[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6641010,"mediaKeyId","2547777-a3ea43918f8fac6db4662ed9eed0dde0","parentId",2547777,"title","Public commenters propose converting tutorial program into 300‑hour clinical externship; committee notes as future agenda item","audioSeconds",3852,"startMs",3072000,"endMs",6924000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2547777-a3ea43918f8fac6db4662ed9eed0dde0&start=3072&end=6924","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2547777-a3ea43918f8fac6db4662ed9eed0dde0/thumbnail_3072000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6641010/California/Public-commenters-propose-converting-tutorial-program-into-300hour-clinical-externship-committee-notes-as-future-agenda-item","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641010-eb113c924dcd48cb99d7731af1d4b923/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149725&Signature=WgwtmnCnyKpVzb-PmTYE5vljBEs0v95kMvD6LvKAlwMkvw2~Hr3E~076aWqOLB3VXj7KGD8~UrRN0~if6xWFLHFcs6RnaepxEsvTFF01TuAIncRaX9ZRTnfH~EgFmE7JhROTVEmSvBoFPZQeqaF4vzQg4D1JImmjz3K6oRupV0KxSxBHATkulvDD6GadpD2LIs9H9VumQ7SE8EgL1ueKINGT7oIHDjUkR9mw29djCFukft15cqBPEZmwvYLL9CQBZ9fU4Koc1zbXiQg3fYC3zdHQ1UP2qSGRDg9V14~USfqnQbENx5V5XnNrDL1op3gUhifEutNkSYRmrXcBliYmUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Respiratory Care Board of California","date","2025-03-11T20:19:58.53Z","article","Several public commenters urged the board to revisit the state’s tutorial (apprenticeship) pathway and proposed a structured clinical externship to strengthen clinical training and research literacy.

Michael McCulloch, a tutorial‑trained acupuncturist with a PhD in clinical epidemiology, proposed converting the existing tutorial program into a 300‑hour clinical externship that pairs students with experienced licensed acupuncturists in supervised clinical settings. McCulloch described goals to increase hands‑on supervised patient care, introduce small‑group clinical research projects, and improve graduates’ readiness for community practice. He asked the board to consider the proposal in future rulemaking or program changes and offered to submit a written proposal for the board’s consideration.

Other commenters raised related education and qualification issues: Philip Yang and others asked the board to clarify transcript and credential evaluation standards for applicants, to review continuing education (CE) course quality and pricing, and to consider alignment between accredited and non‑accredited programs. Commenters also returned to ongoing concerns about dry needling and scope‑of‑practice boundaries and recommended the board address those matters in future agenda items.

Board staff responded that proposed changes to the tutorial program and the issues raised would be appropriate for a future agenda item; the meeting materials and the committee’s executive report would note the suggestions. No regulatory action or adoption occurred at the meeting; staff invited written proposals and said the committee would consider detailed proposals through the standard agenda and notice processes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Acupuncture Board of California Enforcement Committee Meeting - March 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment, speakers proposed modernizing the apprenticeship/tutorial pathway into a structured 300‑hour clinical externship with research components; the committee acknowledged the proposal and listed tutorial program modifications among future agenda items without taking action.","taxTitle","Respiratory Care Board of California, Boards and Commissions, Executive, California","taxId",76751,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6641015,"Enforcement committee lists top 10 violations; staff urges practitioners and schools to review reporting rules",2010,4035000,6045000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2547777-a3ea43918f8fac6db4662ed9eed0dde0&start=4035&end=6045","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2547777-a3ea43918f8fac6db4662ed9eed0dde0/thumbnail_4035000.jpg","/articles/6641015/California/Enforcement-committee-lists-top-10-violations-staff-urges-practitioners-and-schools-to-review-reporting-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641015-6c1469b43a84bdf138a2efb5e97a304b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149725&Signature=lDFT3A64Dz0g85q~myqBx4QbD63m7aVxevwcSTEwlaMX0kvh04EDdUnO2~K-d~4pkGVaVE6b-sA4uZizPla4RHx7WefuiMQK2mj-9IEIqvLTd3eO4m8Kig0K2IONLyqVEd-ibNkPJKZzx94QQZfm44aAJgCcfDeztQpexuODHcWERt8sPHVvNqwj5DBSAMxY22DsStaWbccJ9Yug0XjryrUtR-jPQi2zZV8uBpHPKqAB-igaimIIeanEXcJt8~rGp1ByCC0Zi6ukyZrx34z-yGY0WIU-WrGO69ahEnmMfriXtnVQvXau0~sNVcEUVT~-Dx1QzJkuFeQP1ntQhEWDnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board staff reviewed an updated list of the top 10 enforcement issues the California Acupuncture Board sees in investigations and disciplinary matters, and urged practitioners, schools and professional associations to use the list to reduce future violations.

Presenting the list, board legal staff identified the top items as: convictions or arrests disclosed to the board; unlawful practice or unlicensed practice; failure to register an address change; unregistered practice location or incorrect display of licenses; negligence or incompetence (including failure to remove needles or causing adverse reactions such as burns); malpractice settlements (reporting threshold noted); sexual misconduct; infection-control failures; discipline by another public agency; and failure to notify the board of a false or assumed name.

Legal counsel summarized statutory and regulatory authorities used during investigations, noting the Business & Professions Code and board regulations in the California Code of Regulations. Counsel emphasized that malpractice settlements and certain reportable events must be disclosed to the board. One presenter noted a $3,000 reporting threshold for settlements as a reporting trigger during the meeting and recommended licensees and schools become familiar with those requirements.

Stakeholders supported wider dissemination. Neil Miller (Cal ATMA) urged the board to distribute the list to acupuncture schools and recommended posting the top‑10 sheet in school facilities. Marilyn Allen (American Acupuncture Council) described malpractice patterns and warned that some complications (for example, pneumothorax and burns) can lead to large hospital bills and follow‑on malpractice claims. Board staff said the list had been posted to the board website and encouraged schools to use it in training and ethics classes.

Board members noted enforcement’s cost to the agency and said clearer education should reduce preventable investigations. The committee did not vote on any disciplinary matters during this segment; staff recorded no committee votes. The committee agreed to include the enforcement committee update on the full board’s executive report and to continue posting materials on the board website for schools and licensees to reference.","Board staff presented the board’s updated top 10 enforcement violations and discussed reporting requirements; staff posted the list online and encouraged schools to share it with students and licensees.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6641019,"Acupuncture enforcement committee reviews draft consumer guide; stakeholders urge clearer, modernized public materials",3788,86000,3874000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2547777-a3ea43918f8fac6db4662ed9eed0dde0&start=86&end=3874","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2547777-a3ea43918f8fac6db4662ed9eed0dde0/thumbnail_86000.jpg","/articles/6641019/California/Acupuncture-enforcement-committee-reviews-draft-consumer-guide-stakeholders-urge-clearer-modernized-public-materials","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641019-091816ff45fdd2c64ca78594a1a3e7fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149726&Signature=C04S06Exl0ye2JmvDJuGl1u1IuOBzhEAUa31dg0kAttXGu8ceo87KggKzmCXFzg7gnE2OFlDUGwPnG4rK3vxS-pTKWWQb97iV2p5f~b9dNqc3eAKdf2ANK4vfk11TrM8FzXkcuA5JsJM~UesHEKI7bnHYQXzLURsEUS3PFlvgX332ynywi0hqRrVLeoa12GJABYq93OWy1DcPpQe93cOERaUJtZvfp-pW710~ygND8FIm73sWSAkrw2L30ogZC37JfBxuVqJzpZagrmlEMrBYR5WEQyOT5vLrF1rc7iSPkKcD4koD3TsQLtxh95XlJXlRaOpGF~MeBUy~i5Pqa3T7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The California Acupuncture Board Enforcement Committee on a stakeholder session reviewed a working draft of a consumer brochure intended to explain what licensed acupuncturists may do and how patients can seek recourse from violations.

Committee Chair Ruben Osorio opened the session and staff presented a draft “consumer’s guide to acupuncture” described as a working draft bearing a “DRAFT” watermark. Staff said the document had been edited to “keep the text that is appropriate to the role and function of the board” and to emphasize consumer rights and remedies under the Acupuncture Act.

Stakeholders and board members provided detailed feedback. Dr. Yongping Chen, President of the board, said the brochure “will be very helpful for the purpose of public protection.” Neil Miller, representing the California Acupuncture Traditional Medical Association, urged more technical accuracy and objected to some deletions from older brochures: “I would like to know at whose direction and what is the logic there,” he said, asking for additional committee review rather than immediate approval. Marilyn Allen of the American Acupuncture Council told the committee she agreed with updating the brochure but urged a modern, attention‑grabbing format and suggested web and QR-code options.

Speakers recommended several specific changes and additions. Comments raised these recurring requests:
- Clarify scope and limits: multiple stakeholders asked that the brochure clearly distinguish what the board regulates (entry-level competency and violations under the Acupuncture Act) from professional standards or “excellence,” which they said should be described by professional associations. Staff reiterated that “the board’s role is entry level competency. The profession’s role is excellence in acupuncture.”
- Safety and informed consent: commenters urged inclusion of common, foreseeable risks (for example, bruising, burns from moxibustion, cupping injuries, and needling complications) and a clear note on infection-control and sterile needle use. One commenter recommended content used by malpractice carriers as a reference for safety issues.
- Science and plain-language explanations: several commenters recommended referencing modern neuromechanistic research alongside traditional explanations; stakeholders suggested diagrams and concise science-forward language to help younger audiences and consumers understand how acupuncture can work.
- Design and distribution: stakeholders repeatedly suggested a digital-first approach with a short printed tri-fold for clinics, QR links to expanded web content, and materials tailored to different audiences.
- Accuracy of clinical details: Neil Miller objected to a specific sentence listing needle lengths (“half inch to 3 inch”), saying that presenting a fixed needle-length range could mislead consumers and recommended removing or revising such specifics.

Staff reported the draft had been posted digitally and that physical copies would be available in the meeting room. The committee invited associations and individuals to send suggested text or mockups to acupuncture@dca.ca.gov; staff said the board does not recommend individual licensees but will publish consumer-facing material that identifies the board’s enforcement role and how to file a complaint.

The committee discussed how to advance the draft. Dr. Chen moved to refer the brochure for further discussion to the full board; the motion was later withdrawn and no formal vote was taken. The committee agreed to report the discussion as an enforcement committee update at the next full board meeting and to continue stakeholder engagement via email and website submissions.

The board’s staff asked associations to provide consumer materials the groups already use; staff said they had reviewed association websites and had received few submissions. Stakeholders and board members said they preferred that the board limit its brochure to what the board is authorized to state publicly (what patients may expect in terms of minimum competence and what is not permitted) while leaving fuller clinical descriptions and advocacy to professional associations.

Next steps outlined by staff include continuing to accept stakeholder drafts and mockups, reposting updated drafts on the board website, and including a summary of the stakeholder input in the full board’s executive report. No regulatory change or final approval occurred at the meeting.","The California Acupuncture Board Enforcement Committee reviewed a draft update to its consumer brochure, invited stakeholder feedback and agreed to send an update to the full board; stakeholders asked for clearer scope, modern design, safety warnings and involvement from professional associations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenters propose converting tutorial program into 300‑hour clinical externship; committee notes as future agenda item

Enforcement committee lists top 10 violations; staff urges practitioners and schools to review reporting rules

Acupuncture enforcement committee reviews draft consumer guide; stakeholders urge clearer, modernized public materials