Vermont Naturopathic Physician Continuing Education

• Outline eight commonly encountered complaints of pregnancy that a DC might encounter in practice
• Differentiate between similar complaints to establish best course of care
• Understand the various causes of each complaint and how to address these causes
• Integrate other palliative therapies to relieve these complaints
• Analyze and adjust according to the complaint and concomitant exam findings

• Outline the most common herbal and homeopathic remedies that may be useful to a DC who cares for pregnant patients
• Differentiate between helpful remedies and those contraindicated for use during pregnancy
• How and when to successfully integrate these palliative therapies to relieve common complaints of pregnancy
• Recognize the basics of homeopathy, why and how it works, how to administer remedies and proper use and storage of remedies
• Generalize the use and need for these remedies to accommodate the special needs and concerns of the pregnancy patient

• Outline necessary dietary requirements for the mother to be
• Differentiate between safe and unsafe exercises that can be recommended to the expectant mother
• Give examples of safe exercise practices to the pregnant patient
• Identify the normal and customary weight gain during a healthy pregnancy
• Offer dietary recommendations and healthy food choices to the pregnant patient

• Identify the most common birth trauma(s) to a newborn
• Assess the biomechanics of the pregnant pelvis
• Recognize how certain maternal pelvic misalignments can lead to increased incidence of various birth traumas
• Modify adjustive techniques and methods to better care for the pregnant patient
• Reduce the prevalence of certain birth traumas due to distortions and misalignments in the maternal pelvis

• Identify the most common medical tests and procedures performed on pregnant and laboring women
• Recognize the risks of these tests and procedures
• Assess the benefits of these tests and procedures
• Effectively explain these risks and benefits to the pregnant patient
• Assist in the preparation of a well thought out and defined birth plan for the pregnant patient

• Outline commonly encountered misalignment and/or subluxation patterns that present with a breech presentation
• Outline commonly encountered misalignment and/or subluxation patterns that present with various common complaints of pregnancy
• Identify the various causes of a breech presentation and how to address these causes
• Integrate or eliminate other palliative therapies to aid in the reversal of a breech presentation and common complaints of pregnancy
• Analyze and adjust according to the patient history and concomitant exam findings

• Outline commonly encountered misalignment and/or subluxation patterns that present with a breech presentation
• Outline commonly encountered misalignment and/or subluxation patterns that present with various common complaints of pregnancy
• Outline commonly encountered misalignment and/or subluxation patterns that present with a twin breech presentation
• Integrate or eliminate other palliative therapies to aid in the reversal of a breech presentation and common complaints of pregnancy
• Analyze and adjust according to the patient history and concomitant exam findings

• This contains all courses with the educational objectives listed from Chiropractic and Pregnancy 208 through Chiropractic and Pregnancy 212

• Outline commonly encountered misalignment and/or subluxation patterns that present with a breech presentation
• Identify the correlation between a misaligned pubic bone and an occiput posterior presentation
• Draw a parallel between a superior pubic bone misalignment and round ligament pain
• Develop a pregnancy care plan based on exam findings and presenting complaints

• Outline commonly encountered postpartum complaints that a chiropractor might encounter in practice
• Understand the various chiropractic causes of each complaint and how to address these causes.
• Integrate other palliative therapies to relieve these complaints if applicable
• Analyze and adjust according to the complaint and concomitant exam findings
• Modify adjustive techniques and methods to better care for the postpartum patient

Hour 1

• Examine all reported cases of serious adverse events in infants and children receiving manual therapies from chiropractors as well as practitioners from other disciplines
• Outline the connection between pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain and biomechanical changes during pregnancy
• Review differential diagnostic consideration for the important causes of back pain in children and adolescents
• Analyze the design and results of a pragmatic study on chiropractic care for infant colic
• Justify the chiropractic management of pregnant patients with low back or pelvic pain

Hour 2

• Outline the state of the literature on the treatment of childhood respiratory conditions with manual therapy
• Evaluate the effect of supplementing various combinations and types of micronutrients on the course and outcomes of pregnancy
• Examine whether a multimodal approach of musculoskeletal and obstetric management (MOM) was superior to standard obstetric care to relieve pain and reduce impairment and disability in the antepartum period
• Assess the peer-reviewed literature on the effectiveness of physical therapy interventions in treating lumbopelvic pain during pregnancy
• Summarize the results of a systematic review evaluating the evidence for the use of spinal manipulative therapy for pediatric conditions

• Appraise the literature pertaining to the safety of acupuncture for pregnant women
• Summarize consensus-based recommendations regarding best practices for the chiropractic care of children
• Explore the association between exercise levels and types pre-pregnancy and pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy in nulliparous women
• Assess alterations in pelvic floor function in pregnant women secondary to spinal manipulation
• Compare the effectiveness of Kinesio taping combined with exercise on abdominal recovery in women post-caesarean section compared with exercise alone

• Identify safety measures involved with essential oils
• Understand the various possible reactions if safety measures are not followed properly 
• Outline common methods of applications of various essential oils
• Identify the essential oils commonly used during pregnancy and labor and the uses of each
• Further identify essential oils that are contraindicated during pregnancy and labor

• Discuss the role of chiropractic manipulation and the evidence surrounding reduced back pain in pregnant women.
• Discuss the role of chiropractic manipulation and the evidence surrounding musculoskeletal conditions related to pregnancy
• Describe the somatovisceral reflex
• Review options for conservative pain management for musculoskeletal conditions related to pregnancy
• Interpret evidence-based data for safety of spinal manipulation of pregnant women.
• Describe presentation of musculoskeletal conditions seen in postpartum patients
• Perform evaluation of musculoskeletal conditions seen in postpartum patients
• Discuss treatment options for musculoskeletal conditions seen in postpartum patients
• Formulate a nutritional plan for women

• Evaluate the evidence for chiropractic care for pregnancy-related low back pain and pelvic girdle pain
• Assess the effectiveness of treatments within the chiropractic scope of practice for low back pain, pelvic girdle pain, or combination pain during the postpartum period
• Summarize best-practice recommendations for chiropractic care of pregnant and postpartum patients

• Utilize the Official Disability Guidelines for Low Back Pain.
• Apply the Official Disability Guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of low back pain.
• Use the CCGPP Guidelines for the treatment of low back pain.
• Integrate Outcome Assessments for clinical justification of chiropractic treatment low back pain.

• Utilize the Official Disability Guidelines for Neck Pain.
• Apply the Official Disability Guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of neck and upper back pain.
• Use the CCGPP Guidelines for the treatment of neck and upper back pain.
• Integrate Outcome Assessments for clinical justification of chiropractic treatment for neck and upper back pain.

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• Utilize the Official Disability Guidelines for Shoulder Pain
• Apply the Official Disability Guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of shoulder pain
• Illustrate sensitivity and specificity of orthopedic tests for the shoulder
• Integrate Outcome Assessments for clinical justification of chiropractic treatment for neck and upper back pain

• Utilize the Official Disability Guidelines for Headaches.
• Apply the Official Disability Guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of headaches.
• Use the CCGPP Guidelines for the treatment of headaches.
• Integrate Outcome Assessments for clinical justification of chiropractic treatment for headaches.

• List and describe each Medicare required document, content requirements and timing rules
• Summarize and explain Medicare’s documentation requirements and how to comply with those requirements to improve patient care
• Examine and review how Medicare reviews PT and OT documentation
• Describe how to demonstrate and document medical necessity in order to treat patients and prepare for a potential appeal

• Interpret compliance advice and regulations directly from the Federal Office of Inspector General (OIG)
• Identify and become compliant with other requirements from the state level through third-party payer contractual obligations
• Review existing policy and procedure for compliance, including OIG compliance, HIPAA compliance, and other federal and state programs

• Apply guidelines for accurate coding and compliant billing practices
• Install monitoring to ensure standards are met
• Self-audit for compliance purposes
• Create internal policy and procedure to improve compliance

• Identify risk areas in the claim adjudication process and apply learned knowledge to prevent missteps
• Discuss federal, state, and payer guidelines that govern billing activities
• Avoid behaviors that violate the carrier contract and ensure compliance with regulations
• Evaluate provider contracts and payer policy for complete clarification on claim process

• Utilize self-auditing methods to identify high risk areas of patient finance in the office
• Develop systems for accountability and transparency in patient accounting
• Apply appropriate fee schedule measures to ensure validity in account posting
• Address federal and state guidelines for discounting to ensure compliance

• Apply the process for setting your fees legally and compliantly and according to Federal regulation
• Know the policies of ALL your carriers to be compliant
• Properly administer desired discounts without running afoul of the Federal and State regulations
• Implement legal hardship discounts, if desired, using the Federal guidelines to appropriately verify hardship

• Distinguish between the five most important federal fraud and abuse laws that apply to physicians
• Identify red flags in your practice that increase vulnerability
• Comprehend what has been discovered in previous OIG workplans and how to apply the findings to your practice
• Determine what entities require a formal compliance program for your office
• Develop an action list to start today for implement a Compliance Program for your clinic

Hour 1

• Discuss the Inflammatory Cascade
• Identify the mechanics of concussion that results in inflammation
• Describe the neuro-chemical cascade of concussion

Hour 2

• Perform physical exam protocols in inflammation as it relates to concussion
• Perform Neurological exam protocols in inflammation as it relates to concussion
• Perform Chiropractic exam protocols including incorporating AK exam
• Apply Chiropractic exam protocols in inflammation
• Utilize advanced examination protocols in inflammation

Hour 3

• Perform structural treatment protocols to treat inflammation related to concussion
• Utilize phytonutrient protocols to treat inflammation related to concussion
• Use specific therapeutic protocols to resolve inflammation with literature citations

• This contains all courses with the educational objectives listed from Concussion 201 through 202

Hour 1

• Discuss the Selye Stress Response
• Discuss the mechanics of concussion that results in the inflammatory response
• Describe the cortisol cascade response associated with concussion

Hour 2

• Perform physical exam protocols in the stress response
• Perform Neurological exam protocols in the cortisol cascade
• Apply Chiropractic exam protocols in the cortisol cascade
• Utilize advanced examination protocols in evaluating the stress response

Hour 3

• Perform chiropractic treatment protocols to treat the stress response
• Utilize nutritional protocols to treat inflammation related to the stress response and concussion
• Use evidenced based therapeutic protocols to address the cortisol cascade associated with concussion with literature citations