As we move into the Year of the Snake, let’s embrace the snake’s deep-thinking nature and ask ourselves four important questions, all of which relate to a single journey: advocating for our medicine by educating others about its value.
- How can I be more effective this year and help build my profession?
- How can I serve more patients needing my help with their health care?
- What can I do to create public awareness of the benefits of traditional medicine?
- What are the skills that make me special / unique in my community?
Educate Health Care
Other providers who are using or wanting to use acupuncture are not educated or trained in traditional medicine disorders and patterns. This belongs to you as a unique area of expertise. By using pattern differentiations and a TM diagnosis, you also move closer to patient-centered care or as we’re now calling, it whole-health care.
As I’ve discussed on several occasions, the new traditional medicine codes in the upcoming ICD-11 (International Classification of Disease – 11) will focus on documenting TM disorders and pattern differentiation, along with the supporting Western diagnosis. By understanding the codes and using them in practice, you will be providing valuable data to help promote your unique skill set and demonstrate how it brings value to the overall health care system.
Educate Legislators
The journey to successful legislation, whether a new state law or a federal one, is often dictated by relationships. The more legislators know traditional medicine practitioners and understand the value of our medicine, the better our chances of expanding access.
There is a very familiar saying: “Every journey begins with one step.” How can you take the first step in advocating for your medicine with legislators? It’s not as difficult as you might think:
- Find out the name(s) of the state legislator(s) in your district.
- Find out the name(s) of the congressional legislators (U.S. Senate and House) in your state.
- Make a short phone call to each office to introduce yourself.
Editor’s Note: One of the easiest ways to find your state and federal legislators is by visiting https://pluralpolicy.com/find-your-legislator and entering your zip code. Click on each legislator’s name for a profile including contact information.
You might be thinking, What should I say when I call? Simple: introduce yourself to the people who pass legislation that can expand traditional medicine access in your state and across the nation... or restrict it. If they don’t know anything about you or our medicine, the odds they’ll vote for pro-acupuncture legislation will be slim.
You are a local businessperson in their district: a constituent; and legislators always want to learn more about their constituents (and hopefully keep their votes). Remember, you are a traditional medicine specialist in your community and provide tremendous value. Let each legislator know it.
Advocacy Starts at Home
Are you a member of your state association? (If yes, then you are also a member of the American Society of Acupuncturists.) If you are not a member, please consider joining. Now is the time for all acupuncturists to come together to strengthen the profession, share knowledge, advocate for advancement – and help more patients access you as a vital element of their whole-health care.
