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SF Bay Area Musicians' Acupuncture Project
FAQ
What is MAP's Mission?
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The San Francisco Bay Area Musicians' Acupuncture Project (MAP) is a privately-operated clinic providing affordable high quality acupuncture care in a community setting to instrumentalists and vocalists whose musical talent enriches the cultural life of the San Francisco Bay Area. MAP fulfills its mission in two ways: 1) Providing expert and convenient acupuncture care to musicians and vocalists working in San Francisco's performing arts nexus centered around the Civic Center and Hayes Valley. 2) Providing high quality acupuncture treatment on a sliding scale to Bay Area instrumentalists and vocalists of all genres.
Who is eligible for acupuncture treatment
through SF Bay MAP?
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MAP was created to provide high quality acupuncture care for professional and up-and-coming instrumentalists and vocalists in all genres of music. In order to fulfill its mission, admission to MAP is subject to verification of eligibility.
SF Bay MAP is open to instrumentalists and vocalists of all genres who meet any one of the following criteria:
- Can verify their musical activities via a website or MySpace page that includes a recognizable photograph of the artist, as well audio clips, CDs and/or a current performance schedule.
- San Francisco Conservatory of Music faculty, students and staff (valid conservatory ID card required)
- San Francisco Opera featured artists, chorus, symphony and staff (valid opera ID card required)
- San Francisco Symphony instrumentalists, chorus and staff (valid symphony ID card required)
- San Francisco World Music Festival featured artists and staff (referral from director required)
- Sangati Center featured artists and staff (referral from director required)
- Can provide a Letter of Verification from a manager/agent, club owner, band leader or employer. The letter should detail your music activities. The letter must be on official letterhead and include a phone number at which the signer of the letter can be reached.
- Note: If you are the administrator of an organization you would like to see included in this list please contact MAP at (415)846-4643.
How is the MAP clinic
different from other clinics?
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The MAP clinic is a variation on the community acupuncture clinic model. The clinic is a single room furnished with special upright and reclining chairs. Several clients are scheduled per hour and are treated simultaneously. While treatments take place in a group setting, medical confidentiality is strictly observed. In keeping with Chinese medical tradition, all treatments are customized to the individual patient's needs.
How is medical confidentiality maintained
at MAP?
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Medical confidentiality is maintained through discrete written and verbal communication between the patient and the acupuncturist. Patients complete an extensive health questionnaire prior to their initial appointment.
What conditions are treatable through MAP?
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Health concerns appropriate for treatment through MAP may be specifically performance-related, such as muscle tension or pain caused by the repetitive strain of playing a musical instrument, or respiratory/throat conditions affecting vocal production. Also appropriate for treatment in the MAP clinic are almost any conditions that respond favorably to Chinese medical treatment.
What conditions are not treatable through MAP?
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Yes, the following are a few examples of conditions not appropriate for treatment through MAP's community acupuncture setting:
- Any acute condition more appropriately treated in a hospital emergency room
- Peri-natal conditions that endanger the life of the mother or child
- Uncontrolled severe psychiatric disorders
- Cancer and HIV, though palliative or supportive care may be available through MAP
How much do treatments cost?
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All treatments are provided on a sliding scale.
Research has shown that most conditions respond best to frequent and regular acupuncture treatment. In particular, pain usually responds best when acupuncture treatment is received several times per week. The goal of MAP's sliding scale is to make acupuncture available to patients at the frequency required for optimal resolution of their condition.
For each dependent child or elder subtract between $5,000 and $10,000 from your annual gross income.| Annual Gross Income | Initial Treatment | Follow-up Treatments |
| Under $25,000 | $20 | $20 |
| $25,000 - $30,000 | $30 | $20 |
| $30,000 - $40,000 | $35 | $20 |
| $40,000 - $50,000 | $40 | $20 |
| $50,000 - $60,000 | $45 | $25 |
| $60,000 - $70,000 | $50 | $30 |
| $70,000 - $80,000 | $55 | $35 |
| $80,000 - $90,000 | $60 | $40 |
| $90,000 - $100,000 | $65 | $45 |
| $100,000+ | $70 | $50 |
The road to success is paved in part by those who have come before. We appreciate your integrity in determining your place on our sliding scale.
The cost of any herbal products recommended is not included in the above fees.
If the lower end of our sliding scale seems high for you, please contact the Haight Ashbury Free Medical Clinic at (415)746-1950 for care.
How much do Chinese herbal products cost?
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The cost of herbal products varies depending on the ingredients and formulation. Generally, herbal formulas for internal use average $9.00 to $25.00 per week. Customized herbal formulas may range from $9.00 to $30.00 or more per week, and may require a private Herb Consultation fee. Herbal products for external use generally range from $9.00 to $18.00 per item.
While SF Bay MAP strives to keep the cost of herbal products affordable, these prices are subject to change without notice.
Where is the MAP clinic located?
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We are located 2 blocks north of the intersection of Gough and Market Streets in Hayes Valley. Our clinic is 2 blocks from Davies Symphony Hall and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and within easy access of the Mission District. The Civic Center BART station is a 7-minute walk from our clinic.
How do I schedule an appointment in the MAP clinic?
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Call MAP acupuncturist Amy Hanks at (415)846-4643 and say you would like to schedule an appointment in the MAP clinic. During this phone call you will be asked what condition(s) you would like treated and asked to verify your eligibility for MAP.
How do I schedule a private appointment?
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Private appointments with MAP founder Amy Hanks, MS, LAc are open to anyone, regardless of their eligibility for the MAP clinic. To schedule please call Amy at (415)846-4643 and say you are interested in a private appointment. Please enquire about current rates when you call.
How is MAP funded?
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MAP is a privately run organization and operates solely on payments for treatments provided. Though not tax-deductible, donations are greatly appreciated. Checks can be made out to "SFBA Musicians' Acupuncture Project" and mailed to 211 Gough Street, Suite 204, San Francisco, CA 94102.
Who is the acupuncturist behind MAP?
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MAP is operated by its founder, Licensed Acupuncturist Amy Hanks, MS, LAc. Amy is from a family of three generations actively involved in music, ranging from Western classical to swing, jazz and world music. As an adult she has studied koto (Japanese zither) and North Indian classical vocal music.
An early fascination with Chinese medicine led Amy to Asia for two years in her late teens. She studied Chinese at the Mandarin Training Center, National Taiwan Normal University and received her undergraduate degree in Asian Studies from UC Berkeley. She apprenticed with the late Beijing/Bay Area acupuncturist George Zhenjing Zhao, and received her 4-year Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine degree from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2000. She has been licensed and practicing acupuncture in Hayes Valley since 2000, serving both Mandarin- and English-speaking clientele.
Amy established the San Francisco Bay Area Musicians' Acupuncture Project in 2007 in order to make her services more accessible to instrumentalists and vocalists of many income levels.
© 2010 San Francisco Bay Area Musicians' Acupuncture Project