Standards of TCM and Acupuncture Professionals Canadian Society of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture (CSCMA)

The Canadian Society of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture (CSCMA) is formed by Traditional Chinese Medical Practitioners and Acupuncturists nationwide since 1994. It is a legal registered non-profit academic organization.

CSCMA is a non political, non religious, non ethnical-related group. The purpose of this organization is to unite TCM and Acupuncture professionals to improve the public health by popularizing the knowledge of Chinese medicine and Acupuncture, which can accelerate the recognition and acceptance toward TCM and Acupuncture by the Canadian Society. Our organization has responsibility to strive for the legal status of TCM and Acupuncture professionals in Ontario.

Internally, we have been requesting all the members of CSCMA to reinforce their knowledge and skills by taking the seminars regularly. We have to stress the standard of the clinic behavior, which can help our members to build up their credit standing in the public and insurance. Therefore, the committee of CSCMA decided to put forward a preliminary plan of ethic, requirements for membership, continuing education and insurance of professional liability etc., which needs the further modified suggestion from all our members.

Standards Practice of Acupuncture

Acupuncture therapy is a clinical subject of prevention and cure, which is under the instruction of TCM theory; based on inheriting and carrying forward the learning and idea of the ancient acupuncture, implementing traditional and modern scientific technology.

The Canadian Society of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture (CSCMA) always attach great importance to its members＊ high quality services and aseptic manipulation. There are many academic lectures are given each year to upgrade its members＊ practicing level. In order to improve and neaten the sanitary level of TCM and Acupuncture cliniques, unify the needle insertion sterilizing operation technique, and protect the health interest of the public, during the CSCMA members＊ conference held in the Toronto city hall in March 2003, Ms. Joann Braithwaite, a principal of a public sanitary department of Toronto municipality, were invited to give a detailed speech on some related questions.

The requirements on the operating aspect of sanitization and therapy of clinics:

  1. A hand washing station with hot and cold water must be set up.
  2. Cleansing soap, cleaning compound and disposable paper towels must be provided.
  3. Smooth surfaces for the surrounding area of the clinic, tables and chairs are required for easy cleaning. Clean and sanitize these areas regularly by using water mixed with bleach.
  4. Counterpane should be clean, and the paper cover used on the bed should be changed for each patient.
  5. Cupping jar has to be washed after each use, and use medical alcohol for sanitizing.
  6. Using only the single-use disposable and aseptic needles.
  7. Scrap needles must be placed in a special container and handled with care.

Continuing Education Requirements

CSCMA has established a continuing education college mainly open to its members for advanced study in TCM and Acupuncture. The college also opens a special program aim to those members who have not met the university education standards of the TCM and Acupuncture, CSCMA requires them to take that special program in order to up grade their education back ground to meet the standards.
CSCMA conducts academic seminars 4 每 6 times per year in order to enhance the medical skill for our academic and members our academic development has been keeping the records for your continuing education.
The standards of integral are as following:

a. There are 30 points for international conference (3 days); b. There are 3 points for the general academic seminar;

Depending on the requirement from insurance, every TCM and Acupuncturist must engage the continuing education. Therefore, we have to ask every member to get 20 points in 2 years which means everyone has to attend 4 times of seminars. It is very important for the future registration .The insurance also pay more attention to the academic records of our members.

Course Curriculum

Prerequisite of TCM advanced study is:
  1. TCM practitioners has not taken all the required TCM training;
  2. TCM practitioners come from Western medical university or college.
Chinese Medicine training program:
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Fundamentals of TCM
  • Diagnosis of TCM
  • Chinese Herbal Medicine
  • Prescriptions of TCM
  • Clinic Therapy of TCM
  • Fundamentals of Acupuncture (Channels and Acupoints)
  • Acupuncture Therapy
  • Classical theory of TCM
  • Clinical practice

Code of Ethics

The Canadian Society of Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture (CSCMA) was established in June of 1994. As of April 2005, it has nearly 1500 members, 75% of whom have at least a post-secondary education. Many are medical specialists with PhD＊s or senior academic teaching posts. CSCMA is Canada＊s largest and most prestigious professional organization of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture. Its members come from across Canada, although 80% reside in Ontario and the metro Toronto area.

The members of CSCMA have to abide the code of ethics by engaging the medical service with high responsibilities and practical and realistic style as belowing:
  1. The member has to get a written permission before making diagnosis and the treatment for the patients.
  2. The member has to treat every patient evenly with conscientious and enthusiasm
  3. The member could not heart the patients with bad words, body and sex behaviors.
  4. The member has to abide the medical moral without putting any of the false advertisement.
  5. The member has to respect the state of an illness without exaggerate the patient's conditions and giving any treatment.
  6. The member has to respect each other without slandering and assaulting others.
  7. The member has to study continuously to improve the knowledge and skills of TCM and Acupuncture;
  8. The member has to abide the standard of practice medicine and discipline from the constitution of CSCMA. without any criminal (Sexual abuse of a patient) records.

Membership Requirements
  1. The candidate is a graduate of TCM University or college in China.
  2. The candidate is a graduate of Western medical university or college, and have studied TCM acupuncture not less than 1000 hours.
  3. The candidate is a graduate of the college for the continuing education of CSCMA; or a graduate of TCM or Acupuncture College that is approved by CSCMA.
  4. A TCM acupuncture practitioner that is approved by other countries or regional government;
  5. The candidate is an apprentice from the Traditional Chinese Medical family or teachers with 3 years practice for TCM or Acupuncture;
  6. The candidate needs an evaluation of TCM theory and clinical skills ,who is a graduate of some personal groups or academic team without a certification from the formal university or college;
  7. The candidate needs provide the accurate documents without any criminal (Sexual abuse of a patient) records.

Insurance Requirements

CSCMA requires all members who practice TCM Acupuncture must purchase a professional liability insurance.

Hunter Keilty Muntz & Beatty (HKMB), as the broker
Insurance Company: Lombard General Insurance Company of Canada


The Cnadian Society of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture March 20,2007


 

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