Clinical Education

Clinic Internship is the highlight of the Masters of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine program curriculum. It offers a challenging clinical experience designed to guide students, known as interns, through their transition into professional practice. This is accomplished through a rigorous, professionally supervised internship where interns further develop their skills in clinical assessment, treatment, monitoring, and making necessary recommendations for patients with various pathological conditions.

During Clinic Internship, each intern is guided directly by his/her clinic supervisor through regular conferences regarding symptomatic assessment, treatment protocols, patient recommendations, documentation of treatments, the use of specific acupuncture points, techniques, and other treatment modalities, herbal prescriptions, and the progress of the patient.

During the first 280 hours of clinical training, the clinic supervisor shall be physically present at all times during clinical observation, diagnosis, and treatment.

During the second 280 hours of clinical training, the clinic supervisor shall be physically present at the needling of the patient. The clinic supervisor shall otherwise be in close proximity to the location at which the patient is being treated so that the student shall be able to consult with the clinic supervisor during the training.

Prior to graduation, all interns must demonstrate competency in the following categories: acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine knowledge, patient intake,
AOM examination and required physical examination, formulating a diagnosis and developing treatment protocol, performance of proper treatment skills in needling and other treatment modalities, herbal prescribing, patient care and management in a safe manner, patient communication and interpersonal skills, professionalism.

 

 

Prerequisites for CI 410 OB (160 hours)

Students must complete the following requirements prior to starting the OB phase.

AC 301 Acupuncture Principles
BS 321, BS 322 Anatomy/Physiology A, B
HM 301 Herbal Principles
BS 301 Medical Terminology
CM 321 Physical Diagnosis
OM 301 OM Principles
Completion of Acupuncture A, B, C (AC 321, AC 322, AC 323)
Completion of OM Diagnosis A, B, C (OM 321, OM 322, OM 323)
Completion of Herbology A, B, C, D (HM 321, HM 322, HM 323, HM 324)
CM 301 CPR & First Aid Certificates
CNT Certificate
TOEFL (iBT 61+; Listening 17+, Speaking  20+) for Chinese, Korean program
Complete CCE1 Written Exam (All 4 sections)

Prerequisites for CI 510 SP (400 hours)

Students must complete the following requirements prior to starting the SP phase.

Completion of CI 410 Clinical Internship OB
BS 101 Biology, BS 102 Chemistry, BS 104 Physics, BS 105 Psychology
BS 331 Acupuncture Anatomy
AC 421, AC 422 Acupuncture Techniques A and B
BS 323 Neuroscience and Endocrinology
AC 344 Special Acupuncture Modalities

 

Prerequisites for CI 610 IP (400 hours)

Students must complete the following requirements prior to starting the IP phase.

Completion of CI 510 Clinical Internship SP
At least 2 classes of Herbal Prescription A, B, C, D must be completed
(HM 431, HM 432, HM 433, HM 434)
Completion of Acupuncture Theory & Therapy A, B (AC 521, AC522)

Interns must complete the following requirements during the OB phase.

1. During the Observation Phase, each intern will be required to spend 40 hours of training in the Herbal Pharmacy.

2. To demonstrate competency in future patient management, each intern is required to observe management and treatment protocol for a minimum of twenty five (25) patients treated by SP or IP level interns and Clinic Supervisors. OB interns are required to maintain and complete a Learning Patient File or LPF for each of the twenty five (25) patients’ observations. The LPF for each patient must be reviewed, approved by the appropriate Clinic Supervisor, and is to be kept in the Internship Learning Packet or ILP until graduation.

3. To demonstrate competency in patient examination skills, each intern is required to assist patients in filling out all necessary clinic forms, including the Consent Form, and complete patient history taking, physical exam, and all necessary paper work.

4. To demonstrate competency in patient examination skills, each intern is required to accurately perform and record the vital statistics and vital signs of at least eight (8) new patients they must see, and to post this information in the ILP, and patient’s file. Vital signs of returning patients must also be posted accordingly, and physical assessment will be performed as needed.

5. To demonstrate competency in future patient management, each intern is required to review existing patient’s files regularly for a complete understanding of the patient’s progress, treatment, and assessment protocol.

6. To demonstrate competency in facilitating maintenance and management, each intern is required to assist in preparing and cleaning of the treatment rooms. Attendance of OSHA Workshop and compliance with OSHA regulations are required as well.

7. To demonstrate competency in communication skills and patient management, each intern is required to know clinical procedures associated with the scheduling of the patient’s next visit or the discharge procedures of the patient. Attendance of HIPAA Workshop and compliance with HIPAA regulations are required as well.

8. To demonstrate competency in insurance billing, each intern is required to fill-out four (4) HCFA billing forms. A copy of each form will be kept in the ILP until graduation.

9. To demonstrate professionalism and good behavior, a positive attitude, the appropriate befitting manner in a welcoming, and assisting patients during his/her time at the Clinic are required.

10. To demonstrate competency in future patient recruitment, each intern is required to participate in Health Fairs and contacting patients for their follow-up visits.

11. To demonstrate satisfactory achievement, each intern must successfully complete all phase exams and evaluation steps.

12. To familiarize with treatment protocols for various pathological conditions, each intern is required to attend Clinic Case Presentation Conferences. Each intern must completely record six (6) case studies presented in the conference by using the Case Study Form or CSF.

 

Others:

1. Interns may not progress to the next clinic internship level unless they have successfully completed quantitative and qualitative clinic requirements by the end of the quarter.

2. Clinical instruction is competency-based. Therefore, the student must successfully demonstrate the clinical skills outlined for that level before moving to a subsequent phase. All the interns are evaluated upon their attendance and performance according to a number of parameters by the clinic supervisors.

3. This internship phase may not begin during the quarter break period because the Clinic Orientation Session is only scheduled during the 1st week of the quarter.

4. Interns may not begin the internship until they have attended the Clinic Orientation Session.

5. Punctuality and accurate time card punching are to be observed.

6. Absence reports must be filed when an OB intern is missing from his/her shift.

7. All incidents/accidents must be reported to the Clinic Supervisor or the Director of Clinics immediately, and a report must be filed on the same day.

Interns must complete the following requirements during the SP phase.

1. Each intern must demonstrate competency in patient management. Each intern is required, under direct and close supervision by the Clinic Supervisor(s), to manage and treat a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) patients with thirty four (34) different cases of patients.

2. Each intern is required to maintain and complete a Treatment Protocol and Assessment Form for each patient. The Treatment Protocol and Assessment Form must be reviewed, approved by the assigned Clinic Supervisor, and is to be kept in the ILP until graduation.

3. Demonstrate competency and knowledge in patient management by filling out necessary clinic forms including the Consent Form, and properly record all SOAP notes, daily progress notes, and treatment procedures as approved by the Clinic Supervisor(s).

4. To demonstrate competency in patient examination skills, each intern is required to accurately perform and record the AOM inspection and general physical examination include vital signs of the thirty four (34) new cases of patients they must see, and to post this information in the ILP, and patient’s file. Vital signs of returning patients must also be posted accordingly, and physical assessment will be performed as needed.

5. To demonstrate competency in facilitating maintenance and management, each intern is required to assist in preparing and cleaning of the treatment rooms, and its compliance with OSHA regulations is required.

6. To demonstrate competency in communication skills and patient management, each intern is required to regularly review the files of patients assigned to him/her for a complete understanding of the patient’s progress, treatment, and assessment protocol. Compliance with HIPAA regulations is required.

7. To demonstrate competency in communication skills and patient management, each intern is required to know clinical procedures associated with the scheduling of the patient’s next visit or the discharge procedures of the patient.

8. To demonstrate professionalism and good behavior, a positive attitude, the appropriate befitting manner in a welcoming, and assisting patients during his/her time at the Clinic are required.

9. To demonstrate competency in future patient recruitment, each intern is required to participate in Health Fairs and contacting patients for their follow-up visits.

10. To demonstrate high achievement, each intern must successfully complete all phase exams and evaluation steps.

11. To familiarize with treatment protocols for various pathological conditions, each intern is required to attend Clinic Case Presentation Conferences. Each intern must completely record sixteen (16) case studies presented in the conference by using the Case Study Form or CSF.

12. To demonstrate competency inpatient management for various pathological conditions, each intern is required to present four (4) Case Presentations, which will be a complete, detailed documentation of the intern’s clinic treatment experience. For each case, one Patient of a particular pathology is chosen about which the presentation is written.

 

Others:

1. Interns may not progress to the next clinic internship level unless they have successfully completed quantitative and qualitative clinic requirements by the end of the quarter. A grade shall be given for completion “P” of all clinic requirements for that phase. Incomplete grades or failing grades will be issued if all work is not successfully completed.

2. Clinical instruction is competency-based. Therefore, the student must successfully demonstrate the clinical skills outlined for that level before moving to a subsequent phase. All the interns are evaluated upon their attendance and performance according to a number of parameters by the clinic supervisors.

3. Interns may not begin the internship until they have attended the Clinic Orientation Session.

4. Punctuality and accurate time card punching is to be observed.

5. Absence reports must be filed when an SP intern is missing from his/her shift.

6. All incidents/accidents must be reported to the Clinic Supervisor or the Director of Clinics immediately, and a report must be filed on the same day.

Interns must complete the following requirements during the IP phase.

1. Each intern must demonstrate competency in patient management. Each intern is required to secure approval of treatment protocol from his/her Clinic Supervisor(s) and, independently manage and treat a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) patients with thirty four (34) different patients.

2. Each intern is required to maintain and complete a Treatment Protocol and Assessment Form for each patient. The Treatment Protocol and Assessment Form must be reviewed, approved by the appropriate Clinic Supervisor, and is to be kept in the ILP until graduation.

3. Demonstrate competency and knowledge in patient management by filling out necessary clinic forms including the Consent Form, and properly record all SOAP notes, daily progress notes, and treatment procedures as approved by the Clinic Supervisor(s).

4. To demonstrate competency in patient examination skills, each intern is required to accurately perform and record the AOM inspection and general physical examination including vital signs of the thirty four (34) new cases of patients they must see, and to post this information in the ILP, and patient’s file. Additionally, IP interns are required to properly demonstrate neurological, orthopedic and dermatome examination skills if it is needed. Vital signs of returning patients must also be posted accordingly, and physical assessment will be performed as needed.

5. To demonstrate competency in facilitating maintenance and management, each intern is required to assist in preparing and cleaning of the treatment rooms and its compliance with OSHA regulations is required.

6. To demonstrate competency in communication skills and patient management, each intern is required to regularly review the files of patients assigned to him/her for a complete understanding of the patient’s progress, treatment, and assessment protocol. Compliance with HIPAA regulations is required.

7. To demonstrate competency in communication skills and patient management, each intern is required to know clinical procedures associated with the scheduling of the patient’s next visit or the discharge procedures of the patient.

8. To demonstrate competency in writing Medical/Healthcare Reports, each intern is required to fill out two (2) medical/ progress reports. A copy will be kept in the ILP until graduation.

9. To demonstrate professionalism and good behavior, a positive attitude, an appropriate befitting manner in a welcoming, and assisting patients during his/her time at the Clinic are required.

10. To demonstrate competency in future patient recruitment, each intern is required to participate in Health Fairs and contacting patients for their follow-up visits.

11. To demonstrate satisfactory excellence, each intern must successfully complete all phase exams and evaluation steps.

12. To familiarize with treatment protocols for various pathological conditions, each intern is required to attend Clinic Case Presentation Conferences. Each intern must completely record sixteen (16) case studies presented in the conference by using the Case Study Form or CSF.

13. To demonstrate competency inpatient management for various pathological conditions, each intern is required to present four (4) Case Presentations, which will be a complete, detailed documentation of the intern’s clinic treatment experience. For each case, one Patient of a particular pathology is chosen about which the presentation is written.

 

Others:

1. Interns may not progress to the next clinic internship level unless they have successfully completed quantitative and qualitative clinic requirements by the end of the quarter. A grade shall be given for completion “P” of all clinic requirements for that phase. Incomplete grades or failing grades will be issued if all work is not successfully completed.

2. Clinical instruction is competency-based. Therefore, the student must successfully demonstrate the clinical skills outlined for that level before moving to a subsequent phase. All the interns are evaluated upon their attendance and performance according to a number of parameters by the clinic supervisors.

3. This internship phase may begin during the quarter break period with prior mandatory Clinic Orientation Session.

4. Interns may not begin the internship until they have attended the Clinic Orientation Session.

5. Punctuality and accurate time card punching is to be observed.

6. Absence reports must be filed when an IP intern is missing from his/her shift.

7. All incidents/accidents must be reported to the Clinic Supervisor or the Director of Clinics immediately, and a report must be filed on the same day.

Doctoral clerkship training provides an advanced level of clinical experience and skills.

The DAOM clinical clerkship training offers four components of clerkship to provide students with advanced expertise with a minimum of one specialty concentration.

The 660 hours of clerkship consist of:

1) CL810 – Collaboration with Other Healthcare Providers (100 hours)

3) CL830 – Clinic Supervision and Teaching Practice (100 hours)

4) CL840 – Specialty Development (300 hours)

5) CL850 – Clinical Research Project (160 hours)

Our clerkship training offers specialties in the following three areas:

• Pain Management (300 hours)
• AOM Geriatrics (300 hours)
• AOM Rehabilitation (300 hours)

Each component has prerequisites to ensure that students have the academic foundation to successfully pursue clinical clerkship training.

 

 

 

Doctoral students who have successfully completed at least 16 quarter units of didactic courses including specific
courses for each respective clerkship component, and are licensed to practice may enroll into the clerkship program.

 

 

This phase of clinical clerkship training provides doctoral students with the opportunity to collaborate, consultant,
and interact with other healthcare providers, such as MD, DO, DC, PTD for clinical case management. Doctoral students are required to demonstrate competencies of biomedical knowledge and skills for clinical intervention.
The integrative approach of both biomedical and AOM patient assessment skills and treatment procedures are developed through critical thinking and problem-solving. Doctoral students must also show their ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with other healthcare providers for patient care.

Prerequisites 

1. Completion of a minimum of 16 units of didactic courses.
2. Licensed to practice acupuncture.

 

 

This phase of clinical clerkship training provides doctoral students with an opportunity for assuming in-depth
professional responsibilities and demonstrating professional role modeling. Doctoral students will be engaged in supervising MS level’s interns in clinics, and in teaching MS level courses in classes.

Prerequisites 

1. Completion of a minimum of 16 units of didactic courses.
2. Licensed to practice acupuncture.

 

 

The SBU doctoral program offers three choices of specialty, they are Pain Management, AOM Geriatrics, and AOM Rehabilitation for the doctoral students to learn and practice the knowledge and skills that are necessary for a clinical concentration. Recent advances in patient care, updates on evidence-based scientific advances that affect the AOM specialty practice, discussions that strengthen the relationship of biomedicine to the AOM specialty practice will also be included. Each student is required to select at least one specialty and will be provided with a solid foundation throughout the specialty training to establish a strong connection in the specialized area.

Please see the DAOM Clerkship Manual for more details.

 

 

This is the final phase of the DAOM program. Students are required to meet with the Doctoral Research Coordinator and Research Advisor to propose the topic with a brief statement for a clinical research project prior to beginning this component.

Doctoral students must show their ability to read and understand scholarly research and to use it to support their own ideas and opinions. Students must demonstrate an integration of the knowledge and skills required in the doctoral curriculum by successfully completing a clinical research project. This project must demonstrate critical
thinking skills and writing skills as a professional in the field of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. The format of an individual clinical project must follow academic form and style standards suitable for peer-reviewed professional publications. In order to successfully complete these components, students are required to submit and present the results in a defense presentation and to be approved by the Doctoral Research Committee and are recommended to publish in a professional journal.

Prerequisites 

1. Completion of a minimum of 24 units of didactic course which includes CD700 Clinical Research Design.
2. Licensed to practice acupuncture.

Please see the DAOM Clinical Research Manual for more details.