Jenna Palacio, Barton Health

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. Barton Health has expanded acupuncture services at its Center for Orthopedics & Wellness to now offer community acupuncture treatments. Community acupuncture provides similar health and wellness benefits of private acupuncture but differs from the private clinical room setting taking place in a group environment with lower costs per treatment.

Just like private acupuncture, community acupuncture can be added to care plans by Barton medical providers to help patients reach their health goals. As part of Bartons innovative healthcare model that treats the whole person and not just symptoms or disease, acupuncture is often recommended to address health issues such as chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia, smoking cessation, and generalized stress. Anyone can schedule an appointment for community acupuncture, as it does not require a doctors referral and is available as a retail, cash-paid service not dependent on health insurance coverage.

After a brief consultation with a provider, participants in community acupuncture are treated across staggered appointment times in a group setting and do not undergo the traditional patient evaluation and intake process. Zero-gravity chairs, soft blankets, and tranquil music create a relaxing atmosphere in the Barton Center for Orthopedics & Wellness medical environment for these treatments, which are typically shorter than in the private setting.

Local acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine specialist, Melinda Choy, LAc, MTCM, partnered with Barton to bring acupuncture services to the Center for Orthopedics & Wellness when it opened in 2018. The success of these integrated treatments and demand for acupuncture quickly grew, and community acupuncture was launched to expand access for this coordinated care. As a provider at the Center, Choy oversees acupuncture services and advises patients on lifestyle and other alternative forms of treatment.

Healthcare is shifting to a patient-centered model that coordinates treatments like acupuncture to improve health outcomes, said Choy. While acupuncture has helped heal people for thousands of years, its refreshing to see this modern approach of offering integrated treatments in a medical environment here in Tahoe.

Jamie Miller, LAc, MTCM, has joined Choy and the care team at the Center for Orthopedics & Wellness to expand access to acupuncture. Miller specializes in pain management and emotional well-being, with experience in orthopedic acupuncture and sports injury.

For more information integrated wellness services at the Barton Center for Orthopedics & Wellness, or to make an appointment for community acupuncture, visit BartonOrthopedicsAndWellness.com or call 530.539.6620.

See the rest here:

Barton Health offers acupuncture treatments at Center for Orthopedics & Wellness - South Tahoe Now