http://www.airdriecityview.com/article/20120801/ACV0801/308019962/-1/ACV/new-provincial-regulations-applauded-by-local-naturopath
New provincial regulations applauded by local naturopath
Aug 01, 2012 07:23 pm |
By
Dawn Smith | Airdrie City View
Airdrie’s newest naturopath is happy with a new provincial
regulation that establishes the College of Naturopathic Doctors of
Alberta and gives the body the authority to self-govern.
“It
basically means that we will have more access to (medical files),” said
Dr. Kin Leung, who is in the process of opening a new naturopathic
clinic located in northwest Airdrie.
“Right now we can’t access files like normal medical doctors.”
The
change also gives the college the authority to establish requirements
for entry into the profession and ongoing professional development.
Leung
said the change is positive. The regulation will also allow the College
to set standards for professional practice, investigate complaints and
govern use of protected titles, including Naturopath and Naturopathic
Doctor.
“There are a lot of people that call themselves
naturopaths,” he said. “Now that it is regulated, people can’t claim to
be naturopaths. It protects the public as well.”
According to
Leung, who has been practicing for five years and is opening a new
clinic on Aug. 1 that will specialize in cancer treatment, the new
regulation also brings credibility to the profession.
Becoming a
naturopath requires four years of medical training just like someone who
practices traditional western medicine, he added.
The Province made the announcement to changes under the Health Professions Act on July 25.
“Our
government recognizes that Albertans want choice when it comes to their
health, especially in the areas of wellness and illness prevention,”
said Alberta Health Minister Fred Horne.
“More and more people are
relying on the services of naturopathic doctors, and they can now be
assured that the practitioner they visit has the competency and skills
required to practice in Alberta.”
“Today, Albertans can have
confidence when they reach out to a member of the College of
Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta, that they have a naturopathic doctor
who meets stringent competency and practice requirements,” said Dr.
Allissa Gaul, founding president of the College of Naturopathic Doctors
of Alberta.
“We offer Albertans a distinct system of primary
health care that is an art, a science, a philosophy and a practice of
diagnosis and assessment, treatment and prevention of illness, and we
applaud this government for making health and wellness a priority to
benefit Albertans.”
Naturopathic doctors focus on health promotion, illness prevention and treating disease using natural therapies.
In
addition to authorizing self-governance, the regulation also describes
the restricted activities naturopathic doctors registered with the
college are permitted to perform, including injections, minor surgeries,
obtaining skin samples for biopsies and doing sutures, ear
examinations, cerumen management, nasal lavage and placing herbs in
nasal passages.
With additional training approved by the college,
naturopathic doctors are also able to perform alternative medical
treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic treatments, intravenous
administration of ozone, chelation therapy or supplemental vitamins and
minerals.
Naturopathic doctors are not permitted to prescribe
drugs, order X-rays or ultrasounds or administer intravenous nutrition.
There are 144 practicing naturopathic doctors in Alberta.
Minimum
educational requirements are three years of pre-medical education plus
completion of a four-year professional program at an approved,
accredited naturopathic college or university.
Naturopathic services are not covered by the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan.
Professional
regulation also facilitates registration of naturopathic doctors,
allowing Albertans to claim naturopathy costs as a medical expense on
their personal income tax returns.
To book an appointment call 587-360-1100
He is your Airdrie Naturopath and serving the surrounding, Olds, Didsbury, Drumheller, Calgary area.
Dr. Kin Leung, B.Sc., N.D., CCT, CPCC
Naturopathic Fundamentals Wellness Clinic
191 Edwards Way SW, Unit 103
Airdrie, AB
T4E 3E2
Canada
(587) 360-1100
www.naturopathicfundamentals.com
http://chelationtherapyreddeer.blogspot.com/
www.youtube.com/user/drkinleung
