On May 1st, from 3 to 7 p.m., the APA is hosting a screening of the award-winning documentary 9000 Needles, followed by a discussion with the film’s director, Doug Dearth, and a gala reception. The screening and reception will be held at the International House of Philadelphia, 3701 Chestnut Street in West Philadelphia, in its brand-new 350-seat theater.

The documentary is the story of Devin Dearth, a successful businessman, father of 3, and champion body-builder -- and the brother of the filmmaker -- who suffered a devastating stroke and found new hope in a stroke rehabilitation program in Tianjin, China which integrates Western and Traditional Oriental Medicine. His treatments with acupuncture, Chinese herbs, Oriental bodywork techniques, and physical therapy is shown in great detail, and the film is a powerful affirmation of the healing that can happen when everyone works together for the good of the patient.

This is a movie not only for the acupuncturist but also for acupuncture patients, acupuncture students, other health professionals, and for the general public.

This event is being co-sponsored by the Won Institute of Graduate Studies, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the AAMA, Acupuncture For Life, the Lehigh Valley Oriental Medicine Center, Community Acupuncture of Mt. Airy (CAMA), and China Herb Company. If you want to know more about the documentary itself, go to: www.9000Needles.com

To order your tickets on-line using PayPal, click the Buy Now button below. You can purchase tickets for just the movie for $10 online or $15 at the door, or you can purchase tickets that provide 3 PDA points for the screening and discussion. Additionally, a free legislative update will be given after the screening that will also qualify attendees for 1 PDA point.

PDA point tickets are $60 for APA members and $75 for non-members for a total 4 PDA points.

Once you purchase your tickets, your name will be added to our list of attendees, you will not physically receive any tickets. You're welcome to bring a copy of your email receipt with you to the show, but it's not necessary. No on-line tickets will be sold after noon on Saturday, April 30th. After that time, ticket will be sold at the door for $15.00, if any are available.

Also, When you join the APA and attend the screening of 9000 needles, you'll receive coupons worth $160, good towards future purchases at China Herb Company. That's like getting your APA membership for free!

Update:

As of Midnight on May 1st, 2011, tickets are no longer available on the website, but there are still ample tickets available. You can purchase individual movie tickets for $15 at the door, or $60 and $75 PDA Point tickets as well (cash or personal check only). See you at the show!

APA Presents Kiiko Matsumoto in 2011 in New Hope, PA -
Lambertville, NJ Area

Mark Your Calendars Now for 2011
Kiiko Matsumoto
Saturday, July 30 - Sunday, July 31, 2011
14 NCCAOM PDA Points

The 1812 Room
The Lambertville House
Lambertville, NJ

Presented by The Association for Professional Acupuncture in
Pennsylvania

Become a member of APA @ www.acupuncturepa.org

_____________________________________________________

1) Last Spring 2010 the Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Board Ruled that Dry Needling is not presently within scope for LPT.
Working closely with the Pennsylvania State Legislator and Department of State, the APA was able to get a decision within a month. This has to do with the APA's efforts past and present. Our efforts in Pennsylvania have slowly made this state a favorable place to practice acupuncture.

2) The APA has been in contact with the PCA, state legislator, and the Department of State raising the question of Chiropractors advertising with credentialing(like the CCAC) not recognized by the Department of State and saying they do acupuncture.
Since the APA's inquiry, the Professional Compliance Office has sent notice that they are beginning their inquiry. This inquiry is investigating Licensed Chiropractors advertising that they are acupuncturists and practice acupuncture without having the L.Ac. or L.OM. Now we do not know if these individuals are actually needling. They may be using low level laser or other stimulation on the acupuncture points which they are allowed to do. (Then again some may be needling as well) What we do know from websites and press releases is that they are calling themselves acupuncturists and say they are practicing acupuncture and this is our formal complaint.

If you have any press releases or websites of other licesned professionals or not licensed professionals that are advertising that they are practicing acupuncture and are not an L.Ac. or L.OM., please forward them to the APA. We want the public to be safe and not mislead so we will work with the state to do this.

3) The Next Step- HB1764 - Representative Payton of Philadelphia County is our champion in the Houise of Representatives. HB 1764 is presently in the Senate Professional Licensure and Consumer Affairs Committee.


A Note from our Government Liaison Ben Griffith, L.Ac.-
Please review the current language that is in HB 1764. We have been blocked to release the advise and consent language. In its place a provision has been put in our Medical Diagnosis section. This allows for preventative and wellness visits without any need for a medical diagnosis at any time. This is worthwhile language to help our profession practice wholistic medicine. The language acknowledges a person does not need to be sick before self care needs to start.
The bill also has malpractice language. This language is important because if we want to be accepted as professional and responsible, we must accept the liability of being an independent healthcare professional. As an advocate in Harrisburg for more than a decade, acceptance of the medical malpractice language will be a step forward for our overall cause in Harrisburg. This is a point I can bring up in future meetings as our profession doing the responsible thing. All other regulated professions have Insurance requirements. Personally if I have anyone working on my house, or my body for that matter, I want them to be insured in case of error or mistake that causes damage.

The language will now look like this: (The underlined language is what will be added. Everything else is presently in our practice act.)

Section 3.1. Medical diagnosis.
a) Treatment without diagnosis.--Except as provided in subsection (b), an acupuncturist may treat a person's condition without the condition being diagnosed by a licensed physician, dentist or podiatrist for 60 calendar days from the date of the first treatment.

b) reatment with diagnosis.--An acupuncturist may treat a person's condition beyond 60 calendar days from the date of the first treatment if the person obtained a diagnosis of treated condition from a licensed physician, dentist or podiatrist.

c) Exception. –Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply if a person does not present any symptoms of a condition.

Section 3.2. Liability Insurance.

A) An acupuncturist shall obtain and maintain, to the satisfaction of the board, professional liability insurance coverage in the minimum amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence or claims made.
B) Failure to maintain insurance coverage as required under this subsection shall be actionable under section 3 and 5.
C) The board shall accept from an acupuncturist as satisfactory evidence of insurance coverage under this subsection any and all of the following: self-insurance, personally purchased professional liability insurance, professional liability insurance coverage provided by the acupuncturist’s employer or any similar type of coverage.

Realize that this process is never over. Another profession can change the present laws through statutory change. If the NCCAOM Board Certified Acupuncturist does not have a ongoing presence in Harrisburg decisions will be made without our collective opinion.
As I have said all along, our approach in Harrisburg is to accept any ground given then continue after that ground has been signed into law. It has worked so far and we have to keep the momentum going.


Future Ideas for the APA:
1. Organize Consumer Campaign for Choice. If a person has coverage for Physical Therapy and/or Chiropractics and they are not interested in either, then why can't they use the licensed L.Ac. and L.OM?
2. Having official representation in the Department of State. Somehow or Someway.
3. Continued pursuit of Advise and Consent. When we accepted this last compromise, I said, "We'll be back."
4. Statewide direct marketing of Motor Vehicle and Worker Compensation coverage. Getting the word out to the consumer.

with John Chen, Ph.D., Pharm.D., O.M.D., L.Ac.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

The Won Institute

Glenside, PA

Presented by The Association for Professional Acupuncture in Pennsylvania
From Class Instructor, Dr. John Chen

"The practice of medicine is now at a crossroads. There are countless patients being treated simultaneously with both prescription medications and herbal formulas.

"Safety has become a major issue."

Come learn the Latest about prescription medications and herbs. 10% discount on Dr. Chen's texts

Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology

Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications

The topics covered during the “Herb-Drug Interactions” seminar include:

• The fundamental knowledge of pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interactions

• The herbs that are most likely to interact with other drugs/herbs

• Discussion of the most common drug-herb interactions

• Recognizing the herbs with teratogenic properties

• Adjusting dosage of herbs based on age and / or body weight

• Treatment of overdose and adverse reactions

Enter the date of this NCCAOM PDA Point class in your calendars now.

$125 APA (NJAAOM, MAS, ASNY)

$140 non-members

$75 Student Members / $90 Student non-members

For Registration Form and Directions, click this link: Chen 2010 Registration.pdf
Cheryl Price, L.Ac., L.OM.
E-mail APAACU2@aol.com
APA Seminar Coordinator
267.391.6486

Oriental Medicine – Physical Medicine (OM-PM)

A Workshop by Ian Cyrus, MS, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac.

A Modern Definition:

OM-PM is an integrated system of physical medicine combining the best of classical Oriental Medicine and Western Physical and Orthopedic Medicine to arrive at an integrated method of treatment.

OM-PM is taught in four (4) modules:

1. Introduction to OM-PM
2. Dorsal Zone
3. Ventral Zone
4. Lateral Zone
5. Extremities

Learn how to integrate Oriental Medicine Theory, diagnoses, and treatment with Western Physical and Orthopedic Medicine theory, diagnosis (tests such as neurologic exams, manual muscle testing, and Orthopedic tests) and treatment with clinical effectiveness while broadening your knowledge and skills.

Learn to effectively treat Cervicalgia, Radiculopathy, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Lateral/Medial Epicondylitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Rotator Cuff Injuries, Disc Herniations, Buldging Disc, Degenerative Arthritis, Listheses, Low Back Pain, Hip and Pelvic pain, Knee Pain, Ankle Pain, Visceral Agitation resulting in myofascial pain, and a variety of myofascial pain complaints.

For more information and R.S.V.P. visit their website: www.woninstitute.org, call: 215-884-8942 or e-mail: info@woninstitute.org

● Cost: $350.00 (Registration Deadline: October 29, 2010)

● APA Memebers, Won Institute Faculty, Alumni, and Student: $272.00

● Cost after deadline: $370.00

● When : November 6 – 7, 2010, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

● Where: Won Institute
137 S. Easton Road
Glenside, PA 19038

With the Pennsylvania Department of Education's approval, the Won Institute of Graduate Studies is the first academic institution in Pennsylvania to be authorized to offer an Acupuncture Studies program leading to a Master's of Acupuncture (M.Ac.) degree.