On November 5, 1997, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued a consensus statement on acupuncture confirming what millions of Americans have known all along--that acupuncture is not only a legitimate form of medical treatment, but that it is effective for treating a variety of both acute and chronic illnesses. This conferring of legitimacy by a respected medical body has sparked a newfound interest in Oriental Medicine on the part of western MD's. And now many, who once spurned Oriental Medicine as the practice of charlatans, are embracing this ancient healing art. It is now time to develop a complementary relationship between MD's and Practitioners of Oriental Medicine (henceforth referred to as POM's) so that patients will ultimately receive the most appropriate and effective care. The following steps, if taken by both MD's and POM's, will quickly and effectively establish this relationship.

Step 1. Mutual Professional Respect
The first thing both MD's and POM's must do is recognize and respect each other as medical professionals. It is no longer productive for either group to continue to criticize the other as unprofessional or incompetent. In most states, both groups have undergone rigorous training and certification. In the case of POM's certified by the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), this includes more than 2000 hours of schooling plus the passage of a rigorous set of exams comparable to the Board Examinations taken by all certified MD's. They both undergo scrutiny by most state regulatory bodies to obtain their licenses, and are subject to censure and legal penalties if they are found guilty of inappropriate behavior or malpractice. Thus there is enough common ground here to end the finger pointing and name calling which has unfortunately characterized the relationship between these two groups of practitioners.

Step 2. Open Practice
One of the obstacles that has prohibited MD's and POM's from establishing a complementary relationship is the lack of understanding of each other's medical practice. MD's are often astounded at the cleanliness and pleasantness of the typical POM's office, as well as the systematic and caring way they deal with each patient. Similarly, POM's who take the time to observe an MD for a day, will develop a better understanding of their western counterparts' professional lives-the pressures they undergo, the remarkable technologies they employ, and their many successes. Each can, and should, learn from the other. To this end, both groups should encourage the establishment of Open Practice, so that practitioners from either group can spend time with each other and thus better understand each other.

Step 3. Cross-Referrals
Once MD's and POM's see how each practice, they can begin to trust each other in the handling of patients and refer patients to each other for appropriate treatment. For example, POM's when dealing with a patient who has a family history of heart disease and presents with the acute symptom of sharp, stabbing chest pain on exertion should insist that this patient see an MD for diagnosis and possible treatment as soon as possible before attempting to treat this patient with acupuncture or herbs. Similarly, MD's seeing a patient for chronic back pain should consider a referral to a POM for evaluation and possible treatment before prescribing large doses of muscle relaxants and analgesics. In either case, this doesn't mean that either practitioner is unable to treat the patient. But rather that the patient will receive the most appropriate treatment from the other's style of medicine.

Step 4. Blended Practices
Optimally, the best way for MD's and POM's to work in a complementary manner is to practice together. This is rapidly becoming the medical office of the future, a "blended practice" with an MD, POM, and other health care professionals (massage therapist, nutritionist, etc.) available to see any patient. The patient simply walks in and sees the practitioner who best suits his/her health care needs. For example, a patient with fibromyalgia (chronic, aching muscles and joints) may begin with an evaluation from the MD, then be referred to the POM for pain management and healing with acupuncture and herbs, then sent to the massage therapist for relaxation and rejuvenation of stiff muscles, then sent to the nutritionist for an evaluation and correction of diet. In this way the patient can make rapid progress toward recovery and achieve healing via a multi-disciplinary approach.
Copyright 1998 Fred Jennes

Contact Information

Fred Jennes, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac. & C.H.
710 11th Avenue - Suite 106
Greeley, CO    80631
(970) 346-8152 ~ Voice
www.jademtn.net
E-mail us at fjennes@jademtn.net