During the last year of Oriental medicine study, if not earlier, students should begin to learn how to build their acupuncture practice. Visualizing and planning can help to determine the type of acupuncture practice desired. Oriental medicine students in their final year should begin outlining the creation of their clinic website, acquire business cards, design other marketing materials, and clarify procedures for applying for acupuncture practice and business licenses.

Oriental medicine students should proceed through the following steps to ensure the success of their practice:

Business plan: During the final semesters, students enroll in their practice management class. Topics covered generally include learning how to write a business plan to obtain a business loan and overviews of tax forms and leases necessary to create an office. A business plan is essential for creating successful strategies for your acupuncture practice.

Create a presentation portfolio: A presentation portfolio reviewing your services can familiarize potential clients with your practice.

Business structure and practice name: Determine the name of your acupuncture practice and your business structure, which may be solo, partnership or group.

Accounting and insurance: Organize procedures for tax preparation. Outline patient payment methods, insurance billing and invoicing. Apply for business, disability and malpractice insurance.

Client policies: Structure client policies concerning scheduling, cancellations and no-show fees.

Referrals: Building a referral network system can expand treatment opportunities and business profits. Referrals can be obtained through clients as well as practitioners working in another specialty.

Type of business office: Acupuncture business offices may be free-standing (rented office space occupied by an independent acupuncture practitioner), shared-space (same specialty practitioners share office space and expenses) or multi-disciplinary (practitioners from different specialties share the same office space, such as acupuncturists, physical therapists, massage therapists, and chiropractors. This type of business office may share clients and expenses.)

The type of business office is often determined by the potential patient base as well as the acupuncture practitioner´s long-term business strategies and goals. In addition to their business office practice, acupuncture physicians may also expand client and treatment options by covering for other practitioners as well as through patient housecalls.

Style of acupuncture practice: Depending on the potential client base the acupuncture physician desires, treatment may be conducted in a standard acupuncture clinic style (similar to the style learned while interning at the school clinic), medical clinic style (treatment based on the main client health complaint) or spa style (treatment includes pampering and relaxation and wellness amenities). Additionally, the acupuncture practitioner may decide on an acupuncture treatment specialty, such as smoking cessation, weight loss, pain management, detoxification, or stress reduction.

Type of treatment: Acupuncture physicians may choose to practice acupuncture in a traditional Chinese medicine style, a medical style focusing on physical structures rather than energetics or a contemporary style utilizing the latest technology.

Acupuncture practitioners should view these steps individually and as a whole to ensure business practice success.

For information about Acupuncture & Massage College´s Oriental Medicine and Massage Therapy programs call Joe Calareso, Admissions Director, at (305) 595-9500.