New Face of Acupuncture in the West
New Acupuncture clinics are popping up all over the country with a whole different look and feel since acupuncture was introduced to the West. Until recently the majority of acupuncture clinics in the West have resembled a typical medical office with individual treatment rooms. Clinics set up in this fashion generally see patients once a week and charge anywhere between $60-$150 per treatment depending on location of the clinic.
Following a sustainable business model put together by Working Class Acupuncture of Portland Oregon, clinics following what is known as the Community Acupuncture(CA) business model are opening up around the country. Community Acupuncture clinics offer affordable acupuncture treatments for a sliding scale somewhere between $15-$40, or a flat rate of no more than $30. Treatments at a CA clinic are available to everyone, regardless of income.
The purpose of the affordable sliding scale is twofold. By lowering the cost of treatment, this model of care makes acupuncture available to a majority of the population that would not normally be able to afford treatment otherwise and it also makes it possible for patients to receive treatments with great frequency.
In addition to lower fees, the set up of a Community Acupuncture Clinic is different from a typical acupuncture clinic in the West. Treatments often take place on comfortable reclining lounge chairs, although some clinics have a mix of recliners and treatment tables. The other major difference is a that patients are not separated into individual cubicles or rooms, instead they are treated and allowed to rest in a larger "community room". A common scene in a CA clinic is a room full of patients peacefully at rest.
This new model of acupuncture in the West, is more representative of the way acupuncture is practiced in Asia. Acupuncture in Asia is often performed in a group setting, meaning there are usually multiple people being treated within the same room. Treatments are inexpensive and preformed frequently, often daily or every other day for a prescribed number of treatments. Patients complete the prescribed number of treatments in a shorter period of time yielding greater clinical outcomes than the typical once a week or every other week approach often seen in the West. The lower fees offered at Community Acupuncture clinics allow patients to receive treatment at a greater frequency resulting in better clinical outcomes.
There are several advantages to the community model for the patient and the practitioner. For the patient, it is possible to receive treatments along side family and friends. For the first-time patient, it can also be comforting to see other patients receiving treatments while others are in a deep state of relaxation. There is also a group dynamic that is created which is highly beneficial. Similar to the increased effect produced by group prayer or meditation, the community setting seems to enhance the state of relaxation and health benefits resulting from an acupuncture treatment. For the acupuncturist, the community setting is very practical in that it makes it possible to monitor all the patients at once. In this setting the acupuncturist is easily able to assist any of the patients if necessary without delay.
Patients visiting a CA clinic arrived at a scheduled appointment time and receive an individualized treatment based on their particular condition or concern. Patients wear loose, comfortable clothing that can easily raised above the knees and elbows. Acupuncturists treating in the community model use various techniques of acupuncture known as "distal" acupuncture. These techniques enable the acupuncturist to a have an effect on a part of the body away from the area where the needles are being inserted. For example, a patient with back pain can be successfully treated by using points on the legs and arms. This style of treatment is not only convenient but very effective as well.
Following a sustainable business model put together by Working Class Acupuncture of Portland Oregon, clinics following what is known as the Community Acupuncture(CA) business model are opening up around the country. Community Acupuncture clinics offer affordable acupuncture treatments for a sliding scale somewhere between $15-$40, or a flat rate of no more than $30. Treatments at a CA clinic are available to everyone, regardless of income.
The purpose of the affordable sliding scale is twofold. By lowering the cost of treatment, this model of care makes acupuncture available to a majority of the population that would not normally be able to afford treatment otherwise and it also makes it possible for patients to receive treatments with great frequency.
In addition to lower fees, the set up of a Community Acupuncture Clinic is different from a typical acupuncture clinic in the West. Treatments often take place on comfortable reclining lounge chairs, although some clinics have a mix of recliners and treatment tables. The other major difference is a that patients are not separated into individual cubicles or rooms, instead they are treated and allowed to rest in a larger "community room". A common scene in a CA clinic is a room full of patients peacefully at rest.
This new model of acupuncture in the West, is more representative of the way acupuncture is practiced in Asia. Acupuncture in Asia is often performed in a group setting, meaning there are usually multiple people being treated within the same room. Treatments are inexpensive and preformed frequently, often daily or every other day for a prescribed number of treatments. Patients complete the prescribed number of treatments in a shorter period of time yielding greater clinical outcomes than the typical once a week or every other week approach often seen in the West. The lower fees offered at Community Acupuncture clinics allow patients to receive treatment at a greater frequency resulting in better clinical outcomes.
There are several advantages to the community model for the patient and the practitioner. For the patient, it is possible to receive treatments along side family and friends. For the first-time patient, it can also be comforting to see other patients receiving treatments while others are in a deep state of relaxation. There is also a group dynamic that is created which is highly beneficial. Similar to the increased effect produced by group prayer or meditation, the community setting seems to enhance the state of relaxation and health benefits resulting from an acupuncture treatment. For the acupuncturist, the community setting is very practical in that it makes it possible to monitor all the patients at once. In this setting the acupuncturist is easily able to assist any of the patients if necessary without delay.
Patients visiting a CA clinic arrived at a scheduled appointment time and receive an individualized treatment based on their particular condition or concern. Patients wear loose, comfortable clothing that can easily raised above the knees and elbows. Acupuncturists treating in the community model use various techniques of acupuncture known as "distal" acupuncture. These techniques enable the acupuncturist to a have an effect on a part of the body away from the area where the needles are being inserted. For example, a patient with back pain can be successfully treated by using points on the legs and arms. This style of treatment is not only convenient but very effective as well.
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