Program Goals Graduates of the MAc and MAcCHM programs at CSTCM will:
1. accurately formulate comprehensive treatment plans based on differential diagnoses utilizing acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. 1.P-G
2. be technically competent in applying adjunctive therapies including tui na, moxibustion, cupping, auricular therapy, and diet and lifestyle principles. 2.P-G
3. be knowledgeable and have a fundamental understanding of the body from the biomedical perspective and identify conditions requiring referral to other healthcare providers when necessary. 3.P-G
4. communicate professionally and knowledgeably with their patients, other healthcare providers and their community about the efficacy, safety and principles of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. 4.P-G
5. understand the ethical and legal requirements of the acupuncture and Chinese Medicine profession and enter the profession with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide compassionate, ethical and professional services to their communities. 5.P-G
6. be assets to the larger community of Chinese medicine practitioners, supporting state, national and international organizations that promote the practice and education of Chinese Medicine. 6.P-G
Program Learning Outcomes: Graduates of the CSTCM MAc and MAcCHM Programs will be able to:
1. make accurate Chinese Medicine assessment, differential diagnosis/es, 1.PLO
2. skillfully apply appropriate treatment principles and treatment plans 2.PLO
3. competently provide acupuncture, cupping, electro-stimulation, moxibustion, tui-na, Chinese Medicine diet, exercise, meditation, and lifestyle recommendations and (MAcCHM Program) Chinese Herbal Medicine. 3.PLO
4. understand biomedical principles, assessment and diagnostic methods to make appropriate referrals for health care. 4.PLO
5. communicate professionally about Chinese Medicine to patients, the community and health care providers. 5.PLO
6. understand and apply legal, ethical, and business principles and standards to the practice of Chinese Medicine in a variety of care settings. 6.PLO
7. demonstrate knowledge of multiple practice and business models. 7.PLO
8. develop practice policies and procedures and create business and marketing plans that will support a successful solo or group practice. 8.PLO
9. display ethical, compassionate, and professional conduct with patients and peers. 9.PLO
10. value continued growth and development in Chinese Medicine knowledge and skills. 10.PLO
11. be inspired to participate in state and national professional organizations and promote the ongoing development of Chinese Medicine. 11.PLO
Professional Doctorate (PD) Learning Outcomes: include all the master’s degree program learning outcomes and PD graduate will be able to:
1. Include and integrate Chinese Medicine with current research and evidence informed practices for patient care. 1.PD-PLO
2. provide quality Chinese Medicine patient care within collaborative and integrative settings. 2.PD-PLO
3. communicate effectively with patients and other health professionals as an independent practitioner and as part of a collaborative, integrative and interdisciplinary team of practitioners. 3.PD-PLO
4. develop a personal professional development plan that ensures continuing professional growth and development for the benefit of the practitioner, the profession, patients, and the health care community 4.PD-PLO
ACAHM COMPREHENSIVE STANDARDS AND CRITERIA
STANDARD 7: PROGRAM OF STUDY
Patient Care Domain 1: FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE
Master’s Level Competencies
A. The student must demonstrate the ability to acquire and utilize the knowledge of basic principles of East Asian medicine (EAM), modes of diagnosis, and treatment strategies in the care of patients.
Advanced Practice Doctoral Level Competencies
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
A. make and defend judgments based on comprehensive, in-depth knowledge of EAM principles, modes of diagnosis, and treatment strategies in the care of patients.
B. interpret historical cultural perspectives and use them to clarify essential concepts represented in the classical texts of EAM.
C. demonstrate relevant Chinese language terminology skills sufficient to clarify essential concepts represented in the classical texts of EAM.
Patient Care Domain 2: CRITICAL THINKING/PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT
Master’s Level Competencies
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
A. engage in good judgment that relies on knowledge and experience, is sensitive to context, and is self-correcting.
B. apply critical thinking skills, professional judgment, and cultural sensitivity to patient health care concerns.
C. document and support treatment choices.
D. identify, locate, and assess appropriate sources of information to support professional judgment and the analysis of clinical courses of action.
Patient Care Domain 3: HISTORY TAKING AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
Master’s Level Competencies
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
A. provide a comfortable, safe environment for history taking and the patient examination.
B. conduct and appropriately document a health history and a relevant physical examination.
C. recognize clinical signs and symptoms that warrant referral to, or collaborative care with, other health professionals.
Patient Care Domain 4: EAST ASIAN MEDICINE-BASED DIAGNOSIS
Master’s Level Competencies
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
A. collect and organize relevant data to facilitate the development of an East Asian medicine based diagnosis.
B. access relevant resources such as classical and modern literature, research literature, and clinical experience in arriving at an East Asian medicine-based diagnosis.
C. formulate an East Asian medicine-based diagnosis pursuant to EAM principles and theory.
D. describe the biomedical pathophysiological process responsible for the patient’s clinical presentation.
E. interpret relevant findings from laboratory tests, diagnostic imaging tests, and objective and subjective data from the assessment of the patient to formulate a diagnosis and treatment plan pursuant to East Asian medicine principles and theory.
F. explain the subjective and objective findings that warrant consultation with or referral to other health care providers.
Advanced Practice Doctoral Level Competencies
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
A. apply all master’s-level professional competencies of Patient Care Domain 4: East Asian Medicine-Based Diagnosis in core and concentration areas with competence that is qualitatively advanced beyond entry-level.
B. appraise and apply in-depth knowledge of EAM principles and theory to formulate a comprehensive East Asian medicine-based diagnosis.
Patient Care Domain 5: CASE MANAGEMENT
Master’s Level Competencies
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
A. describe the role of the patient in successful treatment outcomes.
B. demonstrate awareness of and familiarity with cultural competency, and how cultural issues influence an East Asian medical treatment and case management.
C. employ a comprehensive process for the care of patients.
D. collaborate with the patient to develop short, medium, and long-term treatment plans.
E. modify plans consistent with changes in the patient’s condition.
F. assess patient outcomes.
G. communicate with other health care providers to determine an appropriate plan of care.
H. manage inappropriate patient behavior.
J. educate patients about behaviors and lifestyle choices that create a balanced life and promote health and wellness.
K. provide a report of findings and health care plan to the patient.
L. create reports and professional correspondence relevant to the care of patients.
M. identify a range of referral resources and the modalities they employ.
N. use information systems in case management.
Patient Care Domain 6: EAST ASIAN MEDICINE-BASED TREATMENT
Master’s Level Competencies
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
A. explain the fundamental theory underlying the application of East Asian medicine-based treatment.
B. describe the principles and methods of East Asian medicine-based treatment and its related clinical procedures.
C. accurately and appropriately locate acupuncture points. (not relevant to Chinese herbal medicine programs)
D. articulate acupuncture point functions and the decision-making process for point selection. (not relevant to Chinese herbal medicine programs)
E. administer East Asian medicine-based treatment and use treatment equipment consistent with relevant recognized safety guidelines, including the best practices for acupuncture needles safety and related procedures described in the Clean Needle Technique (CNT) Manual (see CCAHM Clean Needle Technique Manual specifically referenced and incorporated herein), and OSHA protocols.
F. recognize potential adverse events for each clinical procedure, including, but not limited to, healthcare associated infections.
G. describe safety considerations and guidelines to prevent adverse events for each clinical procedure.
H. describe state and federal regulations relevant to the practice of acupuncture and herbal medicine, if applicable, including scope of practice, vendor compliance with manufacturing standards, and appropriate mechanisms for the reporting of serious adverse events.
J. describe and demonstrate appropriate patient draping and positioning to optimize treatment and maintain the patient’s dignity.
K. employ health, cleanliness, and safety practices to reduce transmission of diseases through hygienic methods.
L. describe and employ appropriate cleaning and pathogen reduction techniques in healthcare and professional practice locations.
M. recognize ethical issues and evaluate appropriate actions when administering treatment.
N. For programs with Chinese herbal medicine specialization and Chinese herbal medicine certificate programs, in addition to the above competencies, the student must:
1. describe the fundamental theory underlying the use of herbs, natural products and formulations.
2. accurately articulate properties and functions of herbs and natural products in the materia medica.
3. recognize obsolete or restricted herbs and natural products (i.e., endangered species, restricted or toxic substances) and identify appropriate alternatives for said substances.
4. accurately articulate properties, functions, principles, dosages and ingredients of traditional formulations.
5. compose and revise formulations of appropriately dosed herbs and natural products based on traditional practice and patient assessment.
6. safely and effectively administer herbs and natural products, formulations, and prepared products (i.e., dietary supplements).
7. evaluate the efficacy of appropriately administered herbs, natural products, and formulations through the identification and review of current research.
8. recall elementary concepts of botany and common chemical constituents of herbs and natural products.
9. appraise potential toxicity, side effects, contraindications, and pharmaceutical interactions for herbs and natural products, formulas and prepared products.
10. describe state and federal regulations relevant to the practice of East Asian medicine, including scope of practice, vendor compliance with manufacturing standards, and appropriate mechanisms for the reporting of serious adverse events.
11. describe the various forms of formulation preparation.
12. describe dispensary practices that provide quality assurance, including product storage, facility management, preparation practices, product tracking, and record keeping,
13. recognize ethical issues and evaluate appropriate actions when administering herbs and natural products.
Advanced Practice Doctoral Competencies
The student must demonstrate the ability to administer East Asian medicine-based treatment, including Chinese herbal medicine as applicable, in core and concentration areas with competence that is qualitatively advanced beyond entry-level.
Patient Care Domain 7: EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Master’s Level Competencies
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
A. identify subjective and objective findings that indicate urgent referral.
B. identify risk factors and findings that suggest medical conditions requiring referral.
C. implement key emergency first-aid procedures, including CPR.
D. describe the legal implications of inappropriate emergency management.
E. describe correct emergency management documentation and follow-up procedures.
F. develop an emergency management plan for private office and multi-disciplinary settings.
Patient Care Domain 8: ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC STUDIES
Professional and Advanced Practice Doctoral Level Competencies
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
A. describe the relevant laws and regulations, including scope of practice, that may govern or limit conducting diagnostic studies.
B. explain the clinical indications, risks, and benefits for diagnostic procedures.
C. outline the principles and applications of equipment utilized for diagnostic imaging, laboratory, and other relevant diagnostic tools.
D. assess written diagnostic reports, including the range of values that distinguish normal from abnormal findings, as relevant to patient care and communication with other health care providers.
E. review findings from relevant diagnostic studies with objective and subjective findings from the assessment of the patient.
F. communicate effectively with other health care providers regarding the results of diagnostic studies.
SYSTEMS-BASED MEDICINE COMPETENCIES
Definitions and Rationale
Systems-based medicine is the description of the organization, practice, and components of medicine in terms of the whole medical system, including medical theories, standards of care, regulatory requirements, business practices, and policy. Medical systems are described in terms of the relationship between individuals and whole systems. Individual and collective systems may be expressed in terms of: self-and-other, self-and-collective, and between collectives. More specifically, the systems view may be seen in terms of medical theories, but also in the areas of business practices and policy development. Acupuncture practitioners must be able to deliver and coordinate care within healthcare systems, provide collaborative care such as that found in team-based and multi-disciplinary health care settings, and engage other health care professionals regarding the appropriate use of East Asian medicine. Note that a critical component of East Asian medical practice in integrative practice settings includes the competencies necessary to educate other health care professionals regarding the appropriate use of East Asian medicine. This requires practitioners to possess the attitudes, knowledge, and skills to communicate with other health care providers in appropriate, readily understandable terms.
Systems-Based Medicine Domain 1: EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION
Master’s Level Competencies
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
A. summarize the applicability of East Asian medicine to diseases and syndromes in the biomedical model.
B. communicate with other health care professionals in their own terms.
C. demonstrate knowledge of other health care disciplines.
D. discuss East Asian medicine in terms of relevant scientific theories.
E. articulate expected clinical outcomes of East Asian medicine from a biomedical perspective.
F. translate, explain and discuss East Asian medical terminology for effective communication.
G. demonstrate East Asian medical techniques and discuss their relevance in multi-disciplinary settings.
H. access relevant and appropriate information from a wide variety of sources to support the education of colleagues.
J. describe and discuss the clinical scope of East Asian medicine in an informed, authoritative, and appropriate manner.
Systems-Based Medicine Domain 2: PATIENT CARE SYSTEMS
Professional Doctoral Level Competencies
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
A. guide a patient into health care systems, e.g., homeless care, elder care, and family services.
B. identify, describe, and assess possible solutions to healthcare disparities due to socioeconomic factors.
C. describe the role of acupuncture professionals within current health care systems and the impact of that role on patient care.
D. employ patient care in the context of relevant health care systems.
E. differentiate between models of care and treatment modalities.
Systems-Based Medicine Domain 3: COLLABORATIVE CARE
Professional and Advanced Practice Doctoral Level Competencies
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
A. recognize the impact that organizational culture and established systems have on patient care.
B. interact appropriately and skillfully with other members of the health care team and within that health care system.
C. describe the prevailing and emerging organization, structure, and responsibilities of the health care team.
D. discuss, in the appropriate context, the patient’s condition using vocabulary and concepts common to other members of the health care team.
E. articulate the importance of supporting and participating in professional activities and organizations.
F. compare and contrast common medical models.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMPETENCIES
Definitions and Rationale
Professional development is a process for continued development of individual practitioners that enables them to expand their knowledge base and fulfill their potential to better meet the needs of patients. Scholarship is a systematic pursuit of a topic in the form of an objective, rational inquiry that involves critical analysis.
Evidence-based medicine is the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients0F1. Evidence-based medicine includes sophisticated methods of evidence collection, analysis, and integration. Evidence informed practice is based on the principle that the development and implementation of interventions is informed by the most current, relevant, and reliable evidence about the effectiveness. Acupuncture practitioners should understand the purpose and process of evidence-based medicine and evidence-informed practice, and be able to appraise and apply the evidence, then reflect on their practice. Scholarly research in source and contemporary works in the field of East Asian medicine constitutes an important evidentiary resource in support of clinical practice.
Acupuncture practitioners must have a comprehensive knowledge of ethics and practice management to succeed in professional practice.
Professional Development Domain 1: EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION
Master’s Level Competencies
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
A. apply data and information concerning confidentiality and HIPAA, informed consent, scope of practice, professional conduct, malpractice and liability insurance, requirements of third party payers, OSHA, professional development, other applicable legal standards to improve practice management and records management systems.
B. develop risk management and quality assurance programs.
C. practice ethically and behave with integrity in professional settings.
D. articulate the strengths and weaknesses of multiple practice and business models, and create and implement:
1. practice/office policies and procedures.
2. business/professional plans designed to support success in professional practice.
3. marketing/outreach plans designed to support success in professional practice.
E. describe and apply a variety of billing and collection systems.
F. demonstrate use of electronic health records and electronic medical records systems.
Professional Development Domain 2: FORMULATING AND IMPLEMENTING PLANS FOR INDIVIDUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Professional Doctoral Level Competencies
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
A. identify and remediate areas of professional weakness.
B. propose improvement methods in the analysis of practice for the purpose of developing a program of learning on a lifelong basis.
C. identify sources of ongoing professional development, education, and research, both classical and contemporary.
D. describe emerging technology systems for information access and management.
E. assess professional development needs and use available professional development resources to respond to changes in the local, state, regional, and national health care environment.
Professional Development Domain 3: INCORPORATING SCHOLARSHIP, RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE/EVIDENCE-INFORMED PRACTICE INTO PATIENT CARE
Professional and Advanced Practice Doctoral Level Competencies
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
A. describe evidence-based medicine and evidence-informed practice; and differentiate between the two.
B. describe data collection methods to facilitate information dissemination in the field.
C. assess research, including hypothesis, design, and methods, both qualitative and quantitative.
D. describe the role and purposes of outcomes research.
E. modify treatment plans and protocols using new information from current quantitative and qualitative research.
F. use evidence-based medicine and/or evidence-informed practice to improve the patient care process.