Whether you accept it, avoid it or live somewhere in between, insurance coverage has become a defining issue for our profession. Patients increasingly expect to use their benefits, practitioners want to be compensated fairly for their time and expertise, and the system itself remains – at best – fragmented. The encouraging news is that coverage has expanded in meaningful ways. The challenging news is that reimbursement, across the board, remains inadequate.
PCOM Offering Cannabis Certificate
Pacific College of Oriental Medicine is now offering a Medical Cannabis Certificate for Healthcare Professionals. The three-course online curriculum features live classes and practical assignments, focusing on the endocannabinoid system and pharmacology, and clinical medical cannabis guidelines and professional practice. The third course is a cannabis care capstone that requires students to "design a practical and/or professional project that [aligns] with your goals as a cannabis practitioner."
According to PCOM, it is the first regionally accredited institution to offer a college-level medical cannabis certificate. It is also offering bonus guest lectures via a partnership with Oakland, Calif.-based Oaksterdam University, "the first cannabis college ... the leading, trusted cannabis educational and policy brain-trust in the world."
"Patients deserve expert care," said Carey Clark, PhD, program chair. "They need reliable information about potential drug interactions, how to procure quality cannabinoid medications, and how to safely use the medicine for maximum relief of symptoms and minimal side effects."