As we welcome in the Year of the Rooster, we look at some of its major characteristics: confidence and communication, which suits the image we have of the Rooster...strutting in the farmyard, crowing to the others that it's time to wake up.
As this medicine continues to grow rapidly in the U.S. we must all participate in the nurturing of its expansion. The NCCAOM recently formed a task force to work on messaging for the profession, and have even retained a PR firm to help assist. During the recent WHO meeting in Tokyo, Japan, representatives heard about the Traditional Medicine Diagnostic Codes (these codes will be included in chapter 24 of ICD-11) and the interest among the delegates, from numerous countries around the world, was very high and the acceptance very encouraging.
Acupuncture has numerous other professions, nipping at its heels, desiring to include this form of care into their scopes of practice. A question we should ask ourselves is, why? Is it just to increase their market share, or is it because this medicine works and creates new levels of health for millions of people who have been suffering from pain, headaches, and other ailments? It's because acupuncture has created a healing experience for many.
Our message must be trustworthy and timely. Now is the time, this is the year and each practitioner must strive to guide and advise their patients so they can share facts, details, and particulars about acupuncture and TCM, as it relates to each patient's chief complaint, health issues, and lifestyle. This information should begin with a general message about the medicine and how it can help you in your daily life.
So take the first step, give the patient knowledge, enough so they can share with a friend or family member. Talk, talk, talk to everyone you see and meet. Tell your story. Tell patient success stories. Share positive results. Answer questions. Be a resource, advisor and health advocate.
Click here for more information about Marilyn Allen, Editor-at-Large.