MikeLAc

Thanks again Papadoc! I greatly appreciate your insights and leads and the value they possess in helping me make the right decision. :) Sincerely, MikeLAc

Hi Papadoc, Thanks for replying. Some other replys posted seemed favorable towards a combined eastern/western practice. It was mentioned that some doctors are doing just that. You brought up a great point though. It is an extension of western doctor's practice to combine, but unfortunately due to scope of practice concerns, we may well need to keep the practices separate. If we do separate the practices, just how would one accomplish that? Could one Tx & Dx in TCM documenting such on S.O.A.P. notes using only TCM formatting/charting, and then Tx & Dx the same patient with the Western model using western formatting/charting? The only other way I can see would be to offer each patient a choice of either eastern or western treatment and document accordingly...but that sounds...yechhh!! Appreciate any thoughts. Mike LAc.

Hi all. I am new to this forum. I am a National Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist with an M.S. in oriental medicine, anticipating my first practice this coming Spring. There are some colleges in the U.S. offering a "bridge program" to become an N.P. within two years if one has previously attained their Master's degree. I thought it would be neat to offer both western and eastern diagnosis and Tx. to my patients, allowing them to receive the best from both type medicines. My main concern in becoming an N.P. is the following: I fear that some aspects of the N.P. scope of practice might inhibit practice as an oriental health professional due to the possibility I might have to act under the somewhat strict protocols of the N.P. profession. If an oriental Tx. or approach would seem to be better than the western one, I might be forced to act based on the constraints of the western model, or risk sanctions from regulatory bodies overseeing the N.P. arena. Can anyone elaborate on any of this? Also, if the above circumstances would not come into conflict, would I be allowed to practice independently as an N.P. in my own oriental medical practice without prior hospital or clinical, (employment), as an N.P? Thank you very much for sharing any thoughts on this matter. Mike Eidson, LAc. P.S. I posted this thread on the Introductory/Greeting forum, but this forum sounded more appropriate to my question. Please advise if this is considered "spammimg" on this site.