Joint Base Andrews, Md. –
Twenty-two Air Force physicians learned another tool, acupuncture to add to their black bag while attending the Medical Acupuncture for Deploying Physicians course hosted at the Air Force Acupuncture Center, Malcolm Grow Medical Clinic, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
Under the watchful eye of Air Force physicians, Dr. Richard Niemtzow Air Force Acupuncture Center director and Dr. Stephen Burns Air Force Acupuncture Center chief, the physicians learned first-hand how acupuncture can be used as a pain management tool.
The ancient Eastern art of acupuncture has proven to be a great alternative to Western medicine when treating pain and other ailments.
Dr. Richard Niemtzow developed battlefield acupuncture in 2001 in the course of researching a more efficient system for the rapid pain relief.
"This methodology is taught because it can deliver significant relief of pain in just a few minutes. The length of the pain-free period does vary from minutes, hours, days, weeks and months depending on the patient. There are virtually no side effects. Because the ears are almost always accessible, this method is very convenient and simple to practice without undressing the patient, especially during combat situations," said Niemtzow.
The 779 MDG is the home of the Air Force Acupuncture Center and is the only full-time acupuncture clinic in the Department of Defense.
"I plan to integrate Battlefield Acupuncture into my daily patient care, especially if I have a patient who is not responding to standard treatment," said Capt. (Dr.) Angela Riegel, 49th Medical Group, family practice director Holloman AFB, New Mexico.
"This acupuncture treatment is going to improve pain control for my patients and decrease the amount of medication I prescribe. This will lead to less side effects and it will cut down on costs," said Col. (Dr.) Tom Piazza, 779 MDG Pentagon Flight Medicine Annex, director.
Maj. (Dr.) Kevin Baldovich, 31st Medical Group, flight medicine Aviano Air Base, Italy, administered acupuncture on Capt. Saudah Muhammad, a first time acupuncture patient with acute pain in her heel.
"When we finished the treatment she was pain free. Battlefield acupuncture training will enable me to offer an alternative treatment for pain management and many other medical conditions. Acupuncture is a wonderful tool," said Baldovich.
Battlefield acupuncture will provide me options in the treatment of my patients," said Maj. (Dr.) Timothy Ballard, 353rd Special Operations Group, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan.
"This course allowed me to update my skills," said Maj. (Dr.) Darrell Zaugg, 86th Medical Operations Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany.
Dr. Burns explained that these Air Force physicians will have several more months of follow-on acupuncture training with a civilian medical acupuncture institute.
"We are very excited that the Air Force Surgeon General has supported this initiative. These physicians will return in September 2012, for another three-to-four day training session. Several will take these skills to the battlefield this year. Our service members deserve the best, most efficient care we can bring to them," said Burns.