Bogus Accreditation in the Alternative Healthcare Industry
Navigating the Maze of Deception by People Who Didn't Attend College
People think of alternative or complementary medicine as more “natural.” Alternative medical therapies often claim that Western medicine is built around technology and products produced in a lab. While this is not entirely wrong, many of the gains that have been made in traditional medicine have been the result of innovation in laboratories.
It's a misconception that everything doctors are taught in medical school revolves around drugs or devices. Western medicine, in fact, offers a wide range of tried and true, scientifically-backed therapies and treatments. It's a field led by knowledgeable medical professionals who are adept at what they do, a fact that should inspire trust and confidence.
Before I go further, I want to emphasize that I do believe that alternative medicine can play a legitimate role in healthcare. However, alternative medicine is not about being a cure for serious health issues, which falls under the auspice of traditional Western medicine. Instead, alternative healthcare is better thought of as a valuable tool one might use to maintain health, not as a treatment for illness.
In recent years, alternative treatments have surged in popularity. However, this popularity has also made the field a breeding ground for fraudulent activity. It's important to be aware that while Western medicine may be expensive, it does not exist solely to make money. On the other hand, alternative treatments are often found to prioritize profit over patient care.
One finds that people who couldn’t pass college courses turned to the alternative healthcare industry, often unaware of the risks they might be exposing their patients to. It is alarming to think that virtually anyone can become an alternative healthcare practitioner with just a couple of hundred bucks and a few hours to spare over a weekend.
Mind you, the quality of online education has increased exponentially over the last decade, thanks, in part, to my recently deceased former husband, who was a trailblazer in raising online classes to the standards expected in brick-and-mortar institutions, but this is for college courses for credit. It does not apply to uneducated people who take hours-long courses and then hang out their shingles claiming to be legitimate healthcare practitioners. The uptick in the quality of online courses took years of development and a lot of testing of practices and methods.
However, not all classes that offer accreditation are truly accredited. Some choose to accredit themselves and then claim to be accredited, offering their students the opportunity to buy “accredited” certificates that are virtually worthless in terms of legitimacy and that serve only to help the graduate make money from the unsuspecting. It’s just a ploy to get you to pay more, folks.
One of the most concerning examples is the snake oil salesperson offering 'accreditation' for an additional charge but not accredited through a legitimate third-party entity. This should raise a red flag for anyone seeking alternative healthcare options. ASK before you spend money. Ask who accredits the online classes. If the entity is not a legitimate accreditation entity, and especially if the accrediting agency is one that the healthcare practice is selling and is regulated by THAT agency…avoid! Avoid at all costs. These people do NOT know what they are doing!
Why is this important?
The first reason is that many of these alternative health care “professionals” have never been to college, have never studied medicine in any formal setting, and do not know what they are doing. They are in the business of making money, period. For instance, the other day, someone spoke to me about a “wonderful” alternative treatment that causes an increase in oxytocin.
Had this person had a real education, he or she would have realized that elevated oxytocin levels are not necessarily good, and one should be tested for sensitivity before administering any therapy that could raise oxytocin levels. Alternative or complementary therapeutic practices are not qualified to do this and probably couldn’t read the test results if they did them. That’s the bottom line. In some cases, elevated oxytocin levels might increase emotional sensitivity and vulnerability, potentially leading to mood swings or exacerbating conditions, such as depression or anxiety.
High oxytocin levels might also interfere with cognitive processes like decision-making and learning. It can affect memory and the ability to process complex social cues or make rational decisions. While oxytocin is linked to enhanced bonding and trust, too much of it can lead to inappropriate social behaviors, such as overly trusting others or failing to recognize social cues, which might be detrimental in certain situations.
Excessive oxytocin can sometimes lead to physical symptoms, such as increased heart rate, headaches, or even more severe effects on cardiovascular health. It can also lead to problems during pregnancy, such as premature labor or complications with fetal heart rate and contractions. Is this taught in online “Get your accredited certificate here!” courses? It is not. And those sham operations are usually the first to claim, “Yes, but we’re accredited!” Chances are, if this claim is made, it comes from some fly-by-night alternative resource that doesn’t know the first thing about many vital alternative healthcare issues that could be consequential. The claims also come from alternative healthcare entities that accredit themselves, thus making even more money.
Meeting accreditation standards doesn’t automatically equate to effective care delivery. For instance, a hospital might comply with medication administration protocols but fail to track medication errors or adapt to newer, more effective treatments due to rigid adherence to outdated standards. This is where the monitoring of healthcare practitioners by the accrediting entity comes into play to make sure that all aspects of patient care are maintained within the regulatory standards.
While the above meme is true, a lot depends on the entity issuing the accreditation. Self-accreditation in alternative healthcare services can pose dangers and issues for clients. First, self-accreditation methods must have the objectivity that third-party accreditation bodies provide. This can result in biased assessments of the service’s quality and effectiveness, as the service may not critically evaluate its own flaws and limitations.
Third-party accreditation often carries more credibility because it typically involves rigorous standards and external audits. Self-accreditation may not be credible by patients, other healthcare providers, or insurers, potentially reducing trust in the service.
Without a standardized, external set of criteria, BY A THIRD PARTY, OBJECTIVE ENTITY, the standards set by different alternative healthcare providers can vary widely. This lack of consistency can lead to services that are not only ineffective but potentially harmful.
The primary concern with self-accreditation is the potential risk to patient safety. With stringent and unbiased standards, treatments that have been adequately vetted for safety or efficacy could be administered, leading to adverse effects such as worsening of conditions.
In some jurisdictions, certain health services are required to meet specific regulatory standards. Self-accreditation might not fulfill these legal requirements, potentially leading to legal issues and sanctions.
Market confusion also exists in the realm of self-accreditation. When alternative healthcare providers self-accredit, it can create confusion in the market as consumers may struggle to understand the difference between various credentials and accreditations. This can make it difficult for patients to make informed choices about their healthcare, especially if the healthcare provider uses accreditation as a ploy to make more money.
Given all of these risks, it is often recommended that alternative healthcare services seek accreditation from reputable, independent bodies to ensure they meet universally accepted standards for quality and safety.
Who will advocate for our healthcare if we don’t ask the questions and train ourselves about what to look for?
Lots of good and helpful information. To date I have not had to seek alternative health care, but if I do, I'll have questions and will seek the proper sources for my answers. Thank you!!🩺🩻