Although the novel coronavirus has put in-person work on hold for months and will likely expand the remote-work pool permanently, millions upon millions of workers have returned to work or will progressively do so in the near future. And new research suggests acupuncturists should join those millions at their workplaces or workplace sponsored-clinics across the country. Here's why.
A study published in the Journal of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (Davis JA, et al.) has found that workers who receive employer-sponsored acupuncture are:
Overwhelmingly satisfied with their care (93 percent satisfied)
Accrue significantly lower health care costs ($40 or less co-pay per visit vs. $75-$125 average out-of-pocket fees per visit in the community)
Are significantly less likely to take opioids for pain compared to the national average (only one in 36 employees receiving acupuncture compared vs. one in five U.S. adults in the general population: "Less than 3% of members without cancer in employer-sponsored integrative care clinics compared to 20% in the community," according to findings).
The study reviewed the experiences of nearly 1,800 workers (average age: 37 years; 59 percent women) who initiated acupuncture at one of 11 employer-sponsored health centers over a one-year period, yielding data on outcomes for 8,991 total visits (average number of visits per patient: 5.5). That data was compared with outcomes data from providers in the community.
Of note, opioid prescriptions filled by workers who received employer-sponsored acupuncture services were typically for cough suppressants, not pain relief; even though most acupuncture visits were for musculoskeletal complaints / pain.
Because traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) views the human body as an interconnected network of energy (qi) and seeks to restore balance and harmony, ensuring the smooth flow of qi and blood is crucial to nourish and regulate the reproductive system. TCM treatment aims to regulate menstruation, reduce anovulatory menstruation, help ovulation, improve egg quality, stabilize progesterone, and provide a good endometrium environment for successful implantation and pregnancy.
U.S. Representatives Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) have reintroduced the Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act (nowH.R. 1667) in the 119th Congress. As with previous iterations of the legislation, H.R. 1667 would authorizethe U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to recognize qualified acupuncturists as Medicare providers. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA) both weigh in on the importance of the legislation.
What’s the single most important thing to ensure your patient gets better? The key is patient education and scheduling appropriately. But how do you do that in a clinically relevant way that is representative of a medical professional? The answer lies in the most fundamental aspect of our intakes: OPQRST(L).
