International News
• International Links
  
  State Legislative Activities
• State Affairs Report
  
  National AOM Issues
• Integrator Blog News & Reports - November
• Integrator Blog News & Reports - December
  
  Practice Management
• Bauer Interview
• CAM Services Increased in Hospitals
• Researchers, Writers, Practitioners and the Authors of Perfect Breath
• Understanding the Psychology of Patient Referrals
• SaTerra Vishnu Interview
  
  AAAOM Activities
• AAAOM Conference and Exposition 2008 - Call for Speakers
• AAAOM Welcomes New Board Members and Officers
• AAAOM Seeks Public Member Nominations
• Why Wiki?
• Member Feedback
  
  Links
• Recent Articles about Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
  
  Continuing Education and Events
• Acupuncturists Without Borders: Events
• ACTCM Announcement
• AOMA Announcements
• HealthyChild.com Announcement
• Trudy McAlister Scholarship Fund Awards Two Scholarships
  
  AAAOM Student Organization
• Foundation For Your Future: Forming an AAAOM-SO College Chapter
• SO Portland Post Conference Communications
  
  Products, Services, and Member Savings
• Medfinds.com

Expo 2007 Sponsors:

We extend our gratitude and thanks to our platinum sponsor, The American Acupuncture Council, our gold sponsors, Kan Herb Company and Golden Flower Herbs, and KPC, our conference bag sponsor. Working together, we create a better future for alternative medicine. Much appreciated!

Greetings AOM Members and Colleagues:

Qi-Unity Report: This issue of the Qi-Unity Report offers perspectives from a wide range of AOM voices, including the articles germane to AAAOM practitioner and member concerns on many levels. We are pleased to update you on AAAOM activities, including our Call for Speakers for Expo 2008. Please enjoy the various tools and resources we have included here for the New Year. We’re proud to continue to serve the AOM profession and its continual advancement in 2008!

The AAAOM is interested in your feedback. We invite you to use our General Feedback page to let us know your opinions and insights.

International News

International Links
We have gathered a selection of links to international AOM articles here for your reference. It’s a fine way to keep tabs on AOM trends globally.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/1a.html

State Legislative Activities

State Affairs Report
This month we introduce you to Phranque Wright. He will inform you of recent state developments, including our ongoing communications with State AOM Associations and coordination of national and state activities. The tree of AOM grows along many variegated branches. Wright encourages all of you to consider adding your voices to those collective efforts.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/2a.html

National AOM Issues

Integrator Blog News & Reports - November
As an on-going monthly feature, the Qi-Unity Report continues to feature articles of interest from the Integrator, edited by John Weeks. These November 2007 picks look at a unique Medicaid pilot project in Florida which uses licensed acupuncturists and massage therapists under a Medicaid waiver; an Iowa voter survey which found strong support for licensed CAM practitioners in basic benefits and a dialogue exploring the optimal relationships between the complementary and integrative practitioner community and the natural products industry. Enjoy!

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/3a.html

Integrator Blog News & Reports - December
As an on-going monthly feature, the Qi-Unity Report continues to feature articles of interest from the Integrator, edited by John Weeks. The articles for December each touch on direct developments in acupuncture and Oriental medicine:

• a Ford Motor Company acupuncture pilot
• a unique Medicaid pilot project in Florida which uses licensed acupuncturists and massage therapists under a Medicaid waiver
• a low back pain guideline which includes acupuncture among “non-pharmacological” modalities
• an Iowa voter survey which found strong support for licensed CAM practitioners in basic benefits, and
• an analysis of Wellspace, an integrative clinic which featured LAc services, which went belly up.

Enjoy!

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/3b.html

Practice Management

Bauer Interview
Many of us who practice in the AOM field would like to be able to explain “in plain English” to our patients and potential patients the why and how of acupuncture. Matt Bauer, LAc, has written a book aimed at the general public which addresses this topic. Take a look at the Qi-Unity Report interview with him discussing his book.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/4a.html

CAM Services Increased in Hospitals
According to a report released by the American Hospital Association (AHA), more than a quarter of surveyed hospitals are offering Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) programs to the patients they serve. CAM can include acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, chiropractic, diet and lifestyle changes, herbal medicine, and massage therapy among other types of non-Western treatments. Read more about the scope of this important trend in hospital services.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/4b.html

Researchers, Writers, Practitioners and the Authors of Perfect Breath
Practitioners often find their patients look to them to provide other tools they can build into their approach to health. Health and well-being, together with the zen of being in the moment inform the work of two men who have dedicated themselves to looking at how we breathe. Take a deep breath and read about how Alfred Lee & Don Campbell eventually founded perfectbreath.com.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/4c.html

Understanding the Psychology of Patient Referrals
You know you are a competent and caring practitioner. You treat your patients with respect as well as with the necessary medical procedures. But have you noticed that your patients do not seem to refer you to their family, friends or co-workers? Why is that, you ask? Bill Reddy, LAc, has asked this question and has come up with some answers. Read more about his take on this important aspect of being a successful, and busy, practitioner.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/4d.html

SaTerra Vishnu Interview
SaTerra Vishnu, (DOM, AP), an AOM practitioner in central Florida, has a radio show in which he answers callers’ medical questions with a holistic scope and perspective. By practicing what he preaches and preaching what he practices, he spreads the word on AOM for us all, and urges us to do the same. Find out more about his approach.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/4e.html

AAAOM Activities

AAAOM Conference and Exposition 2008 - Call for Speakers
The AAAOM 2008 Conference brings together AOM health professionals and faculty members from throughout the United States, as well as current fellows and master’s students in AOM programs to share a common interest in innovation and excellence in OM.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/5a.html

AAAOM Welcomes New Board Members and Officers
New Board Members and Officers Elected at the Portland Conference

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/5b.html

AAAOM Seeks Public Member Nominations
Public Member Sought to Serve on the AAAOM Board

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/5c.html

Why Wiki?
What is a wiki? Why does AAAOM have one and how is it used? How can YOU contribute to it? The esteemed IT director of AAAOM shares his answers with us.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/5d.html

Member Feedback
Please use this form to make recommendations for future articles or perhaps to share your thoughts on The Qi-Unity Report.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/5e.html

Links

Recent Articles about Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Every month countless interesting articles, both mainstream and professional, get published on the internet. What you read may surprise you, give you a good idea, or feed your AOM knowledge base in general. Consider using Yahoo alerts or Google alerts to get AOM article links into your inbox.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/6a.html

Continuing Education and Events

Acupuncturists Without Borders: Events
Upcoming CEU classes from AWB

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/7a.html

American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
New Classes Teach Public Benefits of Holistic Medicine

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/7b.html

AOMA Announcements
Become a Licensed Acupuncturist & Herbalist, Southwest Symposium 2008: Bringing Balance Back to Health

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/7c.html

HealthyChild.com Announcement
Become a more confident pediatric practitioner. A series of holistic pediatric seminars in the San Francisco Bay Area will be held in winter and spring, 2008. Check here for more information on these events.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/7d.html

Trudy McAlister Scholarship Fund Awards Two Scholarships
In October of 2005, Trudy McAlister received the Patient of the Year Award from the AAOM for her philanthropic work that led to the establishment of the first national scholarship fund for students of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AOM).

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/7e.html

AAAOM Student Organization

Foundation For Your Future: Forming an AAAOM-SO College Chapter
The AAAOM-SO had a very successful organizational year and is looking forward to the upcoming year. In 2006-2007, the SO formed eight AAAOM-SO college chapters (AAAOM-SOCC) and increased membership from 500 members to 803.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/8a.html

SO Portland Post Conference Comunications
One hundred thirty-eight students attended the conference - a record number that included the ten founding members of the AAAOM Student Organization Council (SOC).

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/8b.html

Products, Services, and Member Savings

Medfinds.com
Medfinds.com now free for health care providers.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/07/12/9a.html

In closing, we continue to seek to improve and expand the quality of the Qi-Unity Report for our members. Every time you receive this report, we expect you to see evidence of our collective strength and ongoing growth as a field. Perhaps you have an idea for an article or would like to write something to share your perspective on an AOM issue? Please do keep in touch: dnewton@aaaomonline.org

As always, we welcome your feedback to improve and enhance this publication and its benefits to you as we continue to galvanize our common interest to rise and meet the marriage of challenges and opportunities that lie ahead!

The AAAOM is interested in your feedback. We invite you to use our General Feedback page to let us know your opinions and insights.

Best Wishes,

Rebekah Christensen, Executive Director

Douglas Newton, Managing Editor