Presenter/Author:

Waveny HOLLAND

Other Author:

NA

Author Affiliation:

President of the Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA)
Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA)

Keywords:

Regulators; Guidelines; Safety

Abstract:

COVID lockdowns and restrictions around Australia made practice difficult or impossible with fines and penalties being imposed for anyone breaching the restrictions or breaking lockdown during the height of the pandemic.

In the emerging COVID world, telehealth consultations promised a novel, contactless and thus a risk-free way for practitioners to continue to treat their patients. Delivering acupuncture remotely is not possible. While this was the only aspect the health insurance companies focussed on, the regulators saw the benefits of all the other aspects of care provided in Chinese medicine treatment. This led to the development of comprehensive guidelines for delivering a Chinese medicine “treatment” via video link with patients that complied with government regulations for safe practice.

This is an anecdotal presentation providing insight into what the Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association did to achieve the option of Telehealth consultations for not just its members but all Australian Chinese medicine practitioners.

References:

anecdotal account

Reference:

Funding Source:

Nil

Conflict of Interests:

The author reports no conflicts of interest related to this anecdotal account