Rapidly increasing numbers of acupuncturists in Japan has caused our places of activity to become increasingly important.
A symposium was held by acupuncturists who play an active role in various areas of acupuncture. We all came together with the purpose of examining our clinical conditions and to make recommendations for the future. The necessity of how to expand the capacity and locations of acupuncture practice cannot be overestimated.
The chairperson of the symposium reported that due to the increasing number of acupuncturists, it is hard to find employment for graduates, and reported the results of a questionnaire (initiated by The Japanese Journal of Acupuncture & Manual Therapies (IDO NO NIPPON-SHI) demonstrating that some practitioners are changing the conditions of their professions.
The first panelist, who had experienced practicing acupuncture in a hospital, reported on the role and characteristics of acupuncture practice and ways to maintain relationships with doctors, nurses and other medical care staff members. Also he addressed the issue of prospects for the future among other topics.
The second panelist, who had not been able to find a useful place for on-the-job training following graduation, told of her experience making home-visits and practicing at a clinic. At first, she had found attracting patients to her home-visits quite difficult, so she advertised herself with a local TV station to increase her name recognition, and then she succeed to practice her own clinic. Now she thinks it is necessary to acquire clinical and academic knowledge as well as technical skills.
The third panelist, who specialized in acupuncture in the field of sports disorders, was eager to improve and expand the methods and techniques in this field to better demonstrate the merits of acupuncture treatment for sports disorders. Moreover, he insisted on the importance of acquiring knowledge concerning athletic rehabilitation and technical skills. Also, clinical practice is imperative.
The last panelist, a university teacher, suggested that it is necessary to set up high educational standards and faculty development activities supported by the school. Accordingly, improved standards at schools as well as more research justifying acupuncture efficacy would facilitate greater social demand for acupuncture and thereby setting reasonable expectations for patients and other medical professionals.
In addition, two other acupuncturists and a student from an acupuncture school made speechesabout theirmisgivings regarding their future prospects. One has been working in a hospital for two years since his graduation; the other is a student at a teacher training institution. The student entering her second-year of acupuncture school became a mother. These acupuncturists and a student all expressed their concerns and hopes for the future of their profession.