Let's think about moving your investment thoughts to looking at the profession of acupuncture. How are you invested in the profession and where is your impact? So, now we are looking at investing in your profession. It is only by being involved and engaged that you can create a lasting impact. The next question is, how would you like to impact the Acupuncture Profession? One very important way you can make an impact right now is to get involved in the progress of the development of the International Classification of Traditional Medicine – 11 diagnostic codes.
Dr. Mark Musen is the leader of this team and the Department Chair of the Biomedical Informatics Department. This team is working every day to get these codes developed and into the computer databases so they will be ready for their introduction to the World Health Organization – Family of International Classification members in Tokyo. It will be the introduction of the acupuncture codes to this body and sharing with them the members of these committees to become aware and knowledgeable of the official draft of the acupuncture codes. These codes will present a significant impact on the healthcare services on a global basis.
Impact Today
Acupuncture is the fastest growing medicine in the world today. Have you thought about what an incredible paradigm of medicine that acupuncture is and how well it fits into the Affordable Care Act? The ACA focuses on Function, Outcomes, Wellness and Prevention. Acupuncture fits well with these areas of healthcare. How will a set of 800 diagnostic codes for Acupuncture impact the profession? They can build credibility, acceptance and visibility the profession. These codes could be a talking point with patients, other healthcare providers, insurance companies and legislators.
I would like to take this opportunity to challenge you to decide to make an impact on the acupuncture profession. By investing in the process of brings the diagnostic codes to completion, you can become a stake holder. By joining other acupuncturists across the country, we build interest and energy for the project. This can create talking points about the medicine.
Acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary supplements and manipulative therapies are areas that will be included in the Quality of Care and Patient Safety technical advisory group also developed by the World Health Organization. Safety is a very important issue worldwide. Here again this will create and impact the profession.
The International Standards Organization is also working on issues that will Impact the profession. This group is creating standards for herbs, herbal formulas, manufacturing for needles and other medical devices and standardizing terminology. These outside factors are all important. They are helping to move this profession forward throughout the world.
Along with worldwide projects, we need your personal ideas, energy and money to create and sustain the impact. You can also invest and become a stake holder by donating $10 toward the completion of the diagnostic codes. The money is being collected and held by COMRE, the Consortium for Oriental Medicine Research and Education. This is the same group that raised the first $300,000 and donated it to the diagnostic project. We need to do it again to be sure that these codes are completed. The first draft of the codes is being revised, corrected, checked for duplications and starting through peer review and field trials.
You can choose to be a part of this project and give towards the goal. Acupuncture changes, saves and impacts lives. Be a part of reaching our goal of $300,000 and helping the citizens of both the United States and the world to have the choice to choose and participate in this paradigm of healthcare.
Go here www.asiantherapies.org/academy and give today.
Click here for more information about Marilyn Allen, Editor-at-Large.