Are you soon to graduate from an accredited Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Program, or have you just graduated and are asking yourself what’s next? Dr. Danielle Reghi chimes in to help explain some helpful tips for the new Acupuncture professional.
Starting off in a new job or career can be a huge life change—exciting, and maybe even slightly daunting. It is important to prepare and set yourself up for success.
“I personally was completely overwhelmed when I graduated from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine located in Portland, Oregon, and had no idea where to start my career besides trying to “find a job”, stated Dr. Danielle Reghi, Acupuncturist, and owner of Zen Space based in Portland Oregon, “and to be honest I didn’t even know what that looked like.”
Within this article, she shares with us her top tasks to help set you ahead on your career path.
- Take (and pass) all of your board exams:
First thing first—graduate from school and congratulate yourself for all your hard work, and then take your board exams. Dr. Reghi states that “these exams may actually be able to be taken in the last months of your schooling or can be done directly after graduation, but I encourage you not to wait too long.” This task can be daunting, but you need to accomplish it to get your license, and you need to get a license to practice, in most states.
Much of the information that is tested during the national board exams are strict memorization, and this information is fresh and more accessible the sooner you test. “The Boards” can seem scarier the longer you are out of school, so best to come up with a study plan, and get it done. Look into the NCCAOM website for the most updated information.
- Register for an NPI number:
This is a national provider identification number. It is especially needed if you are going to be accepting insurance. It is free to sign up for at the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) website.
Register for malpractice insurance:
All providers need this to practice medicine. It helps to protect you and your business in the case of an incident or accident. Dr. Reghi recommends the CM&F group. They include fire cupping and electro-acupuncture in the modalities that they will cover. These are modalities that are under the Acupuncturist’s scope of practice, but not always covered by malpractice insurance, so when looking into specific plans make sure to check for that.
- Start your CAQH:
The CAQH is one of the two main applications that you need to become paneled with insurance companies in Oregon. If you fill this out, you can actually download the OPCA form off of the CAQH website once all of your information is filled out. This is the easiest way to complete them and will save you a lot of headaches. You will need to upload your license and malpractice insurance to this website too, but even if you do not have those yet, you can begin this process. Some of the information is confusing because it is also what MDs use to become paneled. So it asks for hospital affiliations etc, which you don’t have. That’s ok. Leave anything that is not pertinent to you blank, or check not applicable. But if you can answer the question, do so. Insurance companies like a lot of information, like previous work history, and any gaps in employment. If you don’t answer some of those questions they will bounce your application back to you and it can take longer to get credentialed. The CAQH is long and tedious, but it is not hard, anyone can fill it out, just be detail-oriented. You can find the CAQH website.
- Begin insurance credentialing asap:
As soon as you have your CAQH filled out, and have a practice address, get your applications in. Many employers will help you with the process, but they will need all of this info. You can also pay a private company to credential you, there are a couple out there (the going rate is $800 I hear). My advice would be to save your money and just credential yourself or get your employer to help you. It’s a long process, but it’s not hard. Even if you are not sure if you want to take insurance, I would recommend getting credentialed. You can drop the panels if you find you can do a cash practice, but I find that most people want to use their insurance where they can.
- Find a job that is the right fit for you:
Dr. Reghi states, “Be honest with yourself about what you want out of a job. If you really want to be in business for yourself, then there is no time like the present to get your business up and running. If you want to be an employee, then find a fit that feels right. There are a lot of really wonderful collaborative clinics out there. Put the time in and find what is right for you. Think in an abundance mindset. When we come to jobs from a place of scarcity (for example, I don’t love this clinic but I need a paycheck), we are doing both ourselves and your employer, a disservice. Don’t waste your time or a small business owner’s time. Onboarding and training a new employee is a lot of work and is expensive for a business and everyone wants to have a healthy happy work life and feel like their time is valued.”
If you are accepting a new job as an independent contractor, or employee make sure to be prepared: Before your first day, familiarize yourself with the company culture, values, and any information provided to you. Review the job description and requirements to refresh your memory.
Disclaimer
This article is from one person’s point of view and the information is not to be taken as legal or medical advice. If you are interested in contacting Dr. Reghi, feel free to send her an email for more information.