International News

• Canadian Health Regulations Act Bill C-51 - is TCM at risk?
• Smith Letter Reprint
• International Links for December, 2008

• Colorado Legislative Update

National AOM Issues

• Healthcare Trends and the American Way
• Integrator Blog News & Reports

• NIH News

AAAOM Activities

• Notice of Annual General Meeting of Members
• AAAOM Conference and Exposition 2009

• December National Links

Continuing Education and Events

• Health Alliance Plan (HAP): Growing list of wellness services available to seniors

• AAAOM-SO Announces Scholarship Program

• Dear Prospective Advertiser:

Greetings AOM Members and Colleagues:

The onset of winter means the world changes its colors. It is a time for reflection, when nature ritualizes a partial retreat, protecting seeds underground, and trees slough off their leaves. Vast regions of the country turn white; snow-pack later becomes freshets merging into streams and rivers that, in turn, support us. The AOM profession does not hibernate in winter, of course, but continues to serve the public: restoring wholeness; keeping the energy moving; stirring the pot and tending the fire.

“Another Qi-Unity Report already?” you may exclaim. Time is also a river, and so we all are swimmers. Another month closes, another year under our feet. It has been a time filled with challenge and promise on so many levels for so many people. Even as the economy moves through turbulence, and our country remains engaged in wars abroad, hope for new beginnings does not feel so distant—but rather concrete, palpable, and forthcoming.

Like fractal geometry where a part seems to contain the whole, promising trends that will further the mainstream traction, AOM continues to enjoy and expand. “Battlefield acupuncture” follows last month’s report from a military turn toward AOM to treat post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As the military looks to AOM to address suffering in its ranks, can the broader civilian public be far behind?

Jean-Paul Thuot, a practitioner in British Columbia, reviews C51, a current bill in Canada that could serve as a model for herbal medicine regulation in the U.S. We reprint a letter from NCCAOM’s Betsy Smith that may be useful for those seeking clarification on credentialing matters. Additionally, C. I. Roman anticipates and sketches AOM advancement potential in the U.S.

Nancy Bilello checks in from Colorado on recent legislative happenings in that state. John Weeks sends us the latest from the Integrator Blog. The AAAOM-SO announces the Scholar Exhibition, an innovative vision on how students can contribute to the AOM profession and compete for scholarship money. Additionally we provide a look at coming events for the AAAOM Spring Conference, our fastidiously combed national and international links to articles germane to the profession, and so much more!

Look to the Qi-Unity Report for information on the issues that affect your life and practice in AOM.

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

Canadian Health Regulations Act Bill C-51 - is TCM at risk?

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/08/12/1a.html

Smith Letter Reprint
The following letter explains the process by which a person from another country who wishes to practice in the US may seek licensure to do so. We reprint this recent email on the subject from Betsy Smith, NCCAOM, with permission from NCCAOM, as instructive since it may be useful to others facing the challenges of entering the acupuncture profession in the US.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/08/12/1b.html

Links to International AOM Articles
Check out these links to recent international AOM articles.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/08/12/1c.html

State Legislative Activities

Colorado Legislative Update
Nancy Bilello, LAc, RNJ, president and legislative chair of the Acupuncture Association of Colorado, reports on the latest from that state.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/08/12/2a.html

National AOM Issues

Healthcare Trends and the American Way
C. I. Roman envisions AOM prospects under the forthcoming Obama administration.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/08/12/3a.html

Integrator Blog News & Reports
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 include:

• Action steps you can take to participate in fostering integrative care in the Obama era.
• Ways that the concept of wellness is advancing, from accrediting standards to policy leadership.
• A look at the Beijing declaration on traditional world medicines and their role in primary care.
• An Integrator “Round-up” of recent news, including a new insurance PPO that includes LAcs, and a Tai Sophia program with nurses.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/08/12/3b.html

Practice Management

NIH News
The NIH publishes results of a recent CAM use survey.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/08/12/4a.html

AAAOM Activities

Notice of Annual General Meeting of Members

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/08/12/5a.html

AAAOM Conference and Exposition 2009

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/08/12/5b.html

Links

December Links
Here you will find a set of links to various AOM articles of note found on the web.

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/08/12/6a.html

Continuing Education and Events

Health Alliance Plan (HAP): Growing list of wellness services available to seniors

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/08/12/7a.html

AAAOM Student Organization

AAAOM-SO Announces Scholarship Program

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/08/12/8a.html

Products, Services, and Member Savings

Dear Prospective Advertiser:

http://www.aaaomonline.info/qiunity/08/12/9a.html

In closing,

As always, your feedback serves as a useful lens through which we may look at how well we are serving our members. Please take a moment to express your thoughts to us.

General Feedback

In Health,

Rebekah Christensen, Executive Director

Douglas Newton, Managing Editor