Category: News Across the Profession

Southern California University of Health Sciences Faculty Member Wins International Chiropractic Essay Competition

Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) faculty member Garrett Thompson, PhD, has been awarded first prize in the faculty division of the International Chiropractic Essay Competition offered by the ONE Research Foundation. To be eligible, contestants must have been engaged as fulltime, adjunct, or emeritus faculty members of a chiropractic college.

The essay competition was titled, “Should Chiropractic Academia Embrace the Biopsychosocial Model?” Dr. Thompson’s winning essay was titled, “The Biopsychosocial Model in Academia: Philosophy or Best Practices?” and is featured on the foundation website at www.onefoundation.org.

Dr. Thompson is an assistant professor at SCU. He received his PhD in Biochemistry from Loma Linda University in California, and his BS from Reed College in Portland, Oregon.

The ONE Research Foundation is a charitable nonprofit organization that funds scientific research, and endeavors to bring Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) to the world. The foundation funds research published in peer reviewed journals in an effort to support clinical data with scientific validation. For more information the on Southern California University of Health Sciences, go to www.scuhs.edu.

 

 

New GCA Site Offers Healthy Living Tips

Georgians looking for a healthier lifestyle now have a new tool to help. FindGeorgiaChiropractors.com, the official patient site of the Georgia Chiropractic Association, is packed with useful healthy living tips and information on how chiropractic care fits perfectly into routine wellness care, improves athletic performance and relieves pain.

Launched by GCA, the site gives patients access to important health information for an optimum lifestyle. The site provides articles on wellness, profiles of member chiropractors, a diagnosis tool, an “Ask a Chiropractor” section and a weekly healthy living tip.

Patients looking for pain relief, wellness, healing from accidents or improved athletic performance will find sections tailored directly to their needs. They may also search for a doctor by city, name, school attended or methods practiced, and find out what to expect during their first visit. The site also includes information on how chiropractic can positively impact the health of children.

For more information and an additional link to this new patient Web site, go to www.gachiro.org.

 

 

Brazil–Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Chiropractic Profession

 

On March 3, 2009, in the latest step by the Brazilian Chiropractors’ Association (ABQ) to defend the chiropractic profession against efforts by the physiotherapy profession to have chiropractic declared a specialty of physiotherapy (PT), Federal Judge Diana Brunstein has ruled strongly in favor of the ABQ.

Chiropractic is a profession not a technique, says Judge Brunstein, and PT authorities should not seek to declare it a specialty of physiotherapy. An appeal by CREFITO, the regulatory body for PT in the State of São Paulo, asking to remove an earlier court injunction against CREFITO, was denied.

The background to this dispute is that the ABQ, representing less than 400 chiropractors in Brazil, is promoting legislation to regulate the practice of chiropractic. The response of the national regulatory body COFFITO, representing over 90,000 PT’s, has been to claim chiropractic is a specialty of PT.

For Judge Brunstein’s decision in Portuguese and English, much more information, a list of donors, and a donation form, should you be willing to assist with the ABQ’s ongoing legal and legislative costs, visit www.wfc.org/newsroom.

 

 

NCBTMB Issues Statement Regarding the Use of its Certification Tests as the National Standard for Entry-Level Licensure Exams

The Board of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) has issued the following statement regarding the use of its certification tests as the national standard for entry-level licensure exams. The statement was issued on behalf of the NCBTMB Board by Paul R. Lindamood, NCBTMB’s Chief Executive Officer.

“NCBTMB whole-heartedly supports licensure through our certification program as the best licensing path for the massage professional. Over 30 years of national policy and precedent in the healthcare field, as well as 16 years of successful implementation by the NCBTMB favoring licensure through certification, supports this successful inter-relationship.

“NCBTMB’s exam program has successfully raised the standards for massage therapy and thereby protected the public health, safety and welfare since 1992. Today, in 33 of 39 states that regulate massage, our licensure through certification programs have successfully helped transform massage into the acknowledged, respected profession it has

THE GEORGIA CHIROPRACTIC ASSOCIATION SPRING CONFERENCE
& Trade Show will take place at the Hyatt

 

GCA Spring Conference-Savannah, GA-May 1-3
THE GEORGIA CHIROPRACTIC ASSOCIATION SPRING CONFERENCE & Trade Show will take place at the Hyatt Regency Savannah in the beautiful historic district of Savannah on May 1-3. The program will feature Dr. Steve Troyanovich, speaking on Structural Rehabilitation of the Spine and Posture: A Practical Approach. Joining him on the program will be Dr. Raymond Fowler, F.A.C.O., D.A.C.B.R., who will present a program on Spinal Stabilization. Also on the program will be Bharon Hoag, C.P.C., C.H.C., the Senior Consultant in the ACOM Healthcare Business Consulting Group, and Laurie Simpson, C.C.A.

For additional information about the conference & trade show, go to www.gachiro.org.

Research Department at Northwestern Health Sciences University Creates New Positions to Increase Research Study Capacity

THE WOLFE-HARRIS CENTER FOR CLINICAL STUDIES (WHCCS) AT Northwestern Health Sciences University recently created two positions in a strategic move to increase the capacity to take on different types of research studies. Barry Taylor, D.C., was named research clinic director, and Sara Zwagerman, B.S., was named research clinic administrator. According to Roni Evans, D.C., M.S., dean of research, the research department is working toward offering treatments on a fee-for-service basis in the Biofreeze Thera-band Rehabilitation Center. This will be in addition to continuing to conduct a variety of research studies. The new positions were created, in part, to support this endeavor. The addition of these new roles will help the department effi ciently address resource needs and spot potential barriers, and enhance responsiveness to the needs of patients, funding agencies, and the institution. For more information: www.nwhealth.edu.

Chiropractors Keeping It Clean A TEAM OF DEDICATED PUBLIC HEALTH CARE RESEARCHERS HAVE published a protocol for hand and table sanitization in the March 2009 issue of the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine. In this study, the authors reviewed the scientific literature and developed a protocol for hand and table sanitizing that is specifi c to the chiropractic profession. The purpose of this article is to present a proposed guideline for hand and treatment table surface sanitizing for the chiropractic profession that is evidence- based and can easily be adopted by teaching institutions and doctors in the fi eld. This article offers the chiropractic profession a set of guidelines that may assist in educational environments, teaching clinics, and private practices. The article is available to subscribers and may be accessed for free through the journal website www. journalchiromed.com. The Chiropractic Health Care (CHC) Section of the American Public Health Association (APHA-CHC), founded in 1995, has maintained a critical role in public health issues such as well-ness, health promotion and disease prevention in the context of chiropractic policies and practices. For more information about the CHC, visit http://www.apha.org/membergroups/sections/ aphasections/chc/ Autism Is the Leading Health Care Crisis in Our Country IN 2008, DR. RENEE TOCCO FORMED THE AMERICAN CHIROPRACTIC Autism Board (ACAB). The ACAB has a world-class board of advisers that bring extraordinary expertise concerning care for ASD (autism spectrum disorders) and represents the many different facets of recovery. To help children with ASD, you must restore biochemical and neurological balance. The ACAB will host a three-day conference on May 15-17, 2009, in Charleston, SC.

On May 15, 2009, The 2009 International Vaccine Risk Symposium will bring together some of the best medical minds of our times who will validate and expose the latest research on the dangers of vaccines, including vaccine-induced microvascular aneurism. May 16-17, 2009, ACAB presents Hope for Autism. This conference equips chiropractors to responsibly address autism, Attention Defi cit Disorder, learning disabilities and other neurological developmental problems using BioNutritional Care. Doctors of chiropractic that complete the training conference will be added to the ACAB’s online referral directory. For more information visit www.BioNutritionalCare.com or call 1-843-766-1969. Robert and Riekeman on Philosophy at WFC Congress PAST NEWS ON THE WORLD FEDERATION OF CHIROPRACTIC’S 10TH Biennial Congress to be held in Montreal, April 30 to May 2, 2009 (www.wfc.org/congress2009) has focused on keynote technique and clinical science speakers.

This meeting, co-sponsored by the Canadian Chiropractic Association and with a theme of Celebrating Chiropractic in the 21st Century, also has an outstanding program on the philosophy of chiropractic and health care. One session has three leading authorities speaking on whether the biopsychosocial model, rather than the biomedical model, should be the philosophical model for not only chiropractic but all health care, namely:

• Serge Robert, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal.

• Guy Riekeman, D.C., President, Life University, Marietta, Georgia.
• Alan Breen, D.C., Ph.D., Professor of Musculoskeletal Health Care, Anglo-European College of Chiropractic, Bournemouth, England. Highlights of the Congress social program include an opening reception, a Thursday Quebec cultural night, and the Saturday night gala banquet and dance.
All information is at www.wfc. org/congress2009.

California Chiropractic Association
Produces Pro-Chiro Video!

Go to calchiro.org/about_chiropractic.html to view CCA’s professionally produced video in which Terry Schroeder, DC, four-time Olympian and coach of the silver medal-winning 2008 USA Olympic Men’s Water Polo team, shares why he and so many other world-class athletes, as well as everyday people, rely on chiropractic care to keep them well. This video delivers that message of how great chiropractic is in living color. CCA proudly represents the chiropractic profession in California, and we think these videos proudly represent CCA members. To join CCA and get free access to this video, contact Scott Van Horn at 1-916-648-2727, ext. 124 or [email protected].

 

Over 100 Chiropractors Meet in Cordoba, Argentina, South America

From Dec. 12-Dec. 15, 2008, over 100 chiropractors came from several countries to meet, discuss, and learn marketing, philosophy, and communication skills that will send them back to their communities with powerful new ways to communicate vertebral subluxation centered chiropractic with their practice members. It was also the first graduation of a group of twenty-one chiropractors who, for two years, have studied rigorous and principled courses in chiropractic art, science, and philosophy.

For more information on chiropractic in Argentina, contact the AQA at www.aqa.com.

 

Scope of practice dispute can proceed,
Texas court rules

A Texas appeals court gave the green light to state
physicians’ challenge to stop chiropractors from performing certain medical procedures.

Judges, in a Nov. 26, 2008, decision ruled unanimously that the Texas Medical Assn. had the right to sue the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners over a board rule allowing chiropractors to perform spinal manipulation on patients under anesthesia. Physicians allege the regulation intrudes on the practice of medicine and violates a 2005 state law prohibiting any “surgical procedures” from the scope of chiropractic practice. The TMA filed the lawsuit jointly with the Texas Medical Board.

The chiropractic board said it is considering whether to appeal to the state Supreme Court. If not, the case will head to trial. The agency maintains it has complied with the legislative instructions and plans to defend the rule.

The American Chiropractor is committed to sharing current state news from all 50 states within the chiropractic profession. We welcome a news brief from your organization that is 50-100 words. Please e-mail your news to [email protected] or call 1-888-668-8728 and ask for Carey.

Continue reading “News of the profession”

Tackling Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Health Care Crisis

Musculoskeletal disorders cost the United States approximately $850 billion per year and are the most common causes of severe long-term pain and physical disability. Joint efforts need to continue in order to reduce this public health burden.

To address these issues, Drs. Rand Baird and Paul Dougherty met with Georges Benjamin, MD, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association (APHA), and Toby King, Executive Director of the US Bone and Joint Decade, to discuss how the chiropractic profession may serve as a bridge between these two large multidisciplinary organizations to address the burden of musculoskeletal disease on public health in the United States. They discussed the possibility of the APHA endorsing the US Bone and Joint decade tenets and increasing awareness of musculoskeletal disease by having dedicated multidisciplinary sessions that address musculoskeletal diseases at the annual APHA meeting.

“It is my hope that we will see this project be a success and that we will see the chiropractic profession rise to a greater level of participation in the public health arena,” said Paul Dougherty, incoming chair of the Chiropractic Health Care (CHC) section. “It is my vision to see the CHC become the leader in addressing the public health crisis of musculoskeletal disorders.”

The Chiropractic Health Care Section of the APHA (APHA-CHC), founded in 1995, has maintained a critical role in public health issues such as wellness, health promotion and disease prevention in the context of chiropractic policies and practices. For more information about the CHC, visit http://www.apha.org/membergroups/sections/aphasections/chc/.

 

 

Northwestern Health Sciences University Lands $3 Million in Federal Research Grants

The Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies (WHCCS) at Northwestern Health Sciences University will receive nearly $3 million in federal funding to conduct two new clinical trials.

The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is awarding a three-year grant to Northwestern for approximately $1.65 million for the study, “Chiropractic and Exercise for Low Back Pain in Adolescents.” The University will also receive a three-year grant award for approximately $1.6 million for the study, “Chiropractic and Exercise Management of Spinal Dysfunction in Seniors.” Recruitment of participants for both studies is anticipated to begin in 2010.

“We are extremely proud of the groundbreaking research being done at the Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies,” says Mark Zeigler, DC, president of Northwestern. “For nearly two decades, our world renowned research team has been an international leader in conducting research intended to develop new models of evidence-informed, patient centered care.”

Both awards are part of a large grant writing effort completed by Northwestern’s research department earlier this spring. With the addition of these two new studies, the University has secured more than $13 million in federal funding in the last decade.

Visit www.nwhealth.edu for more information.

 

 

Missouri Department of Insurance fines United Healthcare; insurer to review 50,000 claims for chiropractic treatment

Two subsidiaries of United Healthcare, based in St. Louis, will pay $536,000 in fines and reopen chiropractic claim files it has denied since 2004. Under a settlement with the Missouri Department of Insurance, United Healthcare has agreed to reexamine at least 50,000 claims filed by chiropractors who treated the company’s policyholders. The Department of Insurance found United Healthcare violated state insurance laws by limiting coverage to 26 visits per year. In other cases, the department says the company failed to evaluate the medical necessity of treatment before denying claims.

For any chiropractic claims it finds were improperly denied, United Healthcare must reimburse the physicians for those claims, plus interest. In some cases, consumers may have paid the bills, rather than the chiropractors. Those consumers should contact United Healthcare at 1-800-873-4575. Patients or chiropractors with questions about the settlement can call the Department of Insurance Consumer Hotline at 1-800-726-7390 or visit insurance.mo.gov.

The department conducts 30 to 40 market conduct exams of insurance companies in a typical year and, in 2008, these exams yielded more than $6 million in restitution for consumers and more than $700,000 in fines to benefit Missouri public schools. The Department of Insurance can order a market conduct exam at any time, if it suspects violations of Missouri insurance laws.

For further information, contact The Public Information Office at 1-573-751-2562.

 

 

International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA)
Members Define the Practice of Pediatric Chiropractic

The ICPA’s ground breaking study, “The Safety and Effectiveness of Pediatric Chiropractic: A Survey of Chiropractors and Parents in a Practice-Based Research Network,” was published this month in the prestigious, biomedical journal, Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing. The objective of this study was to describe the practice of pediatric chiropractic, including its safety and effectiveness.

The results of the study determined that “the indicated primary reason for chiropractic care of children was “‘wellness care.'” With respect to condition-based presentations, musculoskeletal conditions were the most common, in addition to nonmusculoskeletal conditions of childhood. Treatment-associated complications were not indicated by the chiropractic and parent responders. Dr. Joel Alcantara, ICPA Research Director and presenting author said, “This paper shows the preliminary results of the ICPA’s Children’s PBRN on the safety and effectiveness of pediatric chiropractic—Phase One. The final data is now compiled and we have begun data collection for Phase Two of our Children’s PBRN. We are pleased that a major biomedical CAM journal respects the importance of pediatric chiropractic and we foresee greater collaboration with the general CAM and allopathic community on the importance of chiropractic for children.

Visit the ICPA website to view the abstract: www.icpa4kids.com. To participate in the ICPA PBRN, visit http://www.icpa4kids.com/research/PBRN/PBRN.htm.

I recently returned from the European Chiropractors Union (ECU) annual conference in London, where I heard a landmark presentation from Dr. Scott Haldeman, DC, MD, PhD, FCCS(C), FRCP(C). In fact, he must be credited for a yeoman’s amount of work just to compile it. In Dr. Haldeman’s presentation, he shared some particularly interesting statistics to help us better understand chiropractic’s position in the world.  
For example, there are an estimated 100,000 chiropractors worldwide. The World Federation of Chiropractic has 85 membership countries.  Chiropractic is practiced legally in 89 countries, and we have colleges in 15 countries.

Continue reading “The Relationship Between Research and Identity – A Report from the European Chiropractors Union”

Tackling Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Health Care Crisis

Musculoskeletal disorders cost the United States approximately $850 billion per year and are the most common causes of severe long-term pain and physical disability. Joint efforts need to continue in order to reduce this public health burden.

To address these issues, Drs. Rand Baird and Paul Dougherty met with Georges Benjamin, MD, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association (APHA), and Toby King, Executive Director of the US Bone and Joint Decade, to discuss how the chiropractic profession may serve as a bridge between these two large multidisciplinary organizations to address the burden of musculoskeletal disease on public health in the United States. They discussed the possibility of the APHA endorsing the US Bone and Joint decade tenets and increasing awareness of musculoskeletal disease by having dedicated multidisciplinary sessions that address musculoskeletal diseases at the annual APHA meeting.

“It is my hope that we will see this project be a success and that we will see the chiropractic profession rise to a greater level of participation in the public health arena,” said Paul Dougherty, incoming chair of the Chiropractic Health Care (CHC) section. “It is my vision to see the CHC become the leader in addressing the public health crisis of musculoskeletal disorders.”

The Chiropractic Health Care Section of the APHA (APHA-CHC), founded in 1995, has maintained a critical role in public health issues such as wellness, health promotion and disease prevention in the context of chiropractic policies and practices. For more information about the CHC, visit http://www.apha.org/membergroups/sections/aphasections/chc/. 

Northwestern Health Sciences University Lands $3 Million in Federal Research Grants

The Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies (WHCCS) at Northwestern Health Sciences University will receive nearly $3 million in federal funding to conduct two new clinical trials.

The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is awarding a three-year grant to Northwestern for approximately $1.65 million for the study, “Chiropractic and Exercise for Low Back Pain in Adolescents.” The University will also receive a three-year grant award for approximately $1.6 million for the study, “Chiropractic and Exercise Management of Spinal Dysfunction in Seniors.” Recruitment of participants for both studies is anticipated to begin in 2010.

“We are extremely proud of the groundbreaking research being done at the Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies,” says Mark Zeigler, DC, president of Northwestern. “For nearly two decades, our world renowned research team has been an international leader in conducting research intended to develop new models of evidence-informed, patient centered care.”

Both awards are part of a large grant writing effort completed by Northwestern’s research department earlier this spring. With the addition of these two new studies, the University has secured more than $13 million in federal funding in the last decade.

Visit www.nwhealth.edu for more information.

Missouri Department of Insurance fines United Healthcare; insurer to review 50,000 claims for chiropractic treatment

Two subsidiaries of United Healthcare, based in St. Louis, will pay $536,000 in fines and reopen chiropractic claim files it has denied since 2004. Under a settlement with the Missouri Department of Insurance, United Healthcare has agreed to reexamine at least 50,000 claims filed by chiropractors who treated the company’s policyholders. The Department of Insurance found United Healthcare violated state insurance laws by limiting coverage to 26 visits per year. In other cases, the department says the company failed to evaluate the medical necessity of treatment before denying claims.

For any chiropractic claims it finds were improperly denied, United Healthcare must reimburse the physicians for those claims, plus interest. In some cases, consumers may have paid the bills, rather than the chiropractors. Those consumers should contact United Healthcare at 1-800-873-4575. Patients or chiropractors with questions about the settlement can call the Department of Insurance Consumer Hotline at 1-800-726-7390 or visit insurance.mo.gov.

The department conducts 30 to 40 market conduct exams of insurance companies in a typical year and, in 2008, these exams yielded more than $6 million in restitution for consumers and more than $700,000 in fines to benefit Missouri public schools. The Department of Insurance can order a market conduct exam at any time, if it suspects violations of Missouri insurance laws.

For further information, contact The Public Information Office at 1-573-751-2562.

International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA)
Members Define the Practice of Pediatric Chiropractic

The ICPA’s ground breaking study, “The Safety and Effectiveness of Pediatric Chiropractic: A Survey of Chiropractors and Parents in a Practice-Based Research Network,” was published this month in the prestigious, biomedical journal, Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing. The objective of this study was to describe the practice of pediatric chiropractic, including its safety and effectiveness.

The results of the study determined that “the indicated primary reason for chiropractic care of children was “‘wellness care.'” With respect to condition-based presentations, musculoskeletal conditions were the most common, in addition to nonmusculoskeletal conditions of childhood. Treatment-associated complications were not indicated by the chiropractic and parent responders. Dr. Joel Alcantara, ICPA Research Director and presenting author said, “This paper shows the preliminary results of the ICPA’s Children’s PBRN on the safety and effectiveness of pediatric chiropractic—Phase One. The final data is now compiled and we have begun data collection for Phase Two of our Children’s PBRN. We are pleased that a major biomedical CAM journal respects the importance of pediatric chiropractic and we foresee greater collaboration with the general CAM and allopathic community on the importance of chiropractic for children.

Visit the ICPA website to view the abstract: www.icpa4kids.com. To participate in the ICPA PBRN, visit http://www.icpa4kids.com/research/PBRN/PBRN.htm.