Continuing Education: Summary and Recommendation
Little Hover Commission 2004
Regulation of Acupuncture: A Complementary Therapy Framework
Summary
Given the dramatic rise in educational standards, policy-makers and the Acupuncture Board cannot assume that the experience of practitioners alone is protecting the public. The State has reasonable options for ensuring that all practitioners are developing the knowledge skills and abilities that are necessary to protect patients.
Recommendation 3: The Governor and the Legislature should reallocate - and consider increasing the number of - continuing education hours required of currently licensed practitioners as a mechanism to update patient safety requirements.
The law should:
- Specify courses. The Acupuncture Board should identify the coursework necessary to keep practitioners current on "red flag" conditions, emergency procedures, emerging infectious diseases that require referral, exclusive use of single-use disposable needles, other patient safety issues, such as cancer treatment, and how to communicate effectively with Western practitioners.
- Require examination. The State should require testing for material related to patient safety.