DO's web site she calls herself a licensed acupuncturist. I > > decided to check her credentials myself and I did not find her name among > > LAcs or certified acupuncturists. She was not on list among those who > > certified in medical acupuncture. To my surprise there are very few > > doctors > > certified in medical acupuncture in USA. The rest who use acupuncture do > > not bother to take exams to become certified. > > > > Is it a fraud? > > > > What would the office of profession do if I decide to call myself a > > homeopath (I have years of training in homeopathy)? Many of us have > > training in different manipulations and never seen anyone who called > > themselves a DO or DC.. > > > > I think that people in our profession are honest, sincere and passionate > > and > > that makes me to be proud of the profession and sad at the same time. Sad, > > because the profession is so unprotected... > > > > TG > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 by definition, I am a medical acupuncturist (an MD who later studied acupuncture) and yet I myself LOATHE the term. I never identify myself as a " medical acupuncturist " . I'm an acupuncturist, plain and simple. On 5/15/07, anne.crowley <anne.crowley wrote: > > John: > > What concerns me is that they bill this as superior treatment. Just the > name Medical Acupuncture. I remember a few years back reading an article in > Parade magazine by their resident MD, Rosenfield (close spelling). He did a > whole article on acupuncture, describing it for the general public. At the > end of the article he reminds people to get a medical, md acupuncturist. > The public has no clue on the level of training. You're right, we are not > very well protected as a profession. > > Anne > > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > " " <johnkokko <johnkokko%40gmail.com>> > > I heard last week that there were 5000 new Medi-acupuncturists ( > > M.D.acupuncturists) practicing acupuncture last year. (Some took the > > weekend class; the correspondence course or none at all) > > > > That is over twice the amount of graduates from TCM programs from last > year. > > At this rate, there will be more Medi-acupuncturists in the U.S. than > NCCAOM > > or CA board licensed acupuncturists. > > > > There are over 800,000 medical doctors in this country. > > There are less than 20,000 practicing licensed acupuncturists. > > That ratio is 40:1. > > The medical establishment has more than 40 x the power than the > acupuncture > > establishment > > financially and politically. > > > > Are we wrong to say that licensed acupuncturists need to unite, in order > to > > protect the authentic traditions of these ancient art forms? > > > > k. > > > > On 5/14/07, Tatiana Gaidarenko <tvgaid <tvgaid%40gmail.com>> > wrote: > > > > > > We all know how much training MD, DC etc. have to start practicing > > > acupuncture. > > > > > > I want to know how they should designate themselves. Last week I got a > > > patient who checked acupuncture credentials of a DO who is > acupuncturist > > > also. On that DO's web site she calls herself a licensed > acupuncturist. I > > > decided to check her credentials myself and I did not find her name > among > > > LAcs or certified acupuncturists. She was not on list among those who > > > certified in medical acupuncture. To my surprise there are very few > > > doctors > > > certified in medical acupuncture in USA. The rest who use acupuncture > do > > > not bother to take exams to become certified. > > > > > > Is it a fraud? > > > > > > What would the office of profession do if I decide to call myself a > > > homeopath (I have years of training in homeopathy)? Many of us have > > > training in different manipulations and never seen anyone who called > > > themselves a DO or DC.. > > > > > > I think that people in our profession are honest, sincere and > passionate > > > and > > > that makes me to be proud of the profession and sad at the same time. > Sad, > > > because the profession is so unprotected... > > > > > > TG > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 I am glad you agree. My understanding is that originally the term was used to distinguish MD acupuncturists from 'lay' acupuncturists, as if that was the main criteria for competency. On May 14, 2007, at 10:01 PM, Dr. Philip Tan-Gatue wrote: > by definition, I am a medical acupuncturist (an MD who later studied > acupuncture) and yet I myself LOATHE the term. I never identify > myself as a > " medical acupuncturist " . I'm an acupuncturist, plain and simple. > > On 5/15/07, anne.crowley <anne.crowley wrote: > > > > John: > > > > What concerns me is that they bill this as superior treatment. > Just the > > name Medical Acupuncture. I remember a few years back reading an > article in > > Parade magazine by their resident MD, Rosenfield (close > spelling). He did a > > whole article on acupuncture, describing it for the general > public. At the > > end of the article he reminds people to get a medical, md > acupuncturist. > > The public has no clue on the level of training. You're right, we > are not > > very well protected as a profession. > > > > Anne > > > > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > > " " <johnkokko <johnkokko%40gmail.com>> > > > I heard last week that there were 5000 new Medi-acupuncturists ( > > > M.D.acupuncturists) practicing acupuncture last year. (Some > took the > > > weekend class; the correspondence course or none at all) > > > > > > That is over twice the amount of graduates from TCM programs > from last > > year. > > > At this rate, there will be more Medi-acupuncturists in the > U.S. than > > NCCAOM > > > or CA board licensed acupuncturists. > > > > > > There are over 800,000 medical doctors in this country. > > > There are less than 20,000 practicing licensed acupuncturists. > > > That ratio is 40:1. > > > The medical establishment has more than 40 x the power than the > > acupuncture > > > establishment > > > financially and politically. > > > > > > Are we wrong to say that licensed acupuncturists need to unite, > in order > > to > > > protect the authentic traditions of these ancient art forms? > > > > > > k. > > > > > > On 5/14/07, Tatiana Gaidarenko <tvgaid <tvgaid% > 40gmail.com>> > > wrote: > > > > > > > > We all know how much training MD, DC etc. have to start > practicing > > > > acupuncture. > > > > > > > > I want to know how they should designate themselves. Last > week I got a > > > > patient who checked acupuncture credentials of a DO who is > > acupuncturist > > > > also. On that DO's web site she calls herself a licensed > > acupuncturist. I > > > > decided to check her credentials myself and I did not find > her name > > among > > > > LAcs or certified acupuncturists. She was not on list among > those who > > > > certified in medical acupuncture. To my surprise there are > very few > > > > doctors > > > > certified in medical acupuncture in USA. The rest who use > acupuncture > > do > > > > not bother to take exams to become certified. > > > > > > > > Is it a fraud? > > > > > > > > What would the office of profession do if I decide to call > myself a > > > > homeopath (I have years of training in homeopathy)? Many of > us have > > > > training in different manipulations and never seen anyone who > called > > > > themselves a DO or DC.. > > > > > > > > I think that people in our profession are honest, sincere and > > passionate > > > > and > > > > that makes me to be proud of the profession and sad at the > same time. > > Sad, > > > > because the profession is so unprotected... > > > > > > > > TG > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 I think a key question we need to ask ourselves is: do we have a profession or a skill? A couple of related question would be: how do you define a profession? and, if we don't have a 'profession' how do we create an 'acupuncture profession " ? I live in the US and every year when I fill out my taxes the IRS wants to know what I do for a living. According to the US government I am a " miscellaneous health care practitioner " . At the same time, the IRS has a code for (does recognize as a profession) chiropractors, MD/DOs, dentists, PTs, optometrists and psychotherapists. If you ask the IRS, we dont have a profession. Is a 'profession' based on education/training or public perception or a legal definition (protecting scope of practice)? I know these are somewhat philosophical questions, but I think they are important questions to ask if we are going to get upset with 'others' practicing acupuncture. -Graham Haynes Chinese Medicine , " Tatiana Gaidarenko " <tvgaid wrote: > > We all know how much training MD, DC etc. have to start practicing > acupuncture. > > I want to know how they should designate themselves. Last week I got a > patient who checked acupuncture credentials of a DO who is acupuncturist > also. On that DO's web site she calls herself a licensed acupuncturist. I > decided to check her credentials myself and I did not find her name among > LAcs or certified acupuncturists. She was not on list among those who > certified in medical acupuncture. To my surprise there are very few doctors > certified in medical acupuncture in USA. The rest who use acupuncture do > not bother to take exams to become certified. > > > Is it a fraud? > > What would the office of profession do if I decide to call myself a > homeopath (I have years of training in homeopathy)? Many of us have > training in different manipulations and never seen anyone who called > themselves a DO or DC.. > > I think that people in our profession are honest, sincere and passionate and > that makes me to be proud of the profession and sad at the same time. Sad, > because the profession is so unprotected... > > > TG > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 Nice to hear from you, Phillip. Hugo Dr. Philip Tan-Gatue <philiptangatue by definition, I am a medical acupuncturist (an MD who later studied acupuncture) and yet I myself LOATHE the term. I never identify myself as a " medical acupuncturist " . I'm an acupuncturist, plain and simple. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 You need to report this person to your state licensing board. Laws and regs vary from state to state, but in CA they should not be marketing themselves as a Licensed Acupuncturist. It is this type of self-policing that helps keep our profession intact. <<I want to know how they should designate themselves. Last week I got a patient who checked acupuncture credentials of a DO who is acupuncturist also. On that DO's web site she calls herself a licensed acupuncturist. I decided to check her credentials myself and I did not find her name among LAcs or certified acupuncturists. She was not on list among those who certified in medical acupuncture. >> Sorry, but its much worse than this. Almost all these MDs pay for membership in state and national associations at much higher rates than LAc's. My guess, and I think I'm being generous, is that less than a third of LAc's do this. The ratio is more like 240:1. Join your state and national associations! <<There are over 800,000 medical doctors in this country. There are less than 20,000 practicing licensed acupuncturists. That ratio is 40:1. The medical establishment has more than 40 x the power than the acupuncture establishment financially and politically.>> Benjamin Dierauf AIMC Berkeley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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