Click the Links at the end of each summary for the full article.
Practice Management
Power Plays for Profit: Secrets in Plain Sight
October 1, 2024 (Vol. 25, Issue 10)
Peek into the dark side of the multidisciplinary clinic. This is a place where money and influence are king and degrees and status are the fool. The holder of the least degree may earn the biggest check at the end of the month.
Dr. Howard has observed and fallen prey to these practices and is sharing them. These may serve as warnings or a means for the acupuncturist to claim a higher position in the hierarchy of the multidisciplinary clinic. It is also a reminder that appearances are sometimes different Thant reality.
https://acupuncturetoday.com/article/39379-power-plays-for-profit-secrets-in-plain-sight
Many Offices, Many Lessons
February 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 02)
How does one remain working in the unforgiving industry of acupuncture for over two decades in New York? By observing the signs of a practice in distress and acting. Business owners and employers may become so enmeshed in their business they fail to identify the warnings, deny them or even worse, retain their employees through the inevitable collapse.
One lesson. It worthwhile to avoid becoming like the China's proprietary animal- the panda bear- in the acupuncture business. Over specialized and in danger of extinction.
Another lesson. Cash-paying patients place a monetary value on their own health.
https://acupuncturetoday.com/article/32528-many-offices-many-lessons
The Power of the Re-Evaluation
January 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 01)
As a clinic supervisor, Dr. Howard noticed the frustrations experienced by interns with the re-evaluation. The clinic structured care into courses of 10 treatments but apparently failed to train students and patients in this form care. A course of care was often administered by multiple interns, treating the symptoms of the day. When it was time to review the notes re-evaluate patient the intern saw a collection of indiscriminate of “one-and-done” treatments. “Patient centered care” was actually “patient controlled care”. Interns were expected to compare the first treatment to the tenth which were often different.
One clinic Dr. Howard's was employed remedied this situation. If a patient wanted to diverge from the treatment plan and course of treatment then the acupuncturist was required formally discontinue the previous course of treatment and begin an entirely new one.
This article brings attention to when and how to use the the re-evaluation to improve patient management and clinical results.
https://acupuncturetoday.com/article/33777-the-power-of-the-re-evaluation
Thought Provoking
Masters Along the Way
March 2005 (Vol. 06, Issue 03)
This is the first of many articles published. It is an “origin story” sharing experiences of the quest to find a “Master” to learn and explore the spiracle secrets of qi. A few profound experiences with qi in a college laboratory was the impetus for this decade long quest. It continued in China and then acupuncture school. As knowledge and experience was gained the idealization of oriental culture declined. As disillusionment loomed optimism persists.
https://acupuncturetoday.com/article/30040-masters-along-the-way
Where's the Qi in the Clinic?
February 2006 (Vol. 07, Issue 02)
After feeling disappointed with the paucity of practical classes developing qi perception (two) in acupuncture school, Dr. Howard shifts his attention to observing other acupuncturists in practice. Where are the clinicians who are directly aware of the patients qi? Were his profound and clinically practical experiences with qi an aberration? What will become of a profession whose members limit their clinical potential to protocols, products and adopting western science?
https://acupuncturetoday.com/article/30315-wheres-the-qi-in-the-clinic
Are We Too Western?
TCM was created during the early 20th century as the combination of the best of Chinese medicine and Western medicine. But what happens to this balance when TCM clinician's further study Western science without an equal measure of Chinese medical theory? What will happen to the TCM profession?
https://acupuncturetoday.com/article/32225-are-we-too-western
Clinical
The Eleventh Question: “How you doin'?”
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has the “Ten Questions” to guide the initial evaluation but exact questions may differ depending on the author. Brooklyn, New York born and raised Dr. Lawrence Howard adds his “How you doin'?” as the eleventh question to demonstrate that the evaluation begins upon first contact with the patient and through treatment.
Asking patients question regarding symptoms they have difficulty articulating is a challenge. Often patients focus on one aspect of their discomfort while ignoring others and obtaining information compatible with TCM theory is an additional challenge.
“How you doin'” is a subtle humorous miscommunication. Patient's often believe this is the socially obligatory and inane greeting. In truth, its a reminder to the clinician their assessment of the patient has already begun.
https://acupuncturetoday.com/article/32576-the-eleventh-question-how-you-doin
Getting to the Point ... and the Meridian, Too
December 2005 (Vol. 06, Issue 12)
For some, Qi is more than a theoretical concept but others believe that it it “real”. Combine scanning techniques of Therapeutic Touch (TT) and knowledge of structures in TCM to gain a practical appreciation of TCM that is beyond the classroom.
The techniques are simple and useful. Anyone can learn if they can relax and pay attention. As a bonus, the techniques are naturally relaxing which means the clinician may feel more relaxed as they treat the patient.
https://acupuncturetoday.com/article/30256-getting-to-the-point-and-the-meridian-too
Diagnosis by Touching the Qi
November 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 11)
What is a clinician to do after learning to find the “energetic structures” of Chinese acupuncture? Assess it to help determine a diagnosis.
Assessing pulse and tongue are standard but indirect method to understand Qi. It's seems logical to seek to assess it as directly as possible. TCM patterns are essentially manifestations Qi imbalance.
https://acupuncturetoday.com/article/31622-diagnosis-by-touching-the-qi
Palpating for Pain Relief
December 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 12)
Palpating to relieve pain was Inspired by Richard Tan. One notable characteristic of his systems is the ability to develop multiple acupuncture point prescriptions. Unfortunately, his classes lacked a method to select one that was optimal.
Dr. Howard's solution was simple but contrary to convention... test points. He chose to palpate candidate points to find those which are most effective. This method of palpation is atypical because it has elements of assessment and treatment.
This method of palpation is best performed after standard palpation. Patients often find it disconcerting and are sometimes resistant and manipulative because they assume acupuncture is limited to the affected area.
https://acupuncturetoday.com/article/34115-palpating-for-pain-relief
My Patient, My Teacher and Using "The Four Gates"
December 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 12)
The “Four Gates” is a very common acupuncture point combination taught in the United States. Dr. Howard shares some experiences using these points from the energetic perspective of the patient. This helps acupuncturists better understand how this combination works. It also raises questions of the interactions of individual points, combinations and how they interact. This may impact how treatment strategies are developed.
This article shows how acupuncturists may use their direct awareness of the patient's qi, and the patient's subjective experience of qi to administer gentle effective treatments.
https://acupuncturetoday.com/article/32318-my-patient-my-teacher-and-using-the-four-gates