Baptist Medical Associates physician is pinning down pain with acupuncture.

Donna Gatewood, MD, who practices family medicine with Baptist Medical Associates Crestwood, discovered the benefits of acupuncture three years ago after it worked wonders for her own back pain. She experienced such relief with no side effects, that she decided to train to provide the service herself in her own practice.

In December 2010, Dr. Gatewood began a physician-only, six-month, 300-hour CME training course in Tempe, AZ. The course was taught by a physician who has been contracted by the U.S. military to train military doctors to treat soldiers’ chronic pain.

Acupuncture is used for many things besides pain management, however Dr. Gatewood focuses her practice on pain management. She began providing the service on Wednesdays in June, and the schedule is full on those days.

Baptist employees on the Baptist Healthcare System comprehensive insurance plan can have the service for a $25 co-pay. Most other insurance plans do not cover the service and those patients must pay $100 cash at the time of service.