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Acupuncture Poll

By Editorial Staff

The Acupuncture Poll's question for October 2002 was:

"Has a medical doctor or chiropractor ever referred a patient to you for treatment?"

Results are as follows:

These results are based upon 233 responses. As this is a voluntary, non-scientific survey, caution should be used in generalizing the results. Here is a sample of the comments made by those who took the survey and how they voted:

Yes: I have developed a rapport with a local chiropractor and she refers me a new patient at least once every two weeks (and sometimes more often). I am also a registered nurse and have talked to several MDs at the hospital where I work. There is one EMT who sees me as a patient and also refers patients. I find if you send an information sheet and follow up with a phone call, you can open the door for referrals.

No: My experience may be biased, but it seems to me some doctors are more concerned about dollars than their patients' well-being. They would rather do a weekend course and offer their own unqualified efforts than see their patient go to an acupuncturist. However, I know this is not always the case.

Yes: Before I opened my practice in a small town in Pennsylvania, I visited many of the MDs and DOs in the area. I spoke to service organizations (with MD members) and generally made my presence known to local nurses. Since I have been treating patients here, about a third of my new patients come from MDs or nurses in their offices. Once the nurses come in for treatment, they refer.

Yes: Not only have I had many referrals from doctors and chiropractors, I treat one doctor and several chiropractors, and their families and patients. As long as they don't perceive you as competing with them for patients, they needn't feel threatened.

Yes: Yes, all the time. I also get a lot of cases for workers' compensation referred by MDs, chiropractors, Dos and other licensed professionals.

Yes: I practice at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where the majority of my patients are referred by their physician. I also refer to MDs on a regular basis myself.

No: I have referred many patients to a chiropractor or MD. None have ever referred patients to me.

For more information on the Acupuncture Poll, contact Acupuncture Today at .

Acupuncture Today editorial staff members research, investigate and write articles for the publication on an ongoing basis. To contact the Editorial Department or submit an article of your own for consideration, email mailto: .