Most often, one must rely on a referral from someone
who might be in a position to know.
The problem to consider is incomplete knowledge regarding whether
a particular alternative method actually helps.
The first step in choosing a good alternative practitioner
is actually identifying the type of alternative therapy you
would like to use.
Once you’ve chosen a type of alternative medicine, you
must choose a practitioner in that field. One of the best methods
is to ask friends and family to find the names of people with
whom they’ve had a good experience. You can also ask your
primary care physician for a recommendation. In addition, specialists
in one form of alternative medicine may have useful advice about
a practitioner of another form just as an auto mechanic can
usually advise you on the best body shops in town, an acupuncturist
probably knows some good chiropractors. Finally, you can call
a school that trains alternative medicine practitioners for
a list of graduates in your area, or contact the state or national
professional association for a referral.
Get satisfactory answers to your questions!
Even Before Your First Appointment, Ask the Important Questions!
Before scheduling an appointment, ask for a free consultation,
or at least the opportunity to speak with the provider on the
phone. Remember that someone who doesn't have the time to answer
your questions may be too busy to give you high quality care.
Write down any questions you might have ahead of time. You may
wish to talk about such details as rates for visits, insurance
billing, and the practitioner's appointment cancellation policy.
Where Did You Receive Your Training?
Make sure that your practitioner attended a nationally accredited
school. In states with strict licensing laws, acupuncturists
and naturopathic doctors must have completed four years of training
and passed rigorous national and state board exams. However,
in other states, less qualified people may legally practice.
The training and experience of acupuncturists may also vary
from state to state. While some states allow only MDs to practice
acupuncture, be aware that a medical doctor licensed to practice
acupuncture may not have the same breadth and depth of knowledge
as a practitioner with a diploma in acupuncture and oriental
medicine. State licensing laws regulating educational requirements
for complementary care providers vary greatly and may change
at any time. Be sure to check the current status of licensure
in your state by contacting your state medical licensing board
or the organizations listed in the Resources section below.
How Much Clinical Experience Do You Have?
Your provider should have received at least one year of supervised
clinical training as part of his or her accredited course of
study. But keep in mind that if you live near a school of acupuncture,
chiropractic, or naturopathy, the school's training clinic may
offer high quality, low cost treatment by supervised student
practitioners.
What Healing Techniques Do You Use?
Make sure that your provider's philosophy of healing meshes
with your own. If you hope to be treated with a particular healing
technique, ask if your practitioner uses it. It's also helpful
to find out ahead of time if your treatment might involve expensive
lab work or imaging studies.
Power of Choice
Even if a practitioner receives enthusiastic recommendations
from your friends, use your own judgment when choosing a healer.
Exercising your power of choice is an important way to lay the
foundation for a respectful, trusting relationship with your
new practitioner. Intuition can often be your best guide, ask
yourself if this is a person you will feel comfortable with.
Were they a good listener?
RESOURCES:
Acupuncture.com
http://www.acupuncture.com
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
http://www.naturopathic.org
American Association of Oriental Medicine
http://www.aaom.org
American Chiropractic Association
http://www.amerchiro.org
Association of Chiropractic Colleges
http://www.chirocolleges.org
Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards
http://www.fclb.org/index.htm
ref; EBSCO Publishing
