Chronic pain afflicts over 20% of the adult population. Sadly, most MDs have essentially no education in treating pain, beyond offering a few toxic medications. Then they tend to steer people with pain away from those health practitioners who are trained. This puts the acupuncture community on the front lines for addressing this epidemic.
News in Brief
ACTCM Vice President Represented at Conference
Elizabeth Goldblatt, PhD, MPA/HA, American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine's (ACTCM) Vice President for Academic Affairs, represented AOM at the Institute of Medicine's conference at the National Academy of Sciences building in Washington, D.C., Feb. 25-27. The conference focused on integrative medicine. Dr. Goldblatt, who is the chair of the Academic Consortium for Complementary and Alternative Health Care (ACCAHC), was the only member appointed to the IOM committee representing the licensed CAM fields.
Researchers, clinicians, patients, patient-advisory groups, corporations and insurers participated in the summit. Participants explored priorities, challenges and opportunities for integrative medicine and focused on defining models of care and clinical programs that work.
OCOM Reduces Clinic Fees
On Jan. 20, the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine reduced its clinic fees for acupuncture to make treatments more accessible to patients during these difficult economic times. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, so the clinic has reduce fees for other services as well. Effective Feb. 9, 2009, the rates are as follows:
- Acupuncture in the Intern Teaching Clinic: $22
- Massage (shiatsu and tui na): $22
- Group acupuncture treatment: $10
- Herbal consultation (does not include the cost of herbs): $5
While the clinic has no plan to raise fees at this time, these rates are still subject to change. For more information on these services, visit www.ocom.edu. Clinic appointments can be made by calling (503) 253-3443 x550.