AboutR. Scott Malone L.Ac. Expertise I can answer questions on Acupuncture and Chinese medicine.
I specialize in women's issues, mental-emotional issues and headache.
Experience I have been in practice for 10 years.
Organizations I am certified and state liscensed.
Education/Credentials Graduated from the T'ai Institute of Oriental Medicine with certificates in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.
Question Hi. I visited an acupuncturist for the first time about 1 week ago. I was very nervous. I was seeing him for cold painful toes and cold fingers as well as hormonal issues. He stated he was going to treat my spleen and liver. He used tubes. When the first needle went in my foot, I jumped. After the insertion of approximately 10 needles all over, I was left for 20-30 minutes while he went into another room to work on another patient. Can you please tell me what the protocal is for protecting patients against infection or "exposure" during an acupuncture treatment? The site was not prepped with anything and he used his bare hand to find the pressure point and insert the needles. I was very nervous when he removed the needles and did not wear gloves. I bled and he used his bare hand to stop the bleeding which really freaked me out. Is this normal? I am pretty sure he did not wash his hands when going from me to the other patient and vice versa. Thanks.
Answer Hey Lisa,
In my training we had to pass a test for clean needle technique.
Clean hands, short fingernails, no jewelry.
First you use alcohol on your hands and prepare a clean field which you put your needles and such on. clean your hands again , then you clean the points with alcohol and a cotton ball. After that you insert the needles and when you are done, clean your hands again with alcohol.
If you drop something and have to pick it up, you clean with alcohol again.
Typically acupuncturists do not wear gloves inserting or removing needles.
The risk for infection is no where near the same as an incision.
That is one of the reasons we have the lowest malpractice insurance fees.
Once the practitioner's fingers and the point is cleaned with alcohol, it is permissible to touch the skin.
Touching blood with a bare hand is not a good idea.
I personally would find someone else.
It dosen't take much to be clean and safe, this one dosen't seem to want to bother. Most do and they are easy to find.
