High standards of TCM service come from high quality practitioners. The ATCM always maintains a higher level of enrollment standard. Every member must pass the enrollment exam and interview. Most full members are qualified from Chinese medicine universities in China or Traditional Chinese Medicine programs in the universities of the UK. All members have completed accepted degree programs in Chinese medicine and acupuncture primarily 4-5 years of university training. All our members have a BSc degree in Chinese Medicine, TCM or equivalent related degrees and currently about half our members also have an MSc degree and some also a PhD with post-doctoral research experience. Good professional qualifications ensure a high standard for TCM services.
ATCM has
focused on member’s training since its establishment. We always arrange a half
day for academic report at every year’s AGM. Each year we invite 3-4 eminent
specialists to deliver lectures for our members. Our Education Committee
organize a regular CPD programme every year and these workshops provide an
excellent chance for members to update their knowledge and exchange clinical
experience. Our Research Committee edits and issues research updates every 3
months. All of our members can stay informed about the latest laboratory and
clinical research progress in the field of Chinese herbal medicine and
acupuncture. Our aim is to ensure all ATCM members follow up on newly available
knowledge and techniques and are aware of the latest developments in research.
Only by maintaining up to date knowledge can our practitioners continue to
provide a high standard of TCM services to the public.
When you walk into an ATCM member’s clinic, you will
find it clean and tidy regardless the size of the venue. Our Professional Conduct
Committee created the code of practice and professional conduct when ATCM was
established 20 years ago. The Professional Conduct Committee inspects member’s clinics
at random to ensure all set regulations are followed guidelines are carried out
correctly. If any member is found to have breached the code of conduct or guidelines
of ethical practice, they will receive a warning and may be subject to
disciplinary procedures. Codes of conduct and practice provide maximum
protection for the safety and benefit of patients. We have a strict requirement
for professional ethics of members. Each member must behave in an ethical
fashion and ensure that their actions always put the patients’ benefit first. The
positive image of TCM practitioners in UK has gradually been set up by ATCM
members.
Millions of patients have received the TCM treatment
from ATCM members in the past two decades. Our members have become the main
force in the TCM clinics all over the UK, and are also in most TCM positions in
NHS hospitals and universities of the UK. ATCM members participate in most
international conferences for TCM and acupuncture. Commissioned by the World
Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, ATCM successfully hosted The 8th
World Congress of Chinese Medicine in 2011 and London Forum of Chinese Medicine
in 2013. ATCM are the largest TCM professional body in the UK and we are receiving
increasing attention and positive feedback from colleagues globally.
