In March, the doctors gave her six months to live, so she contacted All Care Hospice, based in Lynn. After explaining her symptoms and diagnosis, the hospice asked if she would be interested in a new program that offered treatment from licensed acupuncturists associated with the New England School of Acupuncture in Newton.
Woods, who does not like to take pain medication, had previously seen an acupuncturist to treat her migraines and herniated discs, and remembered the experience as pleasant and calming. “When it was offered to me, I jumped at the chance,’’ Woods said.
The program, which marks the first time a Massachusetts hospice program has offered acupuncture to its patients, began in April, after Dr. Lewis Hays, All Care’s medical director, met with officials from the Newton school. As part of its postgraduate program, the school agreed to recruit working acupuncturists to treat hospice patients.
Both organizations agreed that the free service had mutual benefits: The acupuncturists would gain valuable experience working with patients they ordinarily wouldn’t see, along with postgraduate credits, and the patients would be exposed to a treatment that didn’t require drugs and could bring immediate, temporary relief.
“This program furthers our collaborations with Western medical providers,’’ said Amy Hull, the director of program development at the New England School of Acupuncture. “It helps us participate in developing interdisciplinary treatment strategies.’’
“It’s an idea whose time has come, absolutely,’’ added Hays, who believes that acupuncture is effective in treating symptoms that many in hospice face, such as pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, nausea, and vomiting.
While acupuncture has been used for thousands of years in China and neighboring countries to treat pain and other symptoms, it is considered a complementary treatment in the United States, is rarely used in hospitals, and is not covered by most health insurance plans.
