Chinese medicine education and its challenges in the United States.
10.1007/s11655-014-1781-3
- Author:
Yihyun KWON
1
Author Information
1. Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Program, National University of Health Sciences, Lombard, IL, 60148, USA. ykwon@nuhs.edu.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Chinese medicine;
education system;
evidence-based practice;
fusion medicine;
integrative medicine;
new research model;
standard of education
- MeSH:
Education, Medical;
methods;
Evidence-Based Practice;
Humans;
Integrative Medicine;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional;
United States
- From:
Chinese journal of integrative medicine
2014;20(4):256-262
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Over the past 4 decades Chinese medicine (CM) has come increasingly into the spotlight in the United States as the clinical effectiveness of CM has been not only empirically well-tested over a long period of time but also proven by recent scientific research. It has proven cost effectiveness, safety, and is authorized for natural and holistic approaches. In consideration, CM is one of the underutilized health care professions in the United States with a promising future. However, CM faces many challenges in its education and system, its niche in the health care system as an independent profession, legal and ethical issues. This paper discusses the confronting issues in the United States: present education, standards of CM education with shifting first professional degree level, new delivery systems of CM education. Development of new research models, training of evidence-based practice, and implementation of integrative medicine into CM education also are the key issues in the current CM profession. This paper also discusses opportunities for the CM profession going beyond the current status, especially with a focus on fusion medicine.
