9th Annual Conference

The goal of this presentation is to introduce the concept of osteopathic medicine as a viable treatment option for the underserved community. This presentation also emphasizes the power of touch in caring for patients, and how touch is often an overlooked part of the primary care visit for underserved patients. It presents evidence based data on the use of osteopathic medicine for four of the most common reasons a patient will visit a primary care doctor. Using both audiovisual and hands-on palpation break out sessions, it is an experiential and interactive introduction into osteopathic medicine for common primary care clinical scenarios. The audience will learn the proposed mechanisms of action behind four different osteopathic techniques. They will then practice four different osteopathic techniques, and will learn four different "at home applications" or therapeutic advice that can be given to patients in certain clinical scenarios, with an osteopathic explanation of their efficacy. The breakout session will then conclude with a discussion on the challenges of incorporating osteopathic medicine in the clinic, while incorporating the audience's ideas about how to overcome these obstacles.

All 3 presenters work as primary care doctors (first 2 as residents, 3rd as an attending) at a federally qualified health center, with a nearly all underserved patient panel. Both residents are completing the U of A Integrative Medicine Curriculum. Both residents are Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, and incorporate osteopathic medicine into their primary care practice. Olympia is an active member of the Osteopathic Cranial Academy.

This session is appropriate for all audiences and skill levels

Primary Care, Osteopathic Medicine, Lower Back Pain, Headache, URI, GI Distress, Promoting touch in primary care, Osteopathic medicine for underserved populations

Skill-based training or Experiential workshop: provide an opportunity to acquire and practice a new skill and to observe and refine teaching techniques for this skill