Develops interpersonal and counseling skills relevant for primary care, with a focus on relationship as the foundation of medicine. Emphasizes management and referral of patients with psychiatric and substance use disorders, including emergent conditions and use of behavioral medicine techniques for enhancing regimen adherence and lifestyle change. Discusses general psychological principles and common disorders as defined by the DSM IV criteria, differential diagnosis, pharmacological treatments, emergency treatment, and long-term patient management.

Teaches legal and ethical issues that may arise in the clinical practice setting of a Licensed Acupuncturist, including regulatory compliance, jurisprudence, and peer review. Introduces AIMC culture and vision, professional activism, and the practitioner oath.

Investigates East Asian Medicine and public health as it relates to community health and disease prevention while also increasing student awareness of at-risk populations, drug addictions, communicable diseases, public health alerts, and epidemiology. Includes an overview and practice of the NADA acupuncture protocol.

Features a comprehensive review of Western Clinical Medicine, including differential diagnosis, red flag signs and symptoms, emergency management of patients in the AOM setting, necessary referrals, labs and diagnostic imaging, and Biomedical standards of care. Also prepares students for the Comprehensive Exit Exam, California Acupuncture Licensing Exam (CALE), and NCCAOM certification exams.

A synthesis of information gained in Practice Building and Clinical Practice, Practice Management prepares students to establish and run their own practices according to the statutes and regulations governing the practice of acupuncture in California. Students develop their own business plans and discuss front office set-up, supplies and inventory, patient files, record keeping, patient follow-up, the establishment of referral networks, practicing in interdisciplinary offices and hospitals, malpractice insurance, CPT/ICD-9 coding, billing issues, workers’ compensation, personal injury, sales, and taxes.

This course exposes students to the broad scope of career and practice options in integrative medicine, and prepares them to successfully manage patient care in a variety of settings. Students will identify areas of professional weakness and explore ways to remediate them, as well as develop plans for lifelong learning. The course explores the challenges and opportunities the integrative practitioner faces in delivering and coordinating healthcare within various systems, providing collaborative care and communicating effectively with other health care practitioners. Students will practice an array of skills important to patient education, community outreach, career development and collaborative care, such as public speaking, case presentations, report writing, creating and maintaining a referral network and inter- professional communication.