COURSE DESCRIPTION

The primary care pathway focuses on applications of acupuncture to the broad range of clinical problems that are evaluated and treated by the primary practitioner. These problems can range from premorbid functional and stress-related disorders, to organic lesions, to musculoskeletal pain. The acupuncture models presented in the primary care videocourse and clinical units span from rarefied equilibration treatments aimed at reestablishing homeostasis, to dense neuromuscular stimulation.

The pain management pathway emphasizes acupuncture as treatment for patients referred to pain management specialty practices. This pathway addresses the pain of acute trauma, musculoskeletal problems such as myofascial pain and muscle tension headaches, pain of diskogenic lesions and peripheral neuropathies, and pain of organic and malignant lesions.

There is about an 85% overlap between the two pathways. The theoretical foundation for both pathways is identical: the introductory weekend, palpation and needling, core video course, textbook, syllabus, and handouts. The difference between the pathways is in the specialty videocourse lectures, and in the practical emphasis in the clinical unit. Because physicians practicing acupuncture rarely treat only primary care or only pain management patients, participants following the primary care pathway are also introduced to pain management techniques, and, likewise, participants following the pain management pathway are familiarized with the full spectrum of medical applications.

The comprehensive HMI curriculum represents 300 hours of formal instruction in medical acupuncture. Participants will receive the highest quality of hands-on instruction and theoretical and clinical information to enable them to responsibly integrate acupuncture into their medical practices at the conclusion of the program.

REVISED CURRICULUM

The HMI Medical Acupuncture for Physicians curriculum has been revised to realistically accommodate the practice environments of most American physicians. This means we focus on developing clinical skills from the first session, and progressively enhance and expand theses skills unit by unit. During the introductory weekend we present the scientific and theoretical foundations of the discipline. Students are instructed in palpation and needling skills, and are trained in a half dozen acupuncture techniques to treat acute and subacute musculoskeletal pain.

At the end of the introductory weekend, you will be adequately skilled to apply these techniques in appropriate clinical circumstances. We expect at least 75 hours of conscientious home study of the printed and video material as preparation for each clinical unit. At Clinical One we train students in another half dozen acupuncture techniques to treat chronic musculoskeletal pain, along with the traditional acupuncture approach to energy circulation, patient examination, and diagnosis. By the conclusion of Clinical Two, assuming that you have studied conscientiously and practiced the techniques between clinical units, you will be comfortable treating musculoskeletal pain problems as well as general medical problems commonly accessible to acupuncture.

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UNIT 1: INTRODUCTORY WEEKEND

You will receive a copy of the Acupuncture Energetics textbook and Dr. Helms' book for acupuncture patients, Getting To Know You, with your acceptance package. You are required to read sections of the textbook, and all of Getting To Know You prior to attending the introductory weekend. At the introductory weekend, course chairman Dr. Joseph Helms begins the program with an historical and scientific overview of acupuncture, and explains its context in modern medicine. He discusses the traditional models of acupuncture, including the circulation of Qi energy, characteristics and symptoms of the energy axes, the action of command points, and the five phases model. He talks about the realistic application of acupuncture to primary care and to pain management problems. The introductory weekend is a preview of all the material that is covered in the course. Its goal is to create an intellectual structure to organize the new information.

Sections addressing palpation and needling skills are integrated into the introductory weekend to initiate learning the manual skills of acupuncture. This involves lectures on the anatomy of major acupuncture points, and small group work palpating trigger points, acupuncture channels, and acupuncture points. Basic needling technique is also taught. You are requested to watch one videotape of the acupuncture points and channels prior to attending. By the conclusion of the introductory weekend, participants will have received supervised training on point anatomy, palpation, and needling, and will be able to safely treat uncomplicated acute musculoskeletal pain.

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UNIT 2: HOME VIDEO STUDY

The core videocourse curriculum involves the precise identification of the acupuncture channels and points. The integration of gross anatomy, physiology, pathology, and therapy in acupuncture becomes progressively clear as you learn the locations and indications of the points. You are expected to read the textbook during this study period, and fill out a brief test on each textbook chapter and video as you progress through the material.

Specialty videocourse lectures are provided for each clinical pathway. These explore either classical or specialty applications of acupuncture, such as auricular acupuncture, traditional Chinese acupuncture, and techniques of pain management with acupuncture. These videos may be watched at the same time as, or following the core curriculum videos. Tests completed for each video and book chapter must all be submitted prior to participation in the clinical unit.

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UNIT 3: CLINICAL UNITS

The clinical units bring the acupuncture learning process to practical clinical thinking and application. Clinical Unit One involves a supervised review of channel and point locations, needling technique, patient evaluation, and acupuncture . Practice management is addressed at the end of this session. Clinical Unit Two is an intensive hands-on session, where you gain experience as both an acupuncture patient and as an acupuncturist.

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STUDY EXPECTATIONS

The ideal time to complete the course is within the 6-month sequence following the introductory weekend. You must be prepared to devote a regular period each week to study the videos and locate points on yourself and on family and friends. Completion of the 300-hour curriculum requires six to eight hours of video viewing and study each week. You are also encouraged to reserve at least six hours of weekly study time for the month following the clinical program to review the videos ane your notes for rapid reference in practice.

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PROGRAM GOAL

The goal of the Medical Acupuncture for Physicians program is to enable you to employ acupuncture in your medical practice immediately after the second clinical unit, and to be well prepared for later study in any specialized or advanced aspects of acupuncture. Three to six months of serious independent clinical integration following the final unit will ground your experience and allow you to gain confidence in this new modality.

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COURSE CHAIRMAN

Joseph M. Helms, MD, a diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice and the American Board of Pain Management, is a clinical instructor in the Department of Anesthesiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. His training in acupuncture is from l'Association Francaise d'Acupuncture. He is the founding president of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, president of the Helms Medical Institute, and the author of the textbook Acupuncture Energetics: A Clinical Approach for Physicians. Dr. Helms has a private medical acupuncture practice in Berkeley, California. His latest book is Getting To Know YOU: A Physician Explains How Acupuncture Helps You Be The Best YOU.

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