American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine

455 Arkansas StreetSan Francisco, CA 94107

415.282.7600

Community Acupuncture Project CAP

• Expand acupuncture services to the greater San Francisco community

• Provide acupuncture free of charge when-ever possible

• Provide expanded health care choices to underserved populations

• Expose medical community to the benefits of acupuncture and Chinese medicine

• Expose ACTCM student interns to community medicine settings

Goals of the project:

Traditional Chinese Medicine: 3000 years of

Primary Health Care

• Primary therapeutic tools• Acupuncture & moxabustion• Herbal medicine• Therapeutic Tui Na massage

TCM: 3000 years of Primary Health Care

• Additional skill set• Dietary therapy• Lifestyle counseling• Self care with Tai Chi Chuan and

Qi Gong• Home care through herbal

medicine education

Elements for Success:Incorporating Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine

into Clinical Settings• Define the target audience of your program

• Specific populations • Specific diseases & conditions

• Define goals & projected outcomes• How many units of service, unduplicated clients

• Define the specifics of treatment• Drop-in auricular acupuncture therapy• By appointment, one-on-one acupuncture treatment

• Determine interface strategy with existing care providers

Elements for Success:Incorporating Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine

into Clinical Settings• Define patient access avenues

• Self referral by patients• Referrals by existing care providers

• Marketing your new services• Be specific to your target audience

• Define & measure objectives• Outcome Objectives• Process Objectives

Elements for Success:Incorporating Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine

into Clinical Settings

• Implement Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)

• Cultural Competency• Training• Standards of Care• Data Compliance• Quality Assurance

• Budget properly• Be realistic & conservative

Current CAP Clinic Locations• Haight Ashbury Free

Medical Clinic– First free medical clinic of

it’s kind, founded in 1967.– Provides complete, free,

comprehensive outpatient medical care

– Acupuncture provided twice weekly

– Monday free drop-in acupuncture services

– Thursday free HIV service integrated with WM & Case Management program

Current CAP Clinic Locations:Jewish Home for the Aged

• A non-profit nursing facility & residential community with 430 residents

• Acupuncturists work closely with JHA staff member physicians

• Acupuncture treatment provided through staff referral system

Current CAP Clinic Locations:The Women’s Community Clinic

• Founded 1999, 2000 clients annually, 90% without health insurance

• Provides free, quality health care for women, by women

• Treats women’s medical issues, includes family planning assistance

• Free acupuncture services provided one morning per week currently

Current CAP Clinic Locations:St. James Infirmary

• Nations first occupational health & safety clinic for sex workers

• Founded and run by members of the community it serves• Free confidential, non-judgmental medical & social

services• Socially & economically disadvantaged patient population• Free acupuncture services one evening weekly

Current CAP Clinic Locations:Maxine Hall Health Center

• A SF Dept. of Public Health Community Clinic• Fees based on ability to pay, none turned away for lack of

funds• Predominantly low income population• Provides complete medical and social health services• Acupuncture services provided two mornings per week.

Some Final Thoughts…• Consistently, complimentary care and acupuncture have

shown high satisfaction rates among users of these services

• Complimentary care, including acupuncture, effectively addresses many conditions and health complaints underserved by standard medical care

• Standard medical care providers come to appreciate the high value of these services when seen first hand

• Free/low cost complimentary care can be an entry portal into the health care system for underserved populations