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APPLICABILITY
of The Art of PM and Practice Plan Format
to
ACAOM Essential 8 Program of Study Competency Requirements
for Accredited Training in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
For Peer Review Committees and Instructors:
Review the ACAOM Essential 8 Program of Study Competency Requirements below.
Highlighted in GREEN are areas The Art of Practice Management
for Acupuncture Health Care Practices meets in Ethics, Practice
Management and Development. Competency is evidenced by student and practitioner use of the
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Practice Management Plan Format.
From ACAOM's Essential Core Curriculum 8 Program of Study for
Acpuncture and Oriental Medicine
...it must include the following minimum core curriculum (#1-12)
designed to train students to achieve the competencies of an independent
Oriental medical provider.
The structure and content of these curriculum areas must lead
students to achieve or exceed the professional competencies of
an independent acupuncture or Oriental medicine provider as listed
in Criteria 8.10.
These requirements may be satisfied by courses at a college or
university accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary
of Education provided that the core content is consistent with
the program's objectives.
1. History of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Discussion of different traditions in acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine and how they relate to Chinese medical history.
History of the development of acupuncture and Oriental medicine
in the U.S., and of development of current professional trends.
Discussion of history and professional trends in acupuncture and
Oriental medicine outside the U.S. and China.
The Art of PM has a brief History timeline of the development
of acupuncture and Oriental medicine and discussion of its relationship
to the U.S., and of development of current professional trends.
Articles can be downloaded from author, Cynthia Bestani's international
website, From Tao to Earth. website for deeper development of
the subject worldwide. Many books are devoted to this subject.
Reference Library Website Karolinska Institutet lists articles on the internet on the history and development
of acupuncture and Oriental Medicine which is relevant worldwide.
2. Basic Theory
Qi
Tonification (supplementation) and sedation (draining) of qi,
creation of harmony
Dao
Yin Yang
Eight Parameters/Ba Gang
Five Elements (phases, correspondences)/Wu Xing and their laws
and cycles
Twelve Officials/Shi Er Guan
Viscera & Bowels/Zang Fu
Theory of channel vessels (Meridians)/Jing Luo
Internal and External causes of disease such as Six External Evils/Liu
Xie, Seven Emotions/Qi Qing and Non-internal or External Reasons/bu
nei wai yin
Oriental medicine pathology (bing ji)
Meaning (significance) of disease, symptoms, signs
Fundamental Body Substances (e.g. shen, qi, blood, fluid, etc.)
Uses basic theory of qi, Dao, Yin and Yang, Eight Paremeters,
Five Elements, internal and external causes in the business aspect
of the practice management)
3. Acupuncture, Point Location and Channel (meridian) Theory
Location systems: anatomically, proportionally, by palpation,
Anatomical Chinese inch (cun), fen.
Systems of nomenclature and knowledge of standards of the WHO
Scientific Group to Adopt a Standard International Acupuncture
Nomenclature, 1991
Anatomical locations
All points on the twelve bilateral channels (meridians) and the
Conception/Ren and Governing/Du vessels
Forbidden points, contraindications of points
Classification of points
Functions and Indications of acupuncture points
Extra Acupuncture Points
Other categories and types of acupuncture points (e.g. auricular
points, scalp points, hand points)
Special groupings of acupuncture points (for example: transport
points, painful or tender points (Ah Shi), local and distal points,
Associated Effect and Alarm points, windows of the sky, Internal
and External Dragons, Seas and Oceans, thirteen ghost points),
and other recognized point combinations.
Traditions of acupuncture; respect for different traditions of
evaluating and diagnosing and influencing and correcting the balance
of Qi.
Respect for different traditions of evaluating and diagnosing
and influencing and correcting the balance of Qi discussed in
the Business/Patient Communications Aspect of Practice Management.
4. Diagnostic Skills
Patient Care sections on Consultation and Examination Sessions.
Different Models, Charting using legal recording and documentation
standards in Section, Referrals.
#4
History Taking/Charting Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine: Methods:
Observation/Wang, Audio-Olfaction/Wen, Inquiry/Wen, Palpation/qie,
Differential diagnosis
Biomedical: Measuring and recording vital signs, i.e., respiratory
rate, pulse rate, temperature and blood pressure
Referrals: Recognition of symptoms requiring referrals, including
infectious disease.
5. Treatment Planning in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Methods and systems for planning, carrying out and evaluating
a treatment (Practice management related only. Patient Care Rationale, Goals
and Planning, Consultation, Oral Report, Report of Findings and
Reevaluation Sessions. )
Prognosis
Contraindications of treatment (Safe practice planning section.)
Making appropriate referrals
Consideration of special factors or symptoms indicating: potential for increased risk to the patient (e.g., immune compromised
patient, diabetic patient), the need to modify standard therapeutic
approach (e.g., infants and children, pregnancy), and apparently
benign presentations that may have a more serious cause (hypertension,
headaches) (Standards of Care, Rsk Management, Safe Practice Planning Communicatations
section. Telephone Medicine section of the ARt of PM.)
.
6. Treatment Techniques
Needle insertion: depth, duration, manipulation and withdrawal
Moxa: application, direct & indirect. etc.
Other techniques (e.g., bleeding, moxibustion, cupping, gua sha,
seven star)
Tonification (supplementation)/bu and sedation (draining)/xie
Knowledge of methods and application of acupuncture relating to
the treatment of acute and chronic conditions, first aid, analgesia,
anesthesia, and electrical stimulation
Safety issues
Oriental bodywork therapy (e.g.,. Tui Na, shiatsu, Amma, acupressure
etc.)
7. Equipment and Safety
The Art of Practice Management covers the safe practitice communications
and resources for equipment planning, equipment use and safety.
The Practice Plan shows evidence of the student and practitioner's
understanding of equipment and safety. David Kailin's book, Acupuncture Risk Management is recommended as a further resource on the technical aspects
of equipment and saftety.
Furthermore, students and practitioners are directed to the specific
Laws and Regulations for scope of practice and equipment use–by
geographical area. These are accessible from author, Cynthia Bestani's
From Tao to Earth international website at http://taotoearthpmpubs.com. The most current laws and regulations can be downloaded directly from the website
by state, province and country. The From Tao to Earth also links
directly to the WHO International Digest of Legislation. Students
and Practitioners can download the specific Laws and Regulations they need to know, access their Regulatory Boards and Medical Boards for their area and get to the correct links to download.
References students and practitioners to Competency and Scope of Practice Page of this site for further
materials applicable worldwide.
Equipment and safety planning.
Selection & maintenance of equipment:
Needles: gauge, types, selection, replacement, inspection
Other equipment: cups, moxa, seven star, etc.
Sterilization: necessity and various methods
Electronic equipment: selection, maintenance, inspection for hazards
Safety of patient and practitioner:
Asepsis, Clean Needle Technique
Avoiding harm from typical procedures: needling, moxa, cupping,
bloodletting, etc.
Fainting during treatment
Relevant State and Federal Regulations concerning safety
First Aid and CPR
Personal & office cleanliness and hygiene
8. Counseling and Communication Skills
Communications skills: listening, counseling, explaining, and
teaching
Managing psychological reactions that may arise during the course
of treatment and the ability to make appropriate referrals
9. Ethics and Practice Management
Confidentiality
Informed Consent
Understanding the scope of practice
Record keeping: legal requirement, release of data
Ethical and legal aspects of referring patients to another practitioner
Professional conduct and appropriate interpersonal behavior
Overview of the status of acupuncture and Oriental medicine in
the US
Understanding laws and regulations governing the practice of acupuncture
and Oriental medicine in the state where the program is offered
and that laws and regulations vary from state to state.*
Recognition and clarification of patient expectations
General liability insurance and legal requirements
Professional liability insurance: risk management and quality
assurance
Building and managing a practice including ethical and legal aspects
of third party reimbursement
Professional development
Basic bookkeeping
*Students and practitioners are directed to specific ethical issues
for discussion in the Art of PM text and writen work in the Practice
Plan. Although there is an extensive discussion of ethics, and
all of the above topics, students must further source the specific
Laws and Regulations related to the practice of acupuncture and
Oriental Medicine and the national standards (OSHA, FDA requirements,
etc. in their geographical area. These are accessible from author,
Cynthia Bestani's From Tao to Earth international website at http://taotoearthpmpubs.com. The most current laws and regulations can be downloaded directly from the website
by state, province and country. The From Tao to Earth also links
directly to the WHO International Digest of Legislation. Students
and Practitioners can download the specific Laws and Regulations they need to know, access their Regulatory Boards and Medical Boards for their area and get to the correct links to download.
References students and practitioners to Competency and Scope of Practice Page of this site for further
materials applicable worldwide and to their specific geographical
area.
10. Biomedical Clinical Sciences
Relevant basic sciences that are directed toward attaining the
biomedical clinical competencies
Biomedical and clinical concepts and terms (Discussed for legal and insurance documentation primarily.)
Human anatomy and physiology
Pathology and the biomedical disease model
The nature of the biomedical clinical process including history
taking, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up
The clinical relevance of laboratory and diagnostic tests and procedures, as
well as biomedical physical examination findings (Discussed in safe practice planning, patient care practice management
procedures referral and documentation procedures of these in the
text.)
Infectious diseases, sterilization procedures, needle handling
and disposal, and other issues relevant to bloodborne and surface pathogens (General)
Biomedical pharmacology including relevant aspects of potential medication, herb and nutritional
supplement interactions, contraindications and side effects and how to access this information (Discussion from a risk management sandpoint only.)
The basis and need for referral and/or consultation
The range of biomedical referral resources and the modalities
they employ (Text and Practice Plan)
11. Oriental Herbal Studies
This component shall be included in any continuing education program
in herbal therapy or any herbal component of any other type of
program that provides students with sufficient knowledge to enable
them to use Oriental herbs in the practice of Oriental medicine.
Introduction to Oriental Herbal Medicine
Development of herbal medical systems throughout the Orient
History of the development of Oriental herbal medicine in the
USA
Legal and ethical considerations of herbal medicine
Basic Herbal Medicine Theory
Plant-part terminology and significance to usage
Herbal properties, e.g., concepts of herbal categories, taste,
temperature, entering meridians
Methods of preparation, i.e., dried, honey-baked.
Methods of delivery, e.g., decoction, topical, timing (before
meals)
Laws of combining, including common contraindications, prohibitions,
precautions
Methods of treatment, i.e., induce sweat, clearing, harmonize
Oriental Diagnostic And Treatment Paradigms As They Pertain To
Herbal Medicine, e.g.:
Shan Han/6 stages
Wen Bing/4 levels
Zang Fu
Chinese Internal and External Medicine
Herbal Treatment Strategies
Methods and systems for planning, carrying out and evaluating
a treatment
Differentiation and modifications of herb formula for various
patterns of disharmony according to Chinese medical principles
Chinese herbal medicine protocols applied to patients with a biomedical
diagnosis
Materia Medica Instruction in a minimum of 300 different herbs
Categories: functions and meaning
Visual identification including differing methods of cutting
Temperature, taste, and entering meridians
Taxonomy and nomenclature
Introduction to Chinese names of herbs
Functions and actions; classical and new developments
Specific contraindications for each herb
Applications of herbal dosages
Current developments in individual herb research
Endangered species and substitutions for them
Herbal Formulas -- Instruction in a minimum of 150 formulas
Traditional formula categories, functions and meanings
Meanings of the traditional Chinese formula names
Functions and actions; classical and new developments
Specific contraindications for each formula
Current developments in formula research
Composition and proportion of individual herbs in each formula
Major modifications of formulations
Patient education regarding administration, potential side effects,
preparation and storage of formulas
Prepared herbal formulations: modifications and format of delivery
Food Therapy/Nutrition
Categorization of foods with regard to temperature, taste, and
function
Dietary advice for various conditions
Preparation of common food/herbal recipes
Clinical Internship and Herbal Dispensary
Clinical internship in which students interview, diagnose and
write appropriate herbal formulae moving from complete supervision
to independent formula development
Standards of cleanliness in a herbal dispensary
Storage of herbs (both raw and prepared formulas), covering issues
of spoilage and bugs
Practice in the filling of herbal formulas in an herbal dispensary
setting
(Risk Management section, legal requirment for Labeling and Delivery.
Endangered Species and Wild Life Acts and their lists, and curent
dietary supplement and herb and herbal product issues can be downloaded
at the From Tao to Earth's international website http://www.taotoearthpmpubs.com.
accessible on the Scope of Practice and Competency Training Page, Laws and Regulations Pages, Regulatory Agencies and Medical Boards Page
Western Science for Herbal Medicine
Botany, non-botanical and horticulture (e.g., changes in the characteristics
of herbs due to environmental factors) as they pertain to herbal
medicine
General principles of pharmacognosy:
(a) Biochemical components of herbs and natural substances
(b) Considerations of pharmaceutical interactions with reference
to current texts
12. Other Oriental Medicine Modalities
Oriental manual therapy, including bodywork and physiotherapies
Exercise/breathing therapy
Diet counseling
Criterion 8.1 (a) Program length [These credit requirements are
over and above the 60 semester credits required for admission
to the professional master's degree level program.] [Note that
the hours in brackets are equivalent to credits.]
The minimum length of the professional acupuncture curriculum
must be at least three academic years (a minimum of 93 semester
credits or 1725 hours). This must be composed of at least:
47 semester credits (705 hours) in Oriental medical theory, diagnosis
and treatment techniques in acupuncture and related studies,
22 semester credits (660 hours) in clinical training, and
24 semester credits (360 hours) in biomedical clinical sciences.
The minimum length of the professional Oriental medicine curriculum
must be at least four academic years (a minimum of 123 semester
credits or 2175 hours). This must be composed of at least:
47 semester credits (705 hours) in Oriental medical theory, diagnosis
and treatment techniques in acupuncture and related studies,
30 semester credits (450 hours) in Oriental herbal studies,
22 semester credits (660 hours) in clinical training, and
24 semester credits (360 hours) in biomedical clinical sciences.
(b) Minimum/maximum time frame
The professional acupuncture program must require a minimum of
90 instructional weeks to be completed in not less than 27 calendar
months. The professional Oriental medicine program must require
a minimum of 120 instructional weeks to be completed in not less
than 36 calendar months. The program must set a maximum time frame
to complete the program which should be no more than 6 calendar
years for the acupuncture program and no more than 8 years for
the Oriental medicine program.
(c) Clock to credit hour conversion
One semester credit hour is granted for each 15 hours of classroom
contaclus appropriate outside preparation or the equivalent; or
one semester credit hour for each 30 hours of supervised laboratory
or clinical instruction plus appropriate outside preparation;
or one semester credit hour for each 45 hours of clinical externship
or independent study. One quarter credit hour is granted for each
10 hours of classroom contaclus appropriate outside preparation
or the equivalent; or one quarter credit hour for each 20 hours
of supervised laboratory or clinical instruction plus appropriate
outside preparation; or one quarter credit hour for 30 hours of
clinical externship or independent study.
Guideline: An academic year is defined as at least 30 instructional weeks.
A semester credit is defined as 15 hours (see Glossary for definition
of "semester" and "credits.")
Guideline: If translation is provided for a class taught by an instructor
who is not fluent in the language of the students, the program
should take into account an adjustment to the class-to-credit-hour-ratio
to allow for the extra time needed for translation.
Guideline: The program should set a maximum time by which a student
must complete the program.
Guideline: The program should regularly assess the impact of its academic
load on students. While the maximum load that can be taken in
one semester is left up to the program, it should have a policy
in place so that the public is aware of how an academic load is
authorized.
Guideline: Program length in terms of clock or credit hours and the number
of courses per semester should be sufficient to enable the student
to achieve the program's educational objectives and should be
in accordance with acceptable educational practices.
Guideline: The program is expected to articulate its curriculum for each
academic year, identifying semesters, courses and precise clock
or credit hours. A credit hour is 50 minutes of instruction per
week for a specified term or semester.
Criterion 8.2 Completion designation To each person successfully completing the professional program,
the program must award a certificate, diploma, or degree following
both the general practices of higher education and the requirements
of individual state jurisdictions.
Guideline: The preferred designation for a degree in the field of acupuncture
is the Master of Acupuncture.
Guideline: The preferred designation for a degree in the field of Oriental
medicine is the Master of Oriental Medicine.
Criterion 8.3 Consistent with purpose The program in acupuncture
or Oriental medicine must offer a program of study that is consistent
with and clearly related to its statement of purpose.
Criterion 8.4 Appropriate level of instruction. The program must be appropriate to an institution of higher education
offering a professional master’s degree level program in acupuncture
or Oriental medicine.
Guideline: The curriculum should contribute to the personal growth
of students by helping them to understand fundamental theory,
develop responsible, independent judgment, and to weigh values.
Guideline: The program should be sufficiently rigorous in breadth
and depth and appropriate to the education and training of independent
practitioners in the field of acupuncture and Oriental medicine.
Criterion 8.5 Instruction The instruction of students must be
the central focus of the resources and services of the institution.
Guideline: The program should stimulate and assist the faculty
to achieve a high quality of instruction.
Guideline: Clearly identified standards of scholarship should
be applied consistently and rigorously in each course of the program.
Criterion 8.6 Syllabi A syllabus must be prepared for each course
or major unit of instruction and must be distributed to each student
in the course. A syllabus must contain at least the following:
the purpose of the course; the objectives of the course in specific
terms; the prerequisites of the course; an outline of the content
of the course and laboratory instruction in enough detail to permit
the student to see its full scope; the method(s) of instruction;
the requirements of the course with important dates (e.g., papers,
projects, examinations); the type of grading system used; and
the required and recommended reading.
Guideline: Syllabi should be reproduced and made available to
faculty members so that they may learn what the various courses
in the curriculum include and can relate their instruction to
other courses.
Guideline: copies of syllabi should be kept in the library and
the curriculum files.
Criterion 8.7 Clinical training The program must provide a clinical education program of sufficient
volume, variety, and quality to fulfill its educational purposes.
Clinical instruction and practice must consist of didactic courses
and practical clinical training, and must include supervised care
of patients which leads the student through gradually increasing
levels of responsibility for patient care.
Guideline: Program-approved supervisors should be sufficient to ensure the
safe and competent care by students of a variety of patients.
Guideline: A supervised herbal dispensary should be available in clinics
when herbal training is being offered as part of the curriculum.
Guideline: Appropriate emphasis should be placed on the safe, ethical, social,
and economic aspects of the system of delivery in acupuncture
and/or Oriental medicine.
Guideline: Students should be taught sanitary measures for infection control
prior to their entry into the clinic portion of the program. Written
protocols should be provided to allow students to comply with
NCCAOM guidelines on sanitation, asepsis, and clean-needle handling.
Guideline: When a large percentage of the students' clinical experience
is gained at off-campus clinical sites, there should be written
agreements with the sites, specifying how the program's objectives
and the program's requirements and standards for clinical training
are to be carried out.
Criterion 8.8 Clinical observation The program must assure that each student fulfill at least 150
hours observing acupuncturists and senior student interns performing
acupuncture and/or Oriental medicine therapies in a clinical setting.
Guideline: Observation is defined as learning experiences in which the student
observes a clinician performing acupuncture or Oriental medicine
treatments to patients. This may involve assisting the practitioner.
Guideline: A clinical setting is defined as a place where patients are regularly
treated.
Guideline: If observation is conducted outside of a clinical setting, an
educationally justifiable reason for considering it to be observation
is necessary. Clinical observation may take place after supervised
clinical practical training has begun if it is educationally justifiable
to do so.
Criterion 8.9 Supervised clinical practice The program must assure that each student participate a minimum
of 500 hours in the supervised care of patients using acupuncture
and/or Oriental medicine therapies. This portion of the clinical
training, conducted under the supervision of program-approved
supervisors, must consist of a least 250 student-performed treatments
where students conduct patient interviews, participate in diagnosis
and treatment planning, perform appropriate acupuncture and/or
Oriental medicine treatments, and follow-up on patients’ responses
to treatment. The supervised clinical practice must be an internship
(see definition of "internship" in Glossary) and must be conducted
in a teaching clinic operated by the institution or in a clinical
facility with a formal affiliation with the institution where
the institution exercises academic oversight substantially equivalent
to the academic oversight exercised for teaching clinics operated
by the institution, where: (1) Clinical instructors’ qualifications
meet school requirements for clinical instruction; (2) Regular,
systematic evaluation of the clinical experience takes place;
and, (3) Clinical training supervision procedures are substantially
equivalent to those within the teaching clinic operated by the
institution. Student interns must receive training from a variety
of clinical faculty in order to ensure that interns are exposed
to different practice styles and instructional methods
Guideline: Supervised Clinical Practice is defined as learning experiences
in which the student intern provides all phases of patient care,
i.e., full diagnosis, treatment plan and delivery of treatment
(in an Oriental medicine program, this includes writing up herbal
formulas) leading to the ability to function independently by
graduation.
Guideline: Learning Experiences are defined as situations in which specific
objectives are to be met and a means for measuring the achievement
of those objectives is indicated.
Criterion 8.10 Professional Competencies The acupuncture program of study must lead to the following professional
competencies (#1-7) to be attained through learning experiences
included in the curriculum. The Oriental medicine program of study
must lead to the following professional competencies (#1-10) to
be attained through learning experiences included in the curriculum.
1. Collecting Data and Using the Following Examinations of the Patient
in Order to Be Able To Make a Diagnosis:
Observation noting the spirit, color, body structure, tongue,
symptom site and complexion of the patient
Olfactory examination -- noting the general odor of the patient's
body and of the patient's secretions, discharges and breath
Audio examination -- listening to the sound of the patient's voice,
abdominal sounds, sounds of respiration and cough quality
Palpation noting the temperature, moisture, texture, sensitivity,
tissue structure, rhythms and qualities of the abdomen, the chest,
the ear, the channels and points, and the radial and regional
pulses
Enquiry asking general questions, questions about medical history,
chief and secondary complaints, sleep patterns, excretions, thirst
and appetite, digestion, nutritional levels and patterns, medications,
chills and/or fever, perspiration, pain, emotional state, life
style, exercise, use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs, reproductive
cycles and menstruation, leukorrhea, sensations of heat, cold,
dizziness, tinnitus, palpitations and chest constriction
Physical examination adjuncts such as akabane and electrical stimulation
2. Formulating a Diagnosis by Classifying the Data Collected and
Organizing It According to Traditional Oriental Medical Theories
of Physiology and Pathology. This Skill Implies Comprehensive Understanding of the Following
Fundamental Theories and Concepts:
Five Phases Theory
Yin-Yang Theory
Channel Theory
Organ Theory
Causes of Disease, including the exogenous, endogenous and independent
factors
Stages of Disease Progression, including the six-stage and four-aspect
disease progressions
Triple Warmer Theory
The natural progression of untreated disease
3. Determining Treatment Strategy Based on the Diagnosis Formulated:
The availability of additional appropriate modalities for patient
referral
The ability to communicate with other health professionals regarding
patient care, utilizing commonly understood medical terminology
The functions of the acupoints
4. Performing Treatment by Applying Appropriate Techniques, Including Needles, Moxa, Manipulation, Counseling, and the Utilization
of Skills Appropriate For Preparation of Tools and Instruments:
Proper sterilization and aseptic procedures
Preparation of the patient, including proper positioning for application
of techniques
Effective communication with the patient regarding the nature
of the illness and the treatment plan
Accurate location of acupoints
Safe and effective needle insertion techniques based upon the
function of the point, the recommended needling depths, the underlying
anatomy at the site, the desired effect of needling, and the nature
of the illness
Accepted clean needle insertion practices, including protocols
adequate to allow compliance with NCCAOM guidelines on sanitation,
asepsis, and clean needle handling
Safe and effective application of adjunctive techniques, including
moxibustion, electrical stimulation and manipulation
Effective control of emergency situations
5. Assessing the Effectiveness of the Treatment Strategy and its
Execution:
By reexamination of the patient
By comparison with previous conditions and expectations
By modification of the treatment plan, if required, based upon
that assessment
6. Complying with Practices as Established by the Profession and
Society at Large Through:
Application of a code of ethics
Practice of responsible record keeping and patient confidentiality
Maintenance of professional development through continuing education
Maintenance of personal development by continued cultivation of
compassion
7. In order to be able to:
Recognize situations where the patient requires emergency or additional
care or care by practitioners of other health care (or medical)
modalities, and to refer such patients to whatever resources are
appropriate to their care and well-being;
Appropriately utilize relevant biomedical clinical science concepts
and understandings to enhance the quality of Oriental medical
care provided;
Protect the health and safety of the patient and the health care
provider related to infectious diseases, sterilization procedures,
needle handling and disposal, and other issues relevant to bloodborne
and surface pathogens; and
Communicate effectively with the biomedical community;
The Student Must Have an Adequate Understanding of:
Relevant biomedical and clinical concepts and terms;
Relevant human anatomy and physiological processes;
Relevant concepts related to pathology and the biomedical disease
model;
The nature of the biomedical clinical process including history
taking, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up;
The clinical relevance of laboratory and diagnostic tests and
procedures, as well as biomedical physical examination findings;
Relevant pharmacological concepts and terms including knowledge
of relevant potential medication, herb and nutritional supplement
interactions, contraindications and side effects.
8. Making A Diagnosis/Energetic Evaluation by:
Identifying position, nature and cause of the dysfunction, disorder,
disharmony, vitality and constitution. This evaluation is based
on the 13 concepts below plus knowledge of distinctive patterns
of herbal combinations and recognition of medical emergencies.
9. Planning and Executing an Herbal Treatment using the following
knowledge:
Identification of most commonly used raw and prepared substances
in Materia Medica
Use of common foods as healing modalities
Properties of substances in Materia Medica:
Taste, temperature, entering meridians, actions and clinical applications.
Identification of common biochemical constituents and common dosage
guideline.
Contraindications of individual herbs:
Toxicity; both traditional and biochemical, rules of combination,
effect of preparation, dosage variance, and possible side effects.
Traditional strategies of herbal formulation:
Sweating (sudorific), Clearing, Ejecting (emetic), Precipitating
(purgative), Harmonizing, Warming, Supplementing (tonic), Dispersing.
Composition of formulas:
Hierarchy of ingredients, internal dynamics of ingredients, changes
in hierarchy of ingredients by modification of ingredients or
dosage.
Preparation and administration of formulas:
Dosage, timing, frequency, duration, extraction times, etc.
Indications and functions of representative herbal formulas.
Selection, modification and development of appropriate formulas
consistent
with the pattern of disharmony and treatment plan.
Current types of prepared formulations available (pills, powder,
tincture,
etc.)
-Dosage variances, side effects and toxicity associated with usage,
timing, frequency, duration, extraction times, etc.
-Understanding the issues surrounding non-traditional additives
to prescriptions.
Selection of the appropriate modality or modalities for treatment:
-Acupuncture, herbs, Oriental manual therapy, exercise, breathing
therapy, and diet counseling.
Consultation with patient regarding treatment plan, side-effects,
outcomes,
and healing process.
Biomedical considerations of herbal preparations:
Contraindications, drug interactions, etc.
10. Understanding Professional Issues Related to Oriental Herbs:
The ethical considerations with respect to prescribing and selling
herbs to patients.
How and when to consult and refer with appropriate biomedical
or allied health practitioners regarding drug interactions and
herbal therapy.
The appropriate management, care and storage of herbs and herbal
products.
Criterion 8.11 - Continuing Education When continuing education programs and
special instructional activities are offered either on or off
campus, they must be integral components of the institution’s
commitment. Provision for such activities must include an adequate
administrative structure, a competent faculty, a sound financial
base, and appropriate facilities. Continuing education courses
cannot be converted to usable credits that will meet the program’s
graduation requirements.
Criterion 8.12 - Licensure and Certification Exam Rates If the program’s licensure exam pass rate falls below sixty percent
(60%) or it its NCCAOM certification exam pass rate falls below
seventy percent (70%), ACAOM shall review the program to determine
if it remains in compliance with the accreditation criteria. (In
trial status)
ACAOM Essential 8 Program of Study Competency Requirements is
available on the From Tao to Earth web site without green highlights,
as well as the ACAOM Masters Program and Doctorate Program.
Simple Go to the Links section at the Page top of any of the pages of the web site and click on Links–Resources
for Scope of Practice and Competency Training. |
For Teachers and Administrators
