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Marilyn Allen, Editor at Large
Editor-at-Large

Marilyn Allen is a well-known expert in the fields of acupuncture and medical malpractice. She holds an MS degree from Pepperdine University and teaches courses in acupuncture practice management and ethics at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. She is also the current director of marketing for the American Acupuncture Council.

Previous Articles

Our 2025 Goal: Advocacy Through Education
February 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 2)
Your #1 Goal for 2024: Documentation
February 2024 (Vol. 25, Issue 2)
12 Important Reasons to Request Every Patient's Medical Records
April 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 04)
A 2023 Action Plan for Your Practice: 4 Things to Do Now
February 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 02)
2022: Looking Back, Looking Forward
December 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 12)
The Year to Be a Tiger
February 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 02)
5 Digits That Can Change Our Future
October 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 10)
Now Is the Time
September 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 09)
Think Acupuncture Is a Culture of Caring? We Still Have Work to Do
February 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 02)
2021: The Year to Start Learning the ICD-11 Codes for Traditional Medicine
January 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 01)
You're Ready to Share Your Medicine With the World – But How Should You Say It?
November 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 11)
Let's Rebuild the Human Connection
September 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 09)
Forging Unity Amid the Chaos
August 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 08)
Practicing in the Age of COVID-19
July 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 07)
Setting Goals and Building Teams
April 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 04)
Your #1 Job: Plant Seeds of Hope
March 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 03)
The Power of a Professional Photo
February 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 02)
20 and Counting: Celebrating 20 Years of Acupuncture Today and the Evolution of AOM
January 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 01)
It All Starts With a Conversation
December 2019 (Vol. 20, Issue 12)
A Review of "WHO Global Report on Traditional and Complementary Medicine 2019": Section 1: National Framework for Traditional and Complementary Medicine
October 2019 (Vol. 20, Issue 10)
Unifying State Associations
April 2019 (Vol. 20, Issue 04)
Flying Into the Year of the Pig: Making Way for the Impossible
February 2019 (Vol. 20, Issue 02)
Goodbye, Year of the Dog: Two-Thousand-Eighteen Comes to a Close
December 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 12)
Procuring a Place for the Future
November 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 11)
Standardizing Acupuncture?
September 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 09)
TCM Codes for the World
July 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 07)
Money: A Receipt for Your Services
April 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 04)
Year of the Dog: Uniting the Profession
February 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 02)
Happy New Year: Looking at 2018
January 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 01)
2017: A Great Year for Acupuncture
December 2017 (Vol. 18, Issue 12)
Moving TCM Into the Future
October 2017 (Vol. 18, Issue 10)
An Acupuncture Parallel in the Everyday
August 2017 (Vol. 18, Issue 08)
A Question of Ethics
June 2017 (Vol. 18, Issue 06)
Gather & Grow
March 2017 (Vol. 18, Issue 03)
Crow Like the Rooster
February 2017 (Vol. 18, Issue 02)
2016: A Year in the Life of Acupuncture
December 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 12)
The Need for Standards
August 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 08)
Acupuncture's Impact on the World
July 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 07)
Time for World-Wide Growth
June 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 06)
Are You Really Invested?
April 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 04)
In Sympathy: Dr. Richard Tan
March 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 03)
East Meets West
February 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 02)
The Year to Shine
January 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 01)
Are You a Stakeholder?
December 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 12)
It's Time to Review
November 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 11)
It's Time to Wake Up
September 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 09)
Creating Relationships at Southwest Symposium
July 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 07)
The Year to Make Things Happen
June 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 06)
The Tide is Rising in the Acupuncture Profession
May 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 05)
Will You Be an Amplifer or a Mute?
April 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 04)
It's Time to Create a Strong Acupuncture Footprint
March 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 03)
Happy New Year 2015 Gong Hoy Fat Choi
February 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 02)
Animal Acupuncture Gaining in Popularity
February 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 02)
Cultivating Our National Strength
January 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 01)
The Truth About Herbs
October 2014 (Vol. 15, Issue 10)
The Acupuncture Success Express
August 2014 (Vol. 15, Issue 08)
Gallop Confidently Into The New Year
March 2014 (Vol. 15, Issue 03)
ISO-TC 249: International Standards For TCM
October 2013 (Vol. 14, Issue 10)
Happenings in Our Evolving Profession
June 2013 (Vol. 14, Issue 06)
Reflections on Leadership
April 2013 (Vol. 14, Issue 04)
A New Year Brings New Opportunities
February 2013 (Vol. 14, Issue 02)
Now Is The Time
September 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 09)
International Developments and Updates in the World of TCM
July 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 07)
Reflections on Leadership
April 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 04)
On Point
February 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 02)
On Point
December 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 12)
ON POINT
October 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 10)
On Point
August 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 08)
On Point
June 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 06)
On Point
April 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 04)
Global Health Information Makes Big Strides
February 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 02)
Defining the Future of Traditional Medicine
October 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 10)
Classifying AOM As a Global Endeavor
August 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 08)
What Makes a Leader?
June 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 06)
AOM Riding a Cultural Wave
May 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 05)
Planting Our Feet
April 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 04)
A Tale of Two Offices
March 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 03)
Acupuncture is Something to Roar About
February 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 02)
Take a Duvet Day to Achieve Your Goals
January 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 01)
The First Stop on the Road to Compliance
December 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 12)
Be Prepared
November 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 11)
Helping Spread the Word
October 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 10)
One Makes a Difference
September 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 09)
Ask Your Acupuncturist
August 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 08)
On the Move
July 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 07)
Lead by Example
June 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 06)
The Time Has Come
May 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 05)
Becoming an Ancestor
April 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 04)
Positioning Acupuncture Correctly
March 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 03)
Strong and Steady for the New Year
February 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 02)
The Feds Are Coming!
January 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 01)
Reach Out and Touch in Person
December 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 12)
AOM and the Changing Seasons
November 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 11)
Firm Up Your Resolve
October 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 10)
Active Liberty
September 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 09)
It's Time to Be Recognized
August 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 08)
Building a Better Practice
July 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 07)
What the Drug Companies Don't Want You to Know
June 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 06)
Whether or Not to Survive and Flourish: That is the Question
May 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 05)
Spring Has Sprung, and So Should You
April 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 04)
The Importance of Service and Value
March 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 03)
Happy Chinese New Year!
February 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 02)
Getting Healthy in the Year of the Rat
January 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 01)
A Time for Thanks
December 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 12)
Turning Over New Leaves for Fall
November 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 11)
Grow and Contribute to This Medicine
October 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 10)
Have You Considered Getting Involved?
September 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 09)
The More You Meet and Greet, the More You Will Get to Treat
August 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 08)
The Wellness Revolution
July 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 07)
For the Betterment of Mankind
June 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 06)
Hard Work Through Commitment and Action Creates Friendships
May 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 05)
The Power of a Team
April 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 04)
Are You a Steamroller or the Pavement?
March 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 03)
Make the Year of Prosperity the Year of Cooperation
February 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 02)
Trending
Your Practice / Business
Common HIPAA Violations Every Acupuncturist Should Know
Common HIPAA Violations Every Acupuncturist Should Know

Consequences for HIPAA violations can often be quite harsh. If someone has breached the HIPAA privacy regulations – even without any malicious intent, civil penalties are applicable: $100 per violation for unawareness, a minimum of $1,000 for reasonable cause, a minimum of $10,000 if willful neglect is present and then rectified, and finally, a minimum of $50,000 for individuals who act with willful neglect and ignore the issue.

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David Bibbey, Dipl. Ac., LAc
Health & Wellness / Lifestyle
Understanding Mental Illness Through the Luo Vessels
Understanding Mental Illness Through the Luo Vessels

The luo vessels are important in the treatment of mental health issues. They are conduits of “ying qi”: blood and fluids. We believe that the shen is “housed” in the heart and circulated through the blood, making a channel system that “conducts” ying qi ideal for treatment of the mind and emotions.

Nicholas Sieben, LAc
Health Care / Public Health
A Collaborative Journey to Better Patient Outcomes: Critical Tools
A Collaborative Journey to Better Patient Outcomes: Critical Tools

As our health care ecosystem continues to evolve, I’ve found an increased emphasis being placed on an integrative approach to patient care. As an acupuncturist, you are an essential part of this collaborative system and health care team, cooperating with a range of other professionals including medical doctors, chiropractors, massage therapists, and others.

Brandon Hoffman, BA