Incorporating acupuncture in a university-based family medicine center: lessons learned.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the utilization, financial costs, and benefits of incorporating acupuncture into a university-based family medicine center.


METHODS
Retrospective billing records review.


METHODS
An academic family medicine center located within a university-based medical center.


METHODS
The entire population of consecutive patients seen in an acupuncture clinic from April, 2002 through October, 2006.


METHODS
Patient characteristics, number and types of visits, and charges and collections.


METHODS
Analysis of de-identified, electronic billing records.


RESULTS
During the 4(1/2)-year study period, 788 unique patients were seen, accounting for a total of 4953 visits. The most common clinical conditions treated were back pain, headache, and neck pain. Mean charge and collection per visit was $82 and $53, respectively. Mean annual clinic revenues and expenses were $58,653 and $74,223, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors' experience with an acupuncture clinic within an academic medical center has been generally positive, but we have not been able to turn a profit within the first 4(1/2) years of operation. Advantages of including physician-acupuncturists include improved patient access to third-party payers for clinical services, and possibly better acceptance by physician colleagues and the larger medical center system. Physician-acupuncturists, however, tend to have higher salary and liability costs associated with their services. Incorporating licensed acupuncturists allows for improved access to patients as well as lower operating expenses. We postulate that patients are generally more willing to pay cash for acupuncture services provided by a licensed acupuncturist compared to a physician, whose services are generally expected to be covered by medical insurance. Our findings suggest that incorporating acupuncture into existing medical practices may benefit patients, providers, the clinic as a whole, and the larger community, but the profit margin associated with providing acupuncture in these settings is likely to be negative or slim.
Loh
Yen Lin
YL
Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. yenloh@gmail.com
Reilly
Aimee
A
Chen
Wunian
W
Coeytaux
Remy R
RR
D026881:Acupuncture / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005194:Family Practice / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D005251:Fees, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055048:Integrative Medicine / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D009819:Office Visits / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010146:Pain / Q000191:economics; D059408:Pain Management; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012577:Schools, Medical; D055815:Young Adult