A Visit to Taiwan, April 2023

From April 19-26, 2023 I visited Taiwan, giving several laser lectures to Physical Therapy Groups, University Students, and a large Rehabilitation Clinic. It was an incredible week, and I was thrilled to see their enthusiasm for Class 4 Laser Therapy!

With my translator, Vonnie. I could not have done it without her!Speaking at Hungkuang University. The students were very interested, and asked great questions about laser therapy.Working with Vonnie and a DPT at Kaohsiung University.

The wonderful Team at Star Rehabilitation!

Talking with therapist Phoebe about laser applications.

Our view from dinner - the Taipei 101 Tower!

Yes! I will claim the title "World's Foremost Proponent of Class 4 Laser Therapy & World Laser Ambassador" !

My Favorite Books

Phil's favorites book montage

Phil Harrington's favorite books »

SUMMUS Medical Laser and Logan University

In 2009, I started teaching a one- or two-hour class on laser therapy to the seventh trimester physiotherapy students at Logan University in Chesterfield, MO. For the first few years I was working with Logan instructor Dr. Ronald Grant. After he retired, I started working with Dr. Dana Mercer.

My wife Tami and I with Dr. Dana Mercer at Logan (2108)

For many years, I went to Logan once a trimester (three times a year) to share photobiomodulation information wiht the Logan students. I also helped Dr. Dana with educational materials and certification exams, and offered any other help I could give.

On November 18, 2022, I received this wonderful email from Dr. Mercer. 

"Thank you for your continued support with our educational agreement between SUMMUS Medical Laser and Logan University. Your support over the years has had many benefits for our students and faculty in learning new photobiomodulation technologies and has helped prepare them for their future practices.  

With your equipment and services, here are some of the implementation procedures that have been incorporated with our agreement: 

• SUMMUS Medical laser is a part of the College of Chiropractic core curriculum presented in the Therapeutic Modalities course in trimester six. (pre-clinical) 
• Every chiropractic student and clinician in our health centers completes the SUMMUS Medical Laser Safety Certification course and exam. Students must complete the safety exam prior to entering student clinic, which is prior to outpatient clinic. 
• Every chiropractic student and clinician receive a SUMMUS Laser Safety certification certificate for future practice and necessary OSHA requirements. 
• The SUMMUS Medical laser is one of the most utilized equipment in the student health center and all outpatient centers. 
• A SUMMUS Medical Laser sign is posted within our student health center and outpatient rehabilitation center as an awareness and appreciation for SUMMUS educational support. 
• Research has and continues to be conducted using the SUMMUS laser. 
• SUMMUS Medical laser was represented at the 2022 ACC-RAC convention during a research poster demonstration. 
• SUMMUS Medical laser will be represented at the 2023 ACC-RAC convention in a research platform presentation. 
• SUMMUS support videos, lecture modules, PowerPoints, research, and technology is continuously being updated and implemented for educational purposes and awareness. 
• Continuous communication between SUMMUS laser representatives and clinical consulting has been ongoing from the start of our agreement.  
• SUMMUS Post-graduate CE courses have been implemented at Logan University. 
• SUMMUS Laser technology presentations have been implemented to Logan University partners at Shanghai University, University of Memphis, University of Missouri, Stephen A. Orthwein Center at Paraquad-STL, and at Photobiomodulation seminars. 

With sincere appreciation for your continued support, we hope to grow the future of photobiomodulation therapy. We truly appreciate the ability for our students to have first-hand knowledge and hands-on experience with SUMMUS Lasers."

Thank you!

Dana Mercer 

CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain - Laser Therapy Now Recommended

"This guideline provides recommendations for clinicians providing pain care, including those prescribing opioids, for outpatients aged ≥18 years. It updates the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain — United States, 2016 (MMWR Recomm Rep 2016;65[No. RR-1]:1–49) and includes recommendations for managing acute (duration of <1 month), subacute (duration of 1–3 months), and chronic (duration of >3 months) pain."

"This clinical practice guideline is intended to improve communication between clinicians and patients about the benefits and risks of pain treatments, including opioid therapy; improve the effectiveness and safety of pain treatment; mitigate pain; improve function and quality of life for patients with pain; and reduce risks associated with opioid pain therapy, including opioid use disorder, overdose, and death."

"Clinicians should recommend appropriate noninvasive nonpharmacologic approaches to help manage chronic pain ... such as low-level laser therapy..."

READ THE FULL GUIDELINES HERE

Class 4 Laser Therapy: From Maligned Modality to Clinically Recommended Treatment

Class 4 therapy lasers were first FDA cleared in December 2003, and since then treatments have improved the quality of life for tens of thousands of human and animal patients. Those who criticize, defame, discredit, disgrace, impugn or in any way speak negatively about class 4 laser therapy need to stop it.