Maryland Acupuncture Society, Inc.

This is the former home page for the Maryland Acupuncture Society, Inc (MAS) web site which has been replaced by a new site as of July 20th, 2020. We are a professional society of licensed acupuncturists representing licensed acupuncturists in Maryland. the new site has information for professional acupuncturists as well as for the general public who are interested in acupuncture and Asian medicine.

New MAS Web Site is live!

Go to marylandacupuncturesociety.org

As of July 20th, MAS is located on a whole new website, with a new name and a completely different design. The old site will remain for a while, but logins will be getting disabled and outgoing emails turned off from the old site. All accounts have been transferred to the new website, but you will have to:
reset your password before logging in.
Also, on the new site, there is a completely different find an acupuncturist system with a google map and directions to your office. You should check your profile on the new system to verify that the email address, phone number, and business address are what you want to have for your office. If you don't want your office to appear, then blank out the business address fields.
The new system will no longer have trial memberships, and the 90 days to pay after your membership expires. All current trial memberships will convert to regular memberships with an expiration date 90 days after you joined, and those who were in a grace period will have the grace period honored in the new system.

For potential or current acupuncture clients, here's what you can do at our site:
Find an Acupuncturist
Information on Acupuncture

Message from MAS President

Greetings Colleagues,

I realize these are uncertain times and the conditions are changing rapidly. The Maryland Acupuncture Society is not authorized to advise on the closure of your practice. According to the definition of essential services, our services are defined as essential. Please review the resources provided below and make the best decision for your practice. We want you to be safe and protect others so review and follow the Federal and State guidelines regarding COVID-19.

Maryland Governor Hogan has issued the following order:

All non-essential businesses were ordered closed by 5PM today, March 23, 2020.

https://govstatus.egov.com/md-coronavirus-business(Detailed information about closures and relief benefits)

Order of the Governor of the State of Maryland relating to various health care matters

https://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Executive-Order-Health-Care-Matters.pdf

Executive Order

https://governor.maryland.gov/category/executive-orders/

Interpretation of the Executive Order

https://businessexpress.maryland.gov/documents/OLC%20Interpretive%20Guidance%20COVID19-2.pdf

The State of Maryland follows the Federal government definition of essential services:

https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/CISA-Guidance-on-Essential-Critical-Infrastructure-Workers-1-20-508c.pdf

Register for MD Responds: (MD is seeking health providers with medical training and experience in triage)

https://mdr.health.maryland.gov/Pages/Home.aspx

This link includes a comprehensive list of actions the governor announced during his press conference at Government House:

https://governor.maryland.gov/2020/03/16/governor-hogan-orders-closure-of-bars-and-restaurants-announces-unprecedented-public-health-surge-to-combat-covid-19-crisis/

Governor Hogan has issued an omnibus health care order that puts into place the following:

STANDING UP AN ADDITIONAL 6,000 BEDS: Governor Hogan has directed the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) to work with providers to reopen closed hospital facilities across the state and take other measures necessary to immediately increase our capacity by an additional 6,000 beds.

ACTIVATION OF MARYLAND RESPONDS MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS: At the governor’s direction, the Secretary of Health has activated the Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps, a trained and dedicated force of 5,000 volunteers from across the state.

RESOURCE CONTROL: The Secretary of Health is ordered to establish and implement appropriate policies and procedures for receiving, stockpiling, rationing, and distributing all assets received by the State of Maryland from the Strategic National Stockpile and all assets needed for COVID-19 testing.

INTERSTATE RECIPROCITY FOR HEALTH CARE LICENSES: Under the order, any person who holds a valid, unexpired license as a health care practitioner that is issued by another state may, at a health care facility in Maryland, engage in the activities authorized under that license.

INACTIVE PRACTITIONERS: Any inactive practitioner may, at a health care facility in Maryland, engage in activities that would have been authorized under his/her inactive license without first reinstating his/her inactive license.

ELECTIVE MEDICAL PROCEDURES: The Secretary of Health is authorized and ordered to take actions to control, restrict, and regulate the use of health care facilities for the performance of elective medical procedures, as necessary to respond to the catastrophic health emergency.

Relief for Residents and Families

PROHIBITION ON UTILITY SHUTOFFS: Governor Hogan has issued an emergency order that prohibits electric, gas, water, sewage, phone, cable TV, and internet service provider companies from shutting off any residential customer’s service or charging any residential late fees. Read the governor’s emergency order.

PROHIBITION ON EVICTIONS: Governor Hogan has issued an emergency order that prohibits Maryland courts from ordering the eviction of any tenant who can show that their failure to pay rent was the result of COVID-19—for example, because of lost or reduced unemployment, or needing to care for a school-aged child—or because they are diagnosed with, or under investigation for, COVID-19. Read the governor’s emergency order.

EXPANSION OF AVAILABLE SCHOOL MEALS: State Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon announced that the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) applied for a federal waiver and beginning today, has the capability to provide three meals a day, and a snack, to students impacted by the statewide closure of schools. MSDE has 138 meal distribution centers across the state, which can be found at mdsummerschools.org.

Activation of Additional Personnel

NATIONAL GUARD: After issuing an executive order last week directing the National Guard to move to a higher state of readiness, the governor announced the activation of two Area Support Medical Companies in order to carry out any necessary emergency functions and critical areas of need in the coming weeks. At the direction of Major General Timothy Gowen, as of Monday, 1,000 Maryland National Guard soldiers and airmen are fully activated, and another 1,200 guardsmen are currently in a state of enhanced readiness.

MOBILE FIELD FORCE: At the direction of Colonel Jerry Jones, the Maryland State Police has activated its Mobile Field Force, which is composed of 250 Maryland State Troopers who are ready to be deployed across the state.

Resources for Businesses. The Maryland Departments of Commerce and Labor have compiled resources to help businesses whose daily operations are affected during the state of emergency. Members of the business community are encouraged to reach out with their questions by sending a message to Secretary.Commerce@maryland.gov.

State of Emergency. The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. The State of Maryland is continuing to operate under a state of emergency, and all levels of government are taking a comprehensive, collaborative approach to keep Marylanders safe. The list of ongoing state actions is available at governor.maryland.gov/coronavirus.

For health resources regarding COVID-19, including case counts and clinician guidance, Marylanders should visit coronavirus.maryland.gov.

Other sources

Baltimore Sun publishes list of non-essential and essential services in Maryland:

https://www.baltimoresun.com/coronavirus/bs-md-pol-hogan-nonessential-businesses-20200323-mb5ltcvsjvbu3ihp236por2xvq-story.html

https://www.baltimoresun.com/coronavirus/bs-md-whats-open-closed-maryland-non-essential-business-20200323-rlebum7b45aw5ezcsw52p4p32m-story.html?utm_medium=notification&utm_source=onesignal

Resources for Business and Individual Relief

Maryland Small Business Relief – Department of Commerce

https://commerce.maryland.gov/fund/maryland-small-business-covid-19-emergency-relief-fund-programs

Maryland Layoff Aversion – Department of Labor

http://www.labor.maryland.gov/employment/covidlafund.shtml

Maryland Disaster Business Funding

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance

Maryland Small Business Portal

https://businessexpress.maryland.gov/coronavirus

Small Business Majority

https://smallbusinessmajority.org/covid-19-daily-updates-for-small-businesses

Special Open Enrollment for Maryland Health Connections

https://www.marylandhealthconnection.gov/coronavirus-sep/

211 Maryland Assistance

http://www.211.org/services/covid19

Help with your Energy Bill

https://www.hud.gov/states/maryland/renting/energyprgms

Information about US Congress Emergency Coronavirus Bill

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/what-s-congress-emergency-coronavirus-bill-here-s-what-you-n1159096

Extension for Maryland Tax Filing

https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/MDCOMP-28094ba?wgt_ref=MDCOMP_WIDGET_C7

Thank you.

Dr. Denise C. Tsyon, DOM, L.AC, ADS

MAS President

Upcoming events

No upcoming events

Buy the videos of the seminar by

JEFFREY YUEN - MARCH 6, 7-8, 2020

There are two videos available 1. Friday, 2. Weekend) Go to Seminar Recordings to purchase on our site (videos are hosted on vimeo.com)

MAS members only can view the first 28 minutes of the weekend video . Click here and log in.

MAS members can also view all of the 2 hour webinars that have been presented recently, PDA are not available for watching the video, but you can watch the recordings!

For MAS members and Acupuncturists

Visit the MAS Facebook Page

Earn CEU/PDA at home

Get recordings of MAS seminars

Jeffrey Yuen on Audio CD or streaming video
Alex Tiberi on Audio CD ($62 get them while they last!)
Streaming videos on Vimeo.com

As we continue to flatten the curve for COVID-19, Governor Hogan has introduced a gradual process to re-open Maryland's economy. His "Roadmap to Recovery" implements 3 phases of reinstating activities and businesses according to COVID-19 risk levels. Provided that Maryland meets the requirements of having sufficient testing capacity, hospital capacity, PPE supplies, and dependable COVID-19 tracing, non-essential small businesses are able to re-open under phase 1 of the recovery plan. Please note that acupuncturists are considered essential and were never mandated for closure. For those who plan to re-open their practices, please follow the CCAOM's guidelines based on CDC recommendations. Below is the text organized and summarized:

Assessment of Clinic Setting and Protocols:

Number of rooms (is there a capability to isolate a patient?
Patient flow and triage

Number of patients treated in a single room in a work day
Allow ample contact time (up to 15 minutes) for disinfectants between treatments
Assessment of chronic vs acute symptoms
Risk vs non-risk patients

Space between treatment tables/chairs

To prevent COVID-19 spread from infectious persons, CDC recommends minimum safe distance is 6 feet

Patient access to hand washing
Provision of tissues and non-touch waste disposal for cough etiquette
Inventory of supplies needed for infection control
Requirements for disinfection of surfaces

Keep housekeeping surfaces (i.e. floors, walls, tabletops) visibly clean on a regular basis
Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces (i.e. doorknobs, light switches, and surfaces in and around toilets in patients' rooms) on a more frequently
Consider phones, tablets, keyboards, and any clipboards or pens frequently touched as high-touch surfaces. Patients can be asked to bring their own pens.
Do not use high-level disinfectants or alcohol on environmental surfaces. Use routine cleaning and disinfection procedures (i.e. using cleaners and water to pre-clean surfaces prior to applying an EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectant that specifies effectiveness against COVID-19)

Realistically assess the physical infection control requirements needed to assess potentially infectious patients, based on CDC recommendations

Source Control:

Instruct patients and anyone accompanying them to stay home rather than seek your treatment if they exhibit any symptoms of respiratory infection

Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing

Include verbal alerts to stay home on pre-recorded phone messages and during appointment reminder calls
Create visual alerts posted at your clinic entrance, reception, in emails, on your website, etc.

Provide/post hand hygiene instructions/flyers
Provide/post cough étiquette instruction/flyers
Provide/post wellness instruction/flyer

Reduce or eliminate cancellation fees
Consider alternate means (referral, telehealth, virtual consultations) to provide integrative care to symptomatic patients
Immediately mask and isolate any symptomatic patient, and consider if asking them to return home is appropriate within your care setting
Ask all patients to wash hands/use hand sanitizer upon arrival
Include communications about what the practice is doing to enhance infection control to reassure patients and model appropriate response

Implement and/or Maintain Infection Controls:

The Clean Needle Technique Manual contains detailed regulations and best practices to minimize potential infection and maximize patient safety. Protocols for prevention of respiratory diseases such as influenza are very similar to the suggested protocols for COVID-19. These practices are universal and should be standard clinic procedures.
Healthcare personnel who come in close contact with confirmed or possible patients with COVID-19 should wear the appropriate personal protective equipment

Face masks
Lab coats and/or scrubs
Gloves

Key principles for handling soiled laundry are:

Not shaking the items or handling them in any way that may aerosolize infectious agents;
Avoiding contact of one’s body and personal clothing with the soiled items being handled;
Containing soiled items in a laundry bag or designated bin. When laundry chutes are used, they must be maintained to minimize dispersion of aerosols from contaminated items.

Stay Informed:

Stay abreast of COVID-19 updates as constant changes occur in pandemics
The CDC comprehensively explains every aspect of healthcare preparedness on their website, most of which has been summarized above.

Visuals and Infographics for Clinical Usage:

Full infographic
1 Cover Cough, 2 Cover Your Cough
Handwashing Guide
Travel Warning
Print resources from CDC

If you would like to speak to someone in the MAS leadership, use the link on the left to get the name of the MAS board member, then use the find an acupuncturist link to get their office phone number.

New MAS Web Site is live!

Find an Acupuncturist

Information on Acupuncture