SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA (Jan. 24, 2012) – ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, an approved provider for continuing education by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), has announced two new course offerings: Ethical and Legal Issues in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, as well as Aromatherapy—The Healing Power of Scent.
Ethical and Legal Issues in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (3 contact hours)
Course description: There has been a dramatic rise in the use and acceptance of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies in the U.S.; however, many legal and ethical issues remain unresolved surrounding provider oversight, inconsistent legislative mandates regarding definitions about standards of care and scope of practice, liability issues for providers and organizations, and lack of knowledge about CAM therapies. The goal of this course is to provide an overview of the major issues facing biomedical providers and providers of CAM therapies. Biomedicine, the rise of CAM and integrative medicine, ethical issues, legal concerns, malpractice and liability issues, and third-party reimbursement factors that affect CAM providers are discussed.
Course objectives: Upon completion of the course, you will be able to do the following:
1. Describe the factors contributing to the rise in complementary and alternative medicine in the U.S.
1. Explain the characteristics of CAM therapies.
2. Identify key events contributing to the rise of biomedicine and provider regulation.
3. Differentiate between key ethical theories.
4. Compare and contrast the elements of ethical principles.
5. Identify the relationship between culture and ethics.
6. Describe state law issues relating to the regulation of medical and CAM providers.
7. Describe key elements of the credentialing process for physicians and CAM providers.
8. Describe liability issues for health care organizations.
9. Explain the relationship between CAM therapies and health literacy, health freedom and access to treatment.
10. Identify key issues related to herbal medicine and dietary supplements in patient care.
11. Identify key issues related to referrals to CAM providers.
12. Identify essential elements in the disciplinary process for health care providers.
13. Describe third-party reimbursement issues related to CAM therapies.
14. Define “willing provider laws.”
15. Explain key issues related to reimbursement, health care fraud, and experimental or medically unnecessary treatments.
Aromatherapy—The Healing Power of Scent (2.5 contact hours)
Description: Aromatherapy is a complementary and alternative, holistic and integrative therapy that uses essential oils to promote both physical and psychological health. It is often used in conjunction with massage, meditation and other therapies to achieve healing. Aromatherapy has gained in popularity in recent years, and clinical aromatherapy (the use of specific essential oils for the prevention and treatment of health conditions) is being incorporated into treatment plans by naturopathic physicians, medical doctors, registered nurses, licensed massage therapists and licensed acupuncturists as well as other health care providers. The goal of this course is to provide an overview of aromatherapy, describe the historical use of fragrance and aromatherapy for healing, examine the methods of essential oil extraction, describe methods of application, describe the clinical effects of essential oils using a body systems approach, examine the research about using aromatherapy for specific conditions, discuss safety issues and contraindications regarding the use aromatherapy, and describe the key elements of some of the most common essential oil monographs.
Course objectives: Upon completion of the course, you will be able to do the following:
1. Define aromatherapy.
2. Describe the historical use of fragrance and aromatherapy for healing.
3. Describe how essential oils are absorbed into the body.
4. Examine methods of essential oil extraction.
5. Describe methods of essential oil application.
6. Describe the clinical effects of essential oils using a body systems approach.
7. Examine evidence-based clinical research regarding the use of aromatherapy for specific conditions.
8. Discuss safety issues and contraindications in aromatherapy use.
9. Discuss training and education for aromatherapists.
10. Describe the key elements of some of the most common essential oil monographs.
ALLEGRA Learning Solutions began in 1994 as a developer of more than 200 vocational, baccalaureate and master’s-level degree programs for schools and colleges. ALLEGRA quickly expanded, creating more than 300 online courses and content for more than 2,000 U.S. schools and colleges, customizing content for publishers, writing two highly successful books and achieving national endorsements for the quality of their work. ALLEGRA’s courses and certificates have been nationally accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Commission on Accreditation, the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) and other accrediting agencies. For a complete list of courses, visit www.allegralearning.com.