"After three treatments I feel great. Before seeing you I went to our family doc and an orthopedists for my lower back spasms and elbow pain. Your exam was more thorough than the two of them put together. Thanks again." ~S. Willis, Emmett
Experience matters when it’s about getting the help you expect and deserve.
Choosing a health provider requires several important considerations. The selection process of determining which acupuncturist is best for you is not as simple as making a decision based on the providers fee for service. Unlike other metropolitan cities, Boise and the Treasure Valley is unfortunately limited with the depth of highly skilled and experienced providers. But we are also fortunate to have a select few. Many acupuncturists in our Treasure Valley are talented caring providers with very limited clinical and practical experience. Only study and time can resolve this possible deficiency. As with any profession and especially in medicine, the depth of experience, a broad medical education, and a sincere caring beyond economic gain can make finding the right acupuncturist, or any other health care provider challenging.
Clinical experience in all systems of medicine should provide a caring and intelligent provider with humility. The age old adage of “the more you learn and experience the more you know what you don’t know”, conveys truth and wisdom.
Eastern Medicine (Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture) is a medical art and science that can only be obtained by the process of years of tutorial training and a formal medical college curriculum which includes clinical experience. This educational process usually takes 3-5 years of full time study.
Differences between Licensure and Certification In addition to experience, education is of primary importance and concern. I mention concern because political interest groups pressure the legislative and licensure processes. Many states, including Idaho, allow the practice of acupuncture with a minuscule of educational requirements. An example of this is the State of Idaho’s certification requirements. This acupuncture certification requires a 100 hour course. These courses are didactic with no practical “hands on” learning and can be over the internet. So what does this mean? Consumers beware!
The unaware public again falls pray to ignorant legislation and suffers potential injury, misdiagnose and ineffective treatment. The study of medicine, eastern or western is an active process. To legislatively dilute health care educational requirements is an act of criminal lunacy.
To quote Sir William Osler" “To study the phenomenon of disease without books is to sail an uncharted sea, while to study books without patients is not to go to sea at all”.
This often quoted aphorism of Osler’s truly describes most medical educational institutions, western or eastern medicine, emphasis on the primacy of the patient in the process of learning medicine. The learning of medicine, both eastern and western, has to be an active process at the “bedside”. Clinical experiences and “hands-on” learning with a didactic curriculum provides the necessary in-depth comprehensive medical education.
A licensed acupuncturist in the United States has met rigorous training standards. Most states require a 3-5 year Masters degree in Oriental Medicine from an accredited acupuncture school and issue a written and practical state board exam before an acupuncturist can become licensed. This initial educational process is enhanced with many institutions offering doctoral degrees in Oriental Medicine (O.M.D.).
Dr. John Alderman is one of Idaho’s and the Treasure Valley’s most experienced practitioners of Oriental Medicine and Licensed Acupuncturists. His initial western medical science studies (including Stanford Medical School, Los Angeles Chiropractic College) formed a strong medical foundation. In 1979 he formally studied Traditional Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture at San Francisco College of Traditional Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture. Following graduation and becoming a Licensed Acupuncturist, he was accepted into the Doctoral program of California Acupuncture College, where he received his Doctorate in Oriental Medicine in 1986. Dr. Alderman's commitment to a life dedicated to learning, to knowledge and to the dissemination of his wealth of knowledge with his patients follows the appellation of “Doctor”, which is the Latin word for teacher.
Practical Tips
There are a number of things you can do to help insure that you select a practitioner who is qualified, competent and with whom you feel comfortable. We at feel that when you interview Dr. Alderman he will be at the top of your list in your consideration in choosing a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and Licensed Acupuncturist.
Questions and Considerations
How long have you been licensed and providing care?
Do you have experience in treating my specific problems of:
I’m I able to easily communicate and understand the provider.
Does the provider have advance degrees such as a Doctorate?
(Its recommended to choose a provider that has received his doctorate in the United States. Unfortunately, some acupuncturists make false claims stating that they have received a doctorate in both Eastern and Western Medicine from China.
Is the provider certified or licensed? Several states, including Idaho, allow certification and licensure in Acupuncture. Certification requirements are deficient standards, written into law by special interest groups. This training can be done via the mail or internet. Licensure in Acupuncture requires thousands of hours of formal study from an accredited college/university and supervised clinical experience.
feel that when you interview 