Department of Clinical Training (CT)

The Department of Clinical Training at ACTCM is an action packed integration of the didactic experiences learned in the classroom. Here, in the Community Clinic and the varied off-sites, the student observes, trains, develops, and displays the communication, marketing, academic, and clinical skills essential to quality patient care. ACTCM clinic supervisors include specialists in: health maintenance, internal medicine, upper respiratory, uro- genital, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, addiction therapy, immune deficiency, mental-emotional health, hospice, oncology, sports medicine, pain management, public health, community medicine, classical Chinese acupuncture, Japanese acupuncture, Korean acupuncture, tui na, shiatsu, nutrition, herbology, and more. Also, our students have the opportunity to train in the community at off-sites including a private hospital, a hospice, a geriatric residence, a drug rehabilitation center, a public health medical center, and a medical trauma center.

Clinical core courses are designed to train the student in the basic skills of providing quality service to patients. ACTCM offers a professional degree in the clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine. The clinical curriculum prepares students at three separate levels (Observer, Trainee, and Internship) with the communication skills, professional conduct, efficiency and confidence in dealing with patients on a daily basis. By the end of the clinical training, each student will have completed 964 hours of clinic instruction and performed over a minimum of 250 patient treatments in a variety of settings, i.e., on-site community clinic, off-site extemships, and programs abroad.

For each clinical course, students are required to complete a minimum of 44 hours of in-clinic time for each credit, including self-evaluation forms and case history reports which are evaluated by the attending practitioner. Once the student reaches the Intern level, they complete 12 weeks per quarter of clinic adding an additional 48 hours of clinic instruction. The attending practitioner must complete an evaluation form for the student and review the student's self-evaluation with the student.

Clinic Observation Orientation

CT575             1.5 credits

This course provides an introduction to clinical practice and the responsibilities of working with patients in a health care setting as an independent practitioner. The topics covered are: ACTCM clinical policies; the procedures, guidelines and standards for the clean and safe practice of acupuncture; communicable diseases; clean field procedures; professional conduct; clinical training requirements; California Acupuncture Board regulations; OSHA and HIPPA requirements; ACAOM requirements; history taking and charting; use of herbal pharmacy; and AIDS education. (Prerequisites CM516, WM400, WM500; This course is offered on a Pass/Fail basis.)

Asepsis and Patient Complications

CT576               0.5 credit

This course examines clean needle technique, blood-borne pathogens, disinfection, and patient complications that can result from the practice of acupuncture. (Co-requisite: AT535; This course is offered on a Pass/Fail basis.)

Clinic Theater A & B/Observation I

CT578, 579        4.0 credits

For two consecutive quarters, students observe real-life patient care as provided by an ACTCM clinic supervisor who is a licensed acupuncturist. Students observe the interaction between patient and practitioner, including patient intake, differential diagnosis, points and herbal prescriptions, bedside manner, time management, and OSHA and HIPPA requirements. Students may be asked to assist on occasion with certain tasks such as filling out needle slips, preparing the treatment setting, maintaining a clean field, and gathering equipment such as cups, electrical stimulation machines, moxa, etc. (Prerequisites for CT578: WM400, AT521; These courses are offered on a Pass/Fail basis.)

Clinic Observation II

CT580, 581        4.0 credits

Following Clinic Theater Observation I, students continue to observe patient care in the College's clinic while taking a more active role in the patient's wellness process by assisting the attending practitioner. Students continue to observe the patient's greeting and intake, pulse palpation, tongue and face inspection, diagnosis and treatment, charting, and the aseptic procedures within the clinic setting. Students also have the opportunity to practice case analysis and develop treatment strategies involving point selection and herbal formulas. (Prerequisites for CT580: CT579, Students must possess CPR/First Aid card; Prerequisite for CT581: CT580; These courses are offered on a Pass/Fail basis.)

Clinic Trainee I

CT582, 583         4.0 credits

In these two clinical courses, students begin to transition from observing patients to treating them under the direct supervision of a clinical supervisor, who is physically present to observe all patient interactions. Students are responsible for greeting the patient, explaining their role, taking a history, and formulating a diagnosis. They also propose to the supervisor a prescription of acupuncture points, a specific herbal formula, and other adjunctive therapies that might be useful. After the clinical supervisor reviews the diagnosis and approves the treatment strategy, the student clinician treats the patient under direct supervision. (Prerequisites for CT582: CT581, passage of 1st level Comprehensive Exams. Note: CT582 and CT583 may be taken concurrently. These courses are offered on a Pass/Fail basis.)

Clinic Trainee II

CT584, 585         4.0 credits

In these two clinical courses, student clinicians develop a higher level of autonomy by assuming more responsibility for the clinical process. Under direct supervision of the clinical supervisor, students conduct the clinical intake, diagnosis, charting and treatment of patients. (Prerequisite for CT584: CT583. Note: CT584 and CT585 may be taken concurrently. These courses are offered on a Pass/Fail basis.)

Clinic Trainee III

CT588, 589          4.0 credits

During these two clinical courses, student clinicians continue to develop and refine the skills practiced in CT584 and CT585, and assume additional responsibilities at the discretion of the attending clinical supervisor. The clinical supervisor continues to be physically present in the treatment room during diagnosis and treatment of patients, approves the entire treatment, and provides guidance as needed. This phase of clinical studies is the preparation for the paired intern phase, when students function with greater autonomy in caring for patients. (Prerequisite for CT588: CT585. Note: CT588 and CT589 may be taken concurrently. These courses are offered on a Pass/Fail basis.)

Clinic Internship Orientation

CT577                  1.5 credits

This course reviews the material presented in Clinic Observation Orientation (CT575), with an emphasis on the skills and information necessary for treating patients as a clinical intern. (Prerequisites: CT589, passage of 2nd level Comprehensive Exams; Must be taken concurrently with CT689. This course is offered on a Pass/Fail basis.)

Clinic Paired Intern

CT689, 690           4.0 credits

Working in pairs, students are responsible for greeting the patient, explaining their role, taking a history, developing a diagnosis, and proposing to the clinical supervisor a prescription of acupuncture points, an herbal remedy and/or other adjunct therapies such as massage. The student team is then responsible for discussing the treatment plan with the patient and administering the treatment, including filling the herbal formula. Before the student team initiates the treatment, the clinical supervisor examines the patient and reviews the diagnosis and treatment plan; he or she also observes the insertion of the acupuncture needles and other procedures to ensure proper treatment. (Prerequisites for CT689: CT589, passage of the 2nd level Comprehensive Exams. Note: CT689 and CT690 may be taken concurrently. CT689 must be taken concurrently with CT577. These courses are offered on a Pass/Fail basis.)

Clinic Intern I

CT691, 692            4.0 credits

During these two clinical courses, students progress from working in pairs to assuming individual responsibility for patients. The student intern greets the patient, explains his or her role, takes a history, and proposes to the clinical supervisor a prescription of acupuncture points, an herbal remedy, and/or other adjunct therapies such as cupping, moxabustion or massage. The student is also responsible for discussing the treatment plan with the patient, administering the complete treatment, and filling the herbal formula. Before the student initiates the treatment, the clinical supervisor examines the patient, and reviews the diagnosis and treatment plan; he or she also observes the insertion of the acupuncture needles and other procedures as needed to ensure proper treatment. (Prerequisite for CT691: CT690. Note: CT691 CT692 may be taken concurrently. These courses are offered on a Pass/Fail basis.)

Clinic Intern II

CT693, 694, 695      6.0 credits

These three clinical courses are designed to further increase the student intern's level of autonomy and confidence as he or she moves to the next level and assumes a greater range of clinical responsibilities. Students continue to treat patients individually and handle the complete treatment process under the supervision of clinical supervisors, who observe and provide guidance as necessary. (Prerequisite for CT693: CT692. Note: CT693, CT694 and CT695 may be taken concurrently. These courses are offered on a Pass/Fail basis.)

Clinic Intern III

CT696, 697, 698       6.0 credits

These three clinical courses represent the final phase of the clinical internship, during which student interns reach a higher level of knowledge, ability and independence as clinicians while continuing to assume the complete range of treatment responsibilities under the supervision of a clinic faculty member. This phase of training culminates in student interns achieving the level of clinical ability and independence appropriate for entry into the profession. (Prerequisite for CT696: CT695. Note:CT 696, CT697 and CT698 may be taken concurrently. These courses are offered on a Pass/Fail basis.)

Off-Site Clinical Training

Student interns have the option of participating in ACTCM's Community Acupuncture Program (CAP), which consists of a number of off-site medical clinics affiliated with ACTCM. Students' off-site experiences may include such things as performing substance abuse treatment using the NADA protocol, caring for people with HIV in a public health clinic, treating stroke and spinal injury patients, and participating in integrated Western and traditional Chinese medical care of individuals with chronic pain. Students may do up to two rotations off-site, for a total of four credits. (Prerequisite: varies, depending on the CAP site. In some cases, observers may be allowed at off-site locations. These courses are offered on a Pass/Fail basis.)