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PDA NEWSLETTER: NOVEMBER 2021

In This Issue:

Featured PDA Provider

Featured PDA Provider hero image.

Galina Roofener, MSOM, Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)®, Dipl. C.H. (NCCAOM)®, L.C.H., A.P.

NCCAOM PDA Provider #162984

The PDA Department would like to congratulate PDA Provider and NCCAOM Board-Certified AcupuncturistTM Galina Roofener, as the featured Provider for the November 2021 issue of the PDA Newsletter. Galina propelled the profession forward and created the custom compounded Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine practice model within the Integrative & Lifestyle Medicine Department at the Cleveland Clinic. Galina founded Asian Therapies Academy to offer continuing education courses as a PDA Provider in hopes to narrow the gap and build a bridge between Western and Eastern medicines.

To read full article Click Here.

PDA Provider Satisfaction Survey

NCCAOM PDA Provider Digital Badge and Dashboard.

The PDA Provider Satisfaction Survey was conducted in August 2021. The Provider response rate was very low at 4.2%. Our goal is to raise the response rate in future surveys by increasing our communications with you!

Several sections were offered in the survey, one being a set of 17 questions rated on a Likert Scale of 5 to 1 with 5 being strongly agree and 1 being strongly disagree. As seen below, 15 of the 17 questions were rated between 4.44 and 3.00. Two questions were rated below 3.00 which drew our attention. Question 9 pertains to CE Banking and if participants were asking about it on registration. CE banking is relatively new, and Diplomates are now discovering the benefits of taking a PDA approved course allowing for automatic reporting of points to their NCCAOM® Recertification Transcript. PDA staff will watch this question in future surveys. Question 12 addresses the PDA advertising opportunities for Providers. We currently offer three levels of advertising for our Providers, and we are assessing other ways to increase approved PDA course marketing opportunities. Providers rated the three suggestions below:

82.61% Course flyer to be distributed to Diplomates
69.57% Course advertisement on NCCAOM social media channels
65.22% Course promotional advertisement in the NCCAOM Diplomate Newsletter

More news to follow soon on implementing these marketing suggestions!

PDA Survey Question Weighted Average
1. On the NCCAOM website, the PDA Provider Home Page has useful information. 4.11
2. The Provider online management system meets my needs in monitoring my continuing education course(s). 3.82
3. Being a PDA Provider promotes attendance in my approved course(s). 3.79
4. My PDA Provider online account is easy to access. 4.19
5. The PDA online course application process is straightforward. 3.81
6. The different course type requirements are easy to understand. 3.57
7. The PDA Certificate online distribution system is user friendly. 3.53
8. The PDA Certificate online distribution system has saved me time. 3.32
9. Participants ask for CE Banking when inquiring about my PDA approved course(s). 2.45
10. I promote my NCCAOM PDA Providership by utilizing the PDA Provider Digital Badge. 3.35
11. I understand how to link the URL to my PDA Provider Digital Badge. 3.08
12. PDA advertising opportunities are a valuable benefit in marketing my approved courses(s). 2.86
13. The NCCAOM PDA Newsletter has increased Provider communication. 3.00
14. The NCCAOM PDA Newsletter provides useful information. 3.31
15. I receive the help I need from the NCCAOM PDA staff. 3.84
16. The NCCAOM PDA Provider Interview was worth the time to learn the online management system. 3.74
17. I will continue to apply for NCCAOM PDA points for my course(s) in the future. 4.44

Results of other survey questions:

“I also have my course(s) approved by state acupuncture boards.”

No surprise in the responses as California and Florida only accept their own CEUs for relicensing.

PDA-Providers-by-State-Graph

“I also have my course(s) approved by other professional organizations.”

It is interesting to see the variety of professional organizations and nations that accept acupuncture and herbal medicine courses.

Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
National Association for Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)
New York State Education Department (NYSED)
Marriage & Family Therapists (MFT)
Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
California Acupuncture Board (CAB)
Both Australian and New Zealand Bodies
Oregon Board of Naturopathic Medicine
Logan Chiropractic College
Nutrition Therapy Association
Health & Wellness Coaching
Registered Dietitian
Licensed Counselors

Call for Courses – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

NCCAOM® DEI Statement

NCCAOM DEI-Statement

The NCCAOM and the ASA partnered to address issues of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within the acupuncture and herbal profession. The NCCAOM/ASA Acupuncture Medicine Cultural Competency Taskforce was formed, and they developed the Cultural Competency Self-Assessment which provides an avenue for practitioners to determine their level of understanding and performance within DEI. The self-assessment includes definitions and proficiencies.

Within the proficiencies are knowledge, skills, and awareness which are the key topics for a DEI course.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AWARENESS
Definitions: race, ethnicity, culture Engaged Value diversity
Beliefs, attitudes, values, practices Adaptive Know yourself
Cross-cultural communication Group differences Share your culture
Importance of differences Diverse communities Challenge stereotypes
Historical & ancestral differences Institutional cultural differences Culture affects judgement
Recognize biases: self & others Medical decision-making Privileges
Assessing appropriate behavior Social justice issues
Social determinants of health
Language
Environment

The NCCAOM/ASA Taskforce also provides a Cultural Competency Resource Guide that is jam packed with relevant resources for those Providers who are interested in further studying diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Acupuncture Medicine Cultural Competency Taskforce: Cultural Competency Self-Assessment. American Society for Acupuncturists, www.asacu.org.

Call for Courses – Permanent NCCAOM Reinstatement Route

To accommodate terminated Diplomates, the NCCAOM will launch the permanent NCCAOM® Reinstatement Route to NCCAOM Certification on July 1, 2022. The applicants will be required to submit documentation of maintenance of competencies (MOC) during the terminated period: Sixty (60) PDAs/CEUs are required for each four-year NCCAOM recertification cycle missed. All PDAs/CEUs must be earned as coursework completed in a classroom or e-learning environment in the NCCAOM Recertification’s Core Competency Section(s)*.

Can you help by providing the applicants relevant and up-to-date courses for today’s healthcare environment?

There is an increased need for PDA approved courses in the following areas:

*Mandatory Core Competency Subject Areas:
(Click subjects below for details)

AOM:

AOM is the theory and foundation of Oriental medicine including diagnosis, treatment, patient management and education, medical qigong, and nutrition.

Biomedicine:

Biomedicine is the established and evolving clinically relevant western medicine and its application to AOM patient care.

  1. Clinical Application of Biomedical Sciences.
  2. Patient History and Physical Examination.
  3. Clinical Assessment Process.
  4. Clinical Decision-Making and Standard of Care.
  5. Office Safety and Professional Responsibilities.
  6. Pharmaceuticals and supplements.
  7. Interpretation of clinical reports.
  8. Evidence-based practice to improve AOM medical treatments.

Patient Communication:

Effective information exchange using active listening skills and
verbal/non-verbal communication.

  1. Professional communication with patients, families, caregivers, and other healthcare professionals.
  2. Patient counseling & lifestyle intervention.
  3. Compassionate care for patients.
  4. Practice in an integrative care setting.
  5. Patient referral.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance:

Legal aspects of treatments in practice.

  1. Federal:
    • Regulatory compliance (HIPAA, CDC, OSHA, etc.).
    • Professional liability.
    • Documentation and reporting requirements.
  2. State:
    • Rules & Regulations.
    • Scope of Practice.
    • Documentation and reporting requirements.

Safety:

Herbal Safety Professional Safety
Knowledge and skills in the safe handling and use of Chinese herbs..

  1. Regulatory agencies and requirements.
  2. Documentation and reporting.
  3. Equipment and calibration.
  4. Compounding.
  5. Cautions and contraindications (condition-dependent, incompatibility).
  6. Labeling & dispensing (lot numbers, expiration dates and procedures).
  7. Management & storage.
  8. Toxicity.
  9. Herb-drug interactions & potential adverse effects.
 Legal aspects of treatments in practice.

  1. Federal and state requirements (OSHA, CDC, JACHO, State Board of Health)
  2. Pathogens:
    • Definition-infectious agent (micro-organism) that causes disease in host.
    • Types (viral, bacterial, prion, fungus, protozoan).
    • Routes or pathways of transmission (air, blood, soil).
  3. Communicable and infectious diseases (Hepatitis, HIV, MRSA, Ebola, etc.)
  4. Infection Control
    • Universal precautions.
    • Personal protective equipment (PPE).
    • Sterilization techniques.
    • Medical waste management (Bio-hazardous).
  5. Clean needle protocols – see CNT Manual
  6. Patient Safety
    • Equipment and techniques (lamps, tools [qua sha, cups], instruments).
    • First aid stations.
    • Documentation and reporting.
  7. Facility Safety
    • ADA accommodations.
    • Emergencies
      1. Plans and procedures.
      2. Patient assistance.
      3. Staff training.
    • Staff competence and training.

Ethics:

Patient Ethics Professional Ethics
  1. Respect rights and dignity.
  2. Non-discrimination.
  3. Patient’s right to treatment.
  4. Informed consent.
  5. Confidentiality: HIPPA & patient information.
  6. Boundaries and relationships.
  7. State scope of practice.
  8. Patient referrals.
  9. Sexual contact.
  1. Standards of the profession.
  2. Hierarchical relationships.
  3. Accurate and truthful information.
  4. Change in professional status.
  5. Patient relationship power differential.
  6. National and state regulatory policies.
  7. Respect of practitioners & other medical professions.
  8. Ethical business practices.
  9. Insurance billing & coding.
Public Ethics
  1. Comply with state laws.
  2. Truthful information and advertising.
  3. Credentials and designations.
  4. Efficacy in treatment outcomes.
  5. State regulatory reporting.

AHM Profession-Wide Name Change

Person working at desk with many files and papers.

In light of the continued efforts to work within diversity, equity and inclusion, the NCCAOM has developed a Statement on the Term Oriental Medicine as we begin the process of changing organizational names within the acupuncture and herbal medicine profession. Such name changes require external and internal coordination across all levels of the AHM profession, the government, as well as with the public.

The NCCAOM/ASA Acupuncture Medicine Cultural Competency Taskforce is working to explore the names of our field through the lens of history, cultural humility, and advocacy. The Taskforce is inviting the profession (practitioners, students, teachers, administrators, institutions, vendors, etc.) to get involved in this endeavor. We encourage your active participation in the profession-wide survey that is scheduled to be sent in the coming weeks. Below are the planned events to gather everyone’s preference for the new AHM professional name.

  • October 24, 2021 NCCAOM/ASA Townhall Meeting: The history of the AHM profession name change since 1982. We encourage you to watch the recording to learn the AHM history in the United States.
  • NCCAOM/ASA AHM Profession-Wide Name Change Survey: Coming in November
  • Acupuncture Today article –
  • Based on survey results and overall preference for the name change, the NCCAOM/ASA Acupuncture Medicine Cultural Competency Taskforce will announce the preferred name for the profession at the New Year.

Special Announcement:

The NCCAOM PDA Newsletter is moving to Spring & Fall issues in 2022.

PDA Question of the Quarter

November Winner: Cynthia Neipris , Provider #46 of Pacific Center for Lifelong Learning

Question: Where is the PDA Handbook found on the NCCAOM website?

The answers:

1.) PDA Provider Resources Page.

2.) Under ‘Education’ tab, click ‘PDA Providers Home’, under Quick Links

Congratulations, Cynthia!

November Question:  

Where do you find and download your NCCAOM PDA Provider Digital Badge? 

Enter a raffle drawing for a chance to win a free spot in the new NCCAOM® PDA Course Highlights by answering the “PDA Question of the Quarter”:

Submit Your Entry Here

Hint: All answers to the PDA Question of the Quarter can be found on the NCCAOM website.

Did You Know?

Currently there are 20,400 active national board-certified Diplomates.
Since its inception in 1982, NCCAOM has issued 34,600 NCCAOM Certifications.

Find an approved course in the NCCAOM PDA Search Engine!

A Reading Resource

Glossary of Bias Terms

article, Washington University in St. Louis.

6 Tips for Creating an Effective and Meaningful DEI Training Program

article, LRN Perspectives.