Ensuring A Patient-Centered Approach to Care
Some medical outcomes are inadequate, not because appropriate technical interventions are lacking, but because conceptual thinking is insufficient. Power, no matter who has it, does not confer wisdom. If the cause of disease is understood as imbalance, then the goal of treatment is to recover balance. To understand East Asian medicine, the concept of balance is essential. The objective is to formulate a picture of health and distorted functional patterns rather than name diseases related to a single cause. Life is about the dynamic, constantly shifting relationship of one functional system with another, always within the context of the whole system. Problems are resolved through methods of complementarity.(1)
A majority of patient-centered care gaps may be attributed to your not receiving an aspect of the care you want.(2) How do we ensure you are able to be proactive in managing your well-being and increase the likelihood of your healthcare needs being met? Acupuncture is one intervention utilized in East Asian medicine for pain. Its mechanism involves the stimulation of A-delta and C-afferent fibers, triggering the release of endogenous opioids that modulate pain. Imaging studies show acupuncture affects both peripheral and cortical brain regions, influencing sensory and emotional pain processing.(3) Treatment is effective for individuals with chronic musculoskeletal, headache, and osteoarthritis pain.(4) For individuals with needle sensitivity interventions may include practitioner intention, extended patient-provider interaction, acupressure, teishin, shonishin, bodywork, cupping therapy, gua sha, herbal prescription, and lifestyle recommendations. Referral to East Asian medicine is a reasonable option for chronic pain patients or for primary care concerns.
What to expect at your first appointment with a Chinese medicine practitioner?
A first appointment with a Chinese medicine practitioner is holistic. We will take a detailed health history, perform a physical exam, and fully investigate your chief complaint. The physical exam may include pulse reading, tongue examination, palpation, and orthopedic testing specific to your condition. We will discuss a treatment plan with you and may recommend herbal therapy or nutritional counseling. Depending on the complexity of your condition, the initial session may last around 75 minutes. Your follow-up appointments are 60 minutes. May you feel informed and experience shared decision-making.
Kimy is available at NUNM Health Center on Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, and Sat. With your thoughtful contributions, she is better equipped to grow and collaborate.
Some medical outcomes are inadequate, not because appropriate technical interventions are lacking, but because conceptual thinking is insufficient. Power, no matter who has it, does not confer wisdom. If the cause of disease is understood as imbalance, then the goal of treatment is to recover balance. To understand East Asian medicine, the concept of balance is essential. The objective is to formulate a picture of health and distorted functional patterns rather than name diseases related to a single cause. Life is about the dynamic, constantly shifting relationship of one functional system with another, always within the context of the whole system. Problems are resolved through methods of complementarity.(1)
A majority of patient-centered care gaps may be attributed to your not receiving an aspect of the care you want.(2) How do we ensure you are able to be proactive in managing your well-being and increase the likelihood of your healthcare needs being met? Acupuncture is one intervention utilized in East Asian medicine for pain. Its mechanism involves the stimulation of A-delta and C-afferent fibers, triggering the release of endogenous opioids that modulate pain. Imaging studies show acupuncture affects both peripheral and cortical brain regions, influencing sensory and emotional pain processing.(3) Treatment is effective for individuals with chronic musculoskeletal, headache, and osteoarthritis pain.(4) For individuals with needle sensitivity interventions may include practitioner intention, extended patient-provider interaction, acupressure, teishin, shonishin, bodywork, cupping therapy, gua sha, herbal prescription, and lifestyle recommendations. Referral to East Asian medicine is a reasonable option for chronic pain patients or for primary care concerns.
What to expect at your first appointment with a Chinese medicine practitioner?
A first appointment with a Chinese medicine practitioner is holistic. We will take a detailed health history, perform a physical exam, and fully investigate your chief complaint. The physical exam may include pulse reading, tongue examination, palpation, and orthopedic testing specific to your condition. We will discuss a treatment plan with you and may recommend herbal therapy or nutritional counseling. Depending on the complexity of your condition, the initial session may last around 75 minutes. Your follow-up appointments are 60 minutes. May you feel informed and experience shared decision-making.
Kimy is available at NUNM Health Center on Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, and Sat. With your thoughtful contributions, she is better equipped to grow and collaborate.
1. Beinfield H, Korngold, E. Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine. New York: Ballentine Books; 1991.
2. Hobden B, Mansfield E, Freund M, Clapham M, SansonFisher R. Experiences of Patient-Centered Care Among Older-Community Dwelling Australians. Front Public Health. June 2022; 10:912137. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.912137
3. VanderPloeg K, Yi X. Acupuncture in Modern Society. Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies. March 2009; 2 (1):26-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2005-2901(09)60012-1
4. Vickers A, Vertosick E, Lewith G, MacPherson H, Foster N, Sherman K, Irnich D, Witt C, Linde K. Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. Journal of Pain. May 2018; 19 (5):455-474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.00
2. Hobden B, Mansfield E, Freund M, Clapham M, SansonFisher R. Experiences of Patient-Centered Care Among Older-Community Dwelling Australians. Front Public Health. June 2022; 10:912137. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.912137
3. VanderPloeg K, Yi X. Acupuncture in Modern Society. Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies. March 2009; 2 (1):26-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2005-2901(09)60012-1
4. Vickers A, Vertosick E, Lewith G, MacPherson H, Foster N, Sherman K, Irnich D, Witt C, Linde K. Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. Journal of Pain. May 2018; 19 (5):455-474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.00