Since I posted my last article explaining the importance of supporting physical therapists in Maryland around the challenge to their state practice act, there has been a lot of discussion in social media regarding the dry needling issue. Detractors of dry needling seized this opportunity to launch yet another attack on the technique, with the same old arguments. My response on Twitter in particular has been to get across the message that whether or not you accept the evidence behind the use of dry needling, this is about an issue bigger than arguing the research behind one particular technique. THIS IS ABOUT SUPPORTING COLLEAGUES IN OUR OWN PROFESSION AS THEY FIGHT AGAINST THE ABILITY OF OUTSIDE INTERESTS TO DICTATE OUR STATE PRACTICE ACT! Did that come across loud and clear? Make no mistake, the Maryland Acupuncture Society has sent out an alert nationwide to other state chapters encouraging acupuncturists to send letters to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. They are encouraging their members to write letters to influence the decision being made. Don’t believe me? You can see it right here: http://bit.ly/QyTJox 200 dollar loans direct payday loan lenders texas The problem is that they are asking for letters of support based on faulty information and confusion of the issue, as seen from direct excerpts of their letter to the Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners: “As licensed acupuncturists are already extensively and competently trained and duly licensed to employ the use of this procedure in their daily treatment of patients, MAS holds that there is little to no public need established to justify allowing physical therapists to conduct this invasive procedure with such minimal requirements for competent education, training, and regulatory monitoring as these regulations would allow. For these reason, we strongly suggest that these regulations […]
Read more →Immediate action needed! The Board of Acupuncture in the State of Maryland is demanding unreasonable regulations and educational requirements for physical therapists utilizing trigger point dry needling as part of their practice. Dry needling has been included in the physical therapy practice act in Maryland since 1984. The Maryland State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners has been patiently working with the Board of Acupuncture to resolve this issue; however, their work is in jeopardy of being undone if feedback from the public is not received by September 28. This is important because we can bet that it will happen in other states if this Board of Acupuncture initiative is successful in Maryland. Let your voice be heard – demand that physical therapists retain the right to use dry needling in their scope of practice! Information via Kineticore’s website about background and what to do: http://bit.ly/OPbCPw Information from the State of Maryland about what to do, with email addresses, fax numbers and phone numbers to let your voice be heard: http://1.usa.gov/So7TYQ Template of letter to email, fax, or snail mail: HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO Please help in showing support for the Board of Physical Therapy and the right of qualified PTs to perform this technique. We need individuals (both PTs, patients, and even other providers) to submit written comments via email or hard copy letter to the Secretary of Health. Step 1. Draft your comment letter. Please see the below template and suggested talking points. It is vital that comment letters stress the advantages to public health of physical therapists performing dry needling. In addition comment letters need to emphasize that the proposed training and safeguards by the Board of Physical Therapy are more than adequate to ensure safe practice. Step 2. Submit your comment letter. Send […]
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