Next to the expert acupuncture treatment itself, documentation is one of the most important aspects of our treatment process.

It all begins with our intake questionnaire with which we establish the patients baseline status so that we can measure their progress against it. These are known as SOAP notes which are a way for healthcare professionals to keep track of what’s happening with a patient during a visit or a session.

They use a structured format to record the therapist’s professional observations, their assessment of the situation and what they plan to do next. The acronym SOAP stands for Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan.

This is a detailed process in which we gather information about their levels of pain, their range of motion, and their overall demeanor, post injury or surgery.

After gathering this data, we create a detailed treatment plan, unique to each patient.

What can acupuncture do for patients?

With acupuncture one of our first goals is to decrease inflammation around the area of injury by stimulating the flow of blood to the area. This leads to less pain and the long term management of pain so that they can get stronger and engage in all prescribed therapies.

Often pain can’t be completely eliminated but can be substantially reduced which goes a long way towards aiding patient recovery and the completion of their recommended care.

After the initial intake interview and the first few acupuncture treatment sessions, patients are re-evaluated in a process directed by the referring physician and their records (SOAP notes) are updated with a frequency of about once a month.

As with many physical treatments, it does take time but patients do report objectively feeling better, with less psychological or emotional distress and an overall improvement to their outlook.

Acupuncture is:

• Effective for Pain and Soft Tissue Injuries
• Can be used as a complementary or Standalone Therapy
• Covered by many insurance plans
• Non-Invasive and Drug-Free
• The American College of Physicians recommends acupuncture as a first-line, non-drug option for chronic low-back pain.

Acupuncture Has Legal Recognition

In some states, like California, acupuncture is recognized as a valid treatment for personal injury and workers’ compensation cases. Many acupuncture clinics offer services on a lien basis, meaning they get paid directly from the settlement, easing upfront costs for claimants.

In essence, strong acupuncture SOAP notes provide crucial evidence in California personal injury cases by:

• Proving Injuries and Damages in Trial
• Justifying the need for acupuncture treatment
• Demonstrating the effectiveness of the treatment in alleviating symptoms and promoting recovery
• Supporting the overall damages claimed by the injured party

Questions about Acupuncture? We have has answers!

If you’re an attorney with questions about how acupuncture can help your clients and your cases feel free to reach out the case facilitator in your geographic area, their contact info is at the right. You can also call our main office at (888) 734-2280 or use our handy contact form.

Related Acupuncture reading:

• Details about our acupuncture services
• All our acupuncture locations
• After 3,000 years, acupuncture is coming into it’s own