More than Just a Graph
Most people who have heard a thing or two about AcuGraph know about its most notable use. After all, it’s in the name! AcuGraph graphs.
More specifically, AcuGraph takes a reading of the electrical skin resistance at acupuncture source points on the hands and feet. With the data from the readings, it creates a graph of the energy in the body to show acupuncture meridians of normal, high and low energy.
This capability on its own makes the system a powerful treatment tool and a powerful marketing tool. But what many new and prospective users don’t realize is—AcuGraph does so much more than take readings and display charts.
The truth is, AcuGraph is a transformative, multifaceted system that delivers countless high- value benefits to practitioners. It can literally change your practice. We know because it has done so for hundreds of our practitioners.
Here are 5 of our favorite benefits and functions of AcuGraph—beyond just taking a reading.
5 Things AcuGraph Can Do
1) A Secure Database and Record Keeping Software
AcuGraph provides a platform for note taking and record keeping. It has built in templates for different types of notes—like chief complaint, photos, treatment recommendations and areas of pain. AcuGraph stores notes in an online, HIPAA complaint cloud-based database. This ensures that even if your computer were to crash, your patient data would be safe.
Many of our users have expressed that even though they used a cloud-based record keeping system before AcuGraph, AcuGraph does everything their old system did—and more! Plus, this amazing feature of AcuGraph is built right into the annual service and support plan fee. Which means you’re not paying an extra subscription for these powerful features.
2) Intuitive Treatment Recommendations
You may have known that AcuGraph gives intuitive treatment recommendations for acupuncture points based on the imbalances in the graph. But it does so much more than just basic points for balance.
Advanced Treatment Protocols
In addition to basic points, AcuGraph has built in treatment recommendations for advanced treatment by adding Shen, Ko, and Luo transfers to accomplish more, using fewer points. It recommends applicable auricular points, Back-Shu points, and the Divergent Channel treatment.
After graphing your patient, you can toggle between these built in protocols to see the recommended points, and then choose which points (if any) to add to your treatment plan.
Or, perhaps you want to treat your patient using something other than acupuncture points? Not to worry—options abound! You can look at the graph using several different intuitive views—like 5 Elements, Yin/Yang, or the Energy cycle. If you like to incorporate herbs into your treatments, you can view built in recommendations for herbal formulas. They’re targeted specifically to help balance the graph!
Herbal Recommendations
Diet, Food and Lifestyle
Do you want to help your patient make healthy lifestyle changes? There’s an entire library of dietary recommendations based on traditional TCM patterns. The system automatically takes TCM patterns from the patient’s graph into account and shows you good, better and BEST foods to help resolve those patterns. You can also recommend home care treatments, like exercise, deep breathing or meditation.
Spinal View
Additionally, you can view a representation of the patient’s spine that shows which areas of the spine may be affected by the imbalances in the graph. Some practitioners use this to fine-tune their chiropractic adjustments. Others use this insight to perfect their acupuncture cupping technique and placement. Or, to help them decide where to focus with massage, light therapy, bodywork or vibrational therapy.
Custom Recommendations
If none of these versatile options suit your particular treatment style, you can also create custom treatment recommendations that show up based on patterns or imbalances in the graph. You can add in absolutely anything you desire—like essential oils, or techniques for emotional release.
The bottom line is, AcuGraph fits your particular style as a practitioner—to make your life easier, and your patient’s life better.
3) Patient Education
AcuGraph is the CHAMPION of patient education. It helps patients understand and actually see what is going on in their Meridians, and how it relates to their symptoms.
In today’s medical world of prescriptions and surgeries, chronic patients often feel misunderstood, hopeless and without options. They crave to feel validated- like someone understands their struggle and knows the cause and the remedy.
AcuGraph does just this. It demystifies the complicated jargon of Chinese Medicine, helping practitioners communicate with patients at the patient’s own level of understanding. Furthermore, it visually displays imbalances, which gives the patient confidence that there is something noticeably wrong, and that it can be fixed.
Here’s a short patient education video that’s built into AcuGraph’s software. Many of our practitioners show it to new patients so that they know what to expect from treatment!
4) AcuGraph = Referrals
It’s no secret among AcuGraph Users that AcuGraph leads to word of mouth referrals. In fact, AcuGraph Users bring in 35% more revenue than their peers. The truth is, modern patients are impressed with modern diagnostics. They want you to speak to them in a language they can understand, and they want to see proof that they’re getting better.
And that’s where AcuGraph really shines. Imagine a new patient coming in for a first visit. They explain the reason for their visit, including their history, symptoms and health goals. They ask whether you can help them.
Insight Leads to Confidence
You confidently pull out your AcuGraph probe and explain that you’re going to take a reading. After you finish the reading, a picture of the patient’s chi is plainly visually, right there, in their graph. You take them through AcuGraph’s intuitive graph views, which mention specific symptoms and patterns associated with the graph’s findings. Many of the symptoms and patterns apply.
Now, you tell the patient about your plan to help them feel better. You give a powerful treatment. With renewed faith in acupuncture, their body’s unique ability to heal, and your expertise, they book a series of visits and trust that their graph will look a little greener next time. You send them home with a report that displays their graph, and explains their symptoms in simple terms. They share it excitedly with their friends and family, expressing their renewed hope for healing.
All of a sudden, you’re getting a call from Grandma Norma, who needs help with her sciatic pain. Uncle Bob wants to try acupuncture for his headaches. They all book appointments and come to you beaming with excitement to “see their graphs,” and then they tell their friends about it, too. Before you know it, your patient intake has tripled and you have a substantial waiting list for new patients.
What Practitioners have to Say
You don’t have to take our word for it, though. Here’s what some longtime AcuGraph Users have to say:
“I love the AcuGraph program. Whenever I conduct external marketing programs, I ALWAYS use my AcuGraph program. It gets people past the needle concern and into the door. With one health fair alone, I was able to get 8 new patients in 2 hours. This program is an excellent tool for any clinic, established or new.” —Jeffrey Grossman, L.Ac.
“I’ve been using AcuGraph for the last 18 months. My patients are very excited and extremely satisfied. AcuGraph has introduced me as a unique practitioner, and the only acupuncturist in town who is using this miraculous, scientific device. I’m enjoying a good reputation and financial benefits as well.” —Dr. Javed Iqbal, CH, MD
“This is one of the first times I have ever bought any type of equipment at a seminar, that I have had NO buyer’s remorse. I am enjoying my acupuncture practice like never before. My acupuncture practice has tripled in a matter of weeks, and needless to say, the equipment has more than paid for itself.”—Allen Roberds, D.C., Dipl. Ac.
“Since I have brought the AcuGraph into my practice, I have seen my patient retention rate skyrocket! My patients are so interested in seeing how their “energetic body” actually works. Before using the AcuGraph, my consultation times were around 30 minutes with treatment explanations, etc. Now, I let the AcuGraph do it for me and I’m down to 10–15 minute consults and an extra 2–3 hours each day to see patients.This was the best investment I have made in my practice in over 5 years.”—Ryan Lombardo, L.Ac.
5) Progress Reports
Finally, AcuGraph creates “progress reports.” In essence, patients can see how they’re doing with time. They have another witness (beyond the improvement of their symptoms) to show them how their energy is growing, moving and changing.
Many practitioners begin their appointments with AcuGraph readings–even for longtime patients. Patients get excited to see the improvement in the graph. They start to become personal energy experts, recognizing trends in their own energy. They’ll understand how the graph’s findings relate to the stresses or successes of their weeks. They’re eager to see how the lifestyle changes they’ve made and the treatments you’ve given will show up in their graphs.
Kimberly Thompson, L.Ac., likes to explain to patients that her first job is to organize the energy in the body. A green graph indicates an organized, balanced body. Once the body is in balance, real healing can occur. Symptoms will decrease. Sleep, metabolism and immune function will likely improve. The body will be better equipped to deal with the ups and downs of life. Within a few visits, the patient’s chief complaint will be greatly reduced, or completely gone.
We’ve found that patients really love to see the green. It helps them believe in acupuncture, and believe in their own body’s unique capacity to heal and thrive, naturally.
The List Goes On
AcuGraph does so much more than what’s listed here. If you’d like to learn more about how it works and what it can do for your practice, sign up for a live consultation with me, Dr. Adrian Larsen. I’ll meet with you via video chat to show you more of AcuGraph’s amazing features, and answer your specific questions about integrating it into your practice. You can sign up here: https://www.acugraph.com/consultation/
Wishing you Great Success and Joy,
Adrian
I’d like to see a video of the hangouts. Can’t always make it to the live ones.