DAc/MAc: TCM Clinical Training

In Beginning Clinical Theater, newly enrolled students receive a comprehensive introduction and orientation to the clinic’s protocols on patient care, safety, herb formula preparation and patient records. This is students’ first opportunity to see how TCM theory and practice are combined. In each class, scheduled patients are interviewed, diagnosed and treated by faculty, as students observe. Following each patient’s intake, diagnosis and treatment, a general forum-discussion of the patient’s case is conducted. Students begin learning professional conduct within this clinical setting: how to take a patient’s medical history, and how to create and maintain patient records. Students observe all aspects of treating patients as a TCM professional, including diagnostic data gathering, syndrome identification, treatment planning, herb prescription formulation, and acupuncture needling techniques. Students also participate in the preparation of herbal formulas.

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This class is a continuation of Beginning Clinical Theater. Conducted in a classroom setting, students will have the opportunity to see how TCM theory and practice are combined. In each class, scheduled patients are interviewed, diagnosed and treated by faculty as students observe. Following each patient’s intake, diagnosis and treatment, a general forum-discussion of the patient’s case is conducted. Students begin learning professional conduct within this clinical setting: how to take a patient’s medical history, and how to create and maintain patient records. Students observe all aspects of treating patients as a TCM professional, including diagnostic data gathering, syndrome identification, treatment planning, herb prescription formulation, and acupuncture needling techniques. Students also participate in the preparation of herbal formulas.

FCL 100, Beginning Clinical Theater

Clinical Rounds provides students with experience in observing and assisting licensed faculty practitioners in interviewing, diagnosing and treating patients. In Rounds, four to five students follow a practitioner, treating patients in the school’s teaching clinic. Students participate in taking and recording a patient’s history and exam. Students take the patient’s pulses and observe the patient’s tongue to understand the instructor’s diagnosis, choice of acupuncture treatment and herbal prescription. This close assistantship is invaluable in the study of TCM. Students will learn how to fill an herbal prescription from the clinic’s pharmacy and give patients instructions regarding its preparation and use. Students are evaluated on their knowledge and their developing patient skills.

FCL 200, Clinical Theater

In Clinical Internship Rounds, students advance to hands-on treatments in a clinical setting under the direct supervision of a licensed practitioner. A small, intimate group of students attend to the patient’s intake and treatment with constant monitoring by a licensed faculty supervisor, who develops a diagnosis and treatment strategy. Students will learn to treat patients with a variety of TCM modalities, and prepare formulas or prescribe patent herbs, under the direct supervision of a licensed faculty supervisor. Clinical Internship Rounds is designed to provide a setting for the students to develop comprehensive clinical skills in preparation for Internship.

FCL 300, Clinical Rounds; CNT: Clean Needle Technique; CPR/First Aid | Concurrent enrollment in FRA 440, Assessment I

In a group setting, Grand Rounds offers interns an opportunity to present their difficult cases to one or more senior TCM faculty for feedback and assistance. Interns present their patient’s history, signs and symptoms, diagnoses and treatments, and discuss and explore the case with the faculty member and other interns in order to develop new approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of the patient.

Current enrollment in FCL 800, Clinical Internship

Clinical training at Five Branches University culminates with Clinical Internship. Clinical Internship is designed to simulate an actual clinical environment, in which students diagnose, treat and develop long-range treatment goals and plans for their patients. Interns work independently under a licensed clinical faculty supervisor who is there to answer questions and provide recommendations and support as needed. Clinical Internship imparts the ultimate clinical educational condition for students, in which autonomy with patients is supported by the guidance and wisdom of experienced licensed faculty members. Students will be able, upon licensure, to treat patients unsupervised with confidence and expertise.

FCL 400, Clinical Internship Rounds; Co-requisite: Concurrent enrollment in FRA 770, Assessment II