Naturopathy in Vermont

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Naturopathy in Vermont

• Evaluating Education Differences and the Role of
  Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) as Primary Care
  Providers

Presented to the Vermont Senate Government
Operations Committee
April 23, 2013 Roanna Wang
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Outline

1. Naturopaths in Vermont
2. Education and Accreditation of NDs
3. National Naturopathic Primary Care Efforts
4. Policy Options

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Naturopaths in Vermont

• Holistic system of primary health
• NDs currently licensed in 16 states (including
  Vermont)
• May 2012 NDs in Vermont covered by health
  insurance as primary care providers

Source Association of Accredited Naturopathic
Medical Colleges
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Naturopaths in Vermont

• Fifty-two registered NDs in Vermont
• Private practices, community health clinics
• Shortage of primary care in Vermont

VT overlay of areas of primary care need
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Education and Accreditation of NDs

• Education
• 3 years pre-medical training undergraduate level
• 4 years at accredited naturopathic medical
  college
• 3,200 hours classroom 1,200 hours clinical
• Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Exams (NPLEX)
• Continuing education

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Differences in Education Compared to MDs

• Clinical training
• NDs have more clinical training in the first two
  years
• Residency required for MDs (3-7 years)
• Some programs exist for NDs
• Treatment approaches
• NDs treating and preventing illness holistically
• MDs controlling disease process with more
  aggressive pharmaceutical and surgery

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National Naturopathic Primary Care Efforts

• Licensed in 16 states
• Prescribing authority in 11 states
• ND and DO comparison
• Both focus on preventative care, holistic
  approach
• Fill primary care gaps (especially rural areas)

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Policy Options

• Prerequisites/medical coursework
• Create a Vermont-specific exam
• Residencies
• Create internship and residency opportunities
• Continuing education
• Increase mandated hours
• Integration for alternative medicine
• Improve collaboration between NDs and MDs