JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Mark A. Ediger attended Battlefield Acupuncture training taught by Dr. Richard Niemtzow, Director of the Air Force Acupuncture Center on Joint Base Andrews on April 1, 2016.
Physicians, from a broad spectrum of specialties, from bases across the globe come to the Air Force Acupuncture Center at Joint Base Andrews, Md. to begin a three-part training program to become certified and license as physician acupuncturists. The first session is on Battlefield Acupuncture.
"Battlefield Acupuncture is a rapid technique using tiny acupuncture needles inserted into the ears that directly modifies the way the central nervous system processes pain so as to reduce pain significantly in over 80% of patients," said Dr. Niemtzow.
The technique was developed by Dr. Niemtzow in 2001.
"Physicians will complete three separate TDYs and a total of 300 credit hours of study over a period of six months and then apply for state licensure," said Dr. Thomas Piazza, Program Manager, Air Force Acupuncture Program.
"The program is set up so physicians, nurses and medics can add another tool to their tool belt in terms of treating acute and chronic pain," said Dr. Niemtzow.
"We plan to support the Air Force's initiative to complement western medicine with acupuncture care for service men and women in accordance with the May 2010 Pain Management Task Force objective and recommendation 4.2.1. Through this objective/recommendation, the Pain Management Task Force sought to enhance care to our DoD and VA beneficiaries by fostering this specific goal: "Incorporate integrative and alternative therapeutic modalities into a patient centered plan of care," said Dr. Stephen Burns, Air Force Acupuncture Program.