News – Page 2 – The American Chiropractor

Dr. Yochum Wins Fraternal Award

Dr. Terry R. Yochum was honored by the Sigma Chi Fraternity as one of approximately 20 brothers to receive the distinguished “Significant Sig Award.” The honor was bestowed on Dr. Yochum on June 25, 2011 in Dallas, Texas at the annual meeting of the Grand Chapter of the International Sigma Chi Fraternity.

The award is given in recognition of contributions to mankind and Dr. Yochum is the first chiropractor in the history of Sigma Chi Fraternity to ever receive this prestigious award. There are over 300,000 Sigma Chi that have been inducted into the fraternity with only 1,600 brothers of Sigma Chi receiving the “Significant Sig Award”. In Dr. Yochum’s induction class was the famous movie star, “Brad Pitt” from the University of Missouri. Other famous people who have received the Significant Sig Award include David Letterman, John Wayne, Barry Goldwater, Tom Selleck, Mike Dikita and Bryan Griese to name just a few.

Over 3,000 people attended this hall of fame banquet. Dr. Yochum’s acceptance speech included the following quote:

“One of the best decisions I ever made was to become a chiropractic physician and eventually a radiologist. The natural approach to health and wellness embraced by the chiropractic profession has served me, my family and close friends to attain better health. Anyone struggling with a health issue, why not try chiropractic as an alternative? The profession has helped millions of patients worldwide.”

Dr. Richard Schultz, pictured here with Dr. Yochum, is a fellow Sigma Chi and chiropractor. He recommended Dr. Yochum for consideration to receive this prestigious award.

Congressional Committee Calls Chiropractic “Key Benefit” Within DoD Health Care System, Urges Pay Equity System

Arlington, Va.- Members of the House Armed Services Committee have approved the inclusion of a strong, pro-chiropractic directive in their official committee report accompanying the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act. The committee language asserts that services provided by doctors of chiropractic (DCs) for our nation’s men and women in uniform is of “high quality” and has become a “key” benefit within the military health care system. Read relevant pages from the committee report here.

According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC), the language is significant for several reasons. “What we have here–and this is very important–is an official statement from one of the House’s oversight committees with authority over the Pentagon that directly links the services of DCs to the treatment of conditions experienced as a result of combat operations. This is a huge validation that chiropractic services are of significant, direct value to a combat fighting force,” said ACA President Keith Overland, DC.

Equally significant, the thrust of the language is aimed at ensuring that DCs within the military achieve “pay equality” and appropriate “job classifications” that are on par with other health care providers with similar training, education and scopes of practice. Regarding that language, Dr. Overland noted, “Our advocacy efforts have not only been aimed at getting DCs into federal health care programs such as the DoD’s, and expanding their presence there, but they also have been aimed at ensuring that DCs are provided with appropriate status, authority, salaries and other benefits equal to those enjoyed by comparable-level providers. This is a major step forward in this advocacy process. It demonstrates that Congress is not just interested in simple DC inclusion, but inclusion in the right way which fully recognizes the status, training and professional capabilities of a DC. Part of the ACA’s mission is to level the playing field down to every last detail.”

Inclusion of the language follows a bi-partisan letter sent last year to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, signed by 15 members of the House Armed Services Committee, requesting the Department of Defense take action to correct the wage rate disparity experienced by doctors of chiropractic within the DoD. Full congressional action on the Defense Authorization bill that includes the House committee language has not yet taken place, but enactment is expected later this year, according to ACA officials, and will be a positive indicator that Congress continues to support a robust chiropractic program within the Department of Defense.

“The Association of Chiropractic Colleges is gratified that the extensive education and training that doctors of chiropractic receive has been recognized and that appropriate compensation is vital,” said ACC President Dr. Richard Brassard. Dr. Overland added, “I want to thank House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon, Ranking Member Adam Smith and especially Congressmen Mike Rogers of Alabama and Dave Loebsack of Iowa for moving this issue forward.”

For further information on chiropractic inclusion in the military, or to learn more about ACA’s ongoing legislative efforts, go to ACA’s Advocacy webpage at www.ACAToday.org

DCs Eligible for IHS Student Loan Repayment Program

The American Chiropractic Association announced that doctors of chiropractic are now eligible to apply for a student loan repayment program administered by the Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The news comes following advocacy work by the association.

IHS provides health care to approximately 2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. Its loan repayment program awards up to $20,000 per year for the repayment of qualified student loans in exchange for an initial two-year service obligation to practice full time at an Indian health program site. Learn more at www.ihs.gov.com

Money, Coercion, and Undue Inducement: Attitudes Vary about Payments to Research Participants

(Garrison, NY) Researchers almost always offer money as an incentive for healthy volunteers to enroll in research studies, but does payment amount to coercion or undue inducement to participate in research? In the first national study to examine their views on this question, the majority of institutional review board members and other research ethics professionals expressed persistent ethical concern about the effects of offering payment to research subjects. But they differed in their views of the meaning of coercion and undue influence and how to avoid these problems in concrete research situations. The study appears in IRB: Ethics & Human Research.

The findings are important because the federal regulations for the protection of human subjects — known as the Common Rule — state that investigators should seek consent from potential research volunteers under circumstances that “minimize the possibility of coercion or undue influence.” The regulations do not define these terms.

The study consisted of an online survey that asked a random sample of IRB members and others involved with upholding ethical standards in biomedical research about their views about different kinds of payments, including money, nonmonetary offers, and medical care. Of the 610 respondents, 61 percent “reported feeling somewhat, moderately, or very concerned that payment of any amount might influence a participant’s decision or behaviors regarding research participation.” The higher the payment, the greater the concern.

“Most respondents expressed concern that substantial payment could compromise a participant’s ability to think clearly about study risks and benefits (85%), lead individuals to enroll in a trial they otherwise would not enroll in (88%), or remain in one from which they would like to withdraw (84%),” the authors write. Most respondents agreed that researchers could offer money to reimburse expenses, and many thought that offering money as compensation for time and inconvenience was acceptable.

But the authors conclude that the respondents’ views of coercion and undue influence were “excessively expansive, or inconsistent.” For example, while more than 90 percent agreed with a definition of coercion tied to threat of harm, most also agreed that research participants are coerced when an offer of payment — not the threat of harm — gets them to participate when they otherwise would not.

The findings pose a dilemma to those charged with ethical oversight of human subjects research. According to the authors, unless researchers can offer payment as an incentive to participate in research, people might not enroll in studies and, therefore, much valuable research “is unlikely to be conducted in a timely manner or even conducted at all.” And yet IRBs should not approve protocols — whatever their social or scientific value — unless the possibility of coercion or undue influence has been minimized. To get around this dilemma, the authors recommend that policy and educational efforts be undertaken to clarify when payment practices actually constitute coercion and undue influence.

Source: The Hastings Center

HealthSource Chiropractic and Progressive Rehab Breaks into Top Tier of “Franchise 500” List and Sets New Industry Standard for Overall Care

AVON, OH — HealthSource Chiropractic and Progressive Rehab® made company history this month when it broke into the top 100 of Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Franchise 500” list.

The company also continued its reign at the top spot in the Health Services list, having been ranked #1 in that category four years running.

“Being number one in the Health Services category for four straight years has never been done before and we’re extremely proud of that,” said HealthSource CEO Dr. Chris Tomshack.

HealthSource was ranked #99 on the esteemed list, a remarkable jump from #111 in 2011 and #258 in 2010.

The 2012 rankings, which were released on the magazine’s website this week, also put HealthSource at #48 in the magazine’s list of Fastest-Growing franchises, up from #52 in 2011 and #66 in 2010, and its rank to #82 on the list of America’s Top Global franchises, up from #94 last year.

“This incredible recognition reflects our long-standing goal of providing the very best care possible for our patients,” Dr. Tomshack said. “We saw more than 100,000 patients last month alone—we’re changing lives, and that’s what it’s all about.”

It was announced at the Parker Seminar in Las Vegas that HealthSource was bringing on well known Chiropractic mentor Dr. C.J. Mertz, founder and CEO of the Waiting List Practice chiropractic training organization.

Dr. Mertz will have the title of Chief Innovation Officer, and be charged with training chiropractors all across the globe with his time tested strategies for delivering top-notch patient care.

Health Source may be reached by calling 440-934-5858. The company’s headquarters are located at 36901 American Way, Avon, OH.

The Digital Invasion: Digital X-ray Technology Manufacturer ImaSight Inc. Launches US Campaign

Canadian-based ImaSight Inc., which develops and supplies innovative digital x-ray technology for the chiropractic healthcare industry, is now launching a major campaign into the US Market.

The company was founded in 2001 to respond to the need for an all-digital x-ray system that delivered hospital-quality images at an affordable price for any size practice.

“We’re thrilled with the opportunity to not only continue our work in the United States market, but also to increase our presence there,” commented Steve Johnston, Vice President and Co-Founder. “We exhibited at the Parker Seminar in Las Vegas in January and were very excited to see the response. It was evident that chiropractors really understood the value of working directly with a manufacturer versus having to go through the time and expense of dealing with resellers. We’re looking very forward to continuing our expansion in the US.”

In their effort to ramp up their efforts in the US market, ImaSight has recently retained a US-based marketing and design firm, and in addition, is scheduled to attend numerous chiropractic trade shows in the United States in 2012.

“It’s important for US chiropractors to know we are experts in our field, and have been in business for over a decade serving the healthcare industry,” added Johnston. “Our collective backgrounds cover a broad range of specialties in digital video and imaging systems for telemedicine and industrial applications, and our experience covers all aspects of digital and analog electronics, medical imaging, high sensitivity optics and opto-mechanics.”

The advantages of digital technology over film include increased efficiency through bypassing chemical processing, and the ability to digitally transfer and enhance images. Further, less radiation is used to produce an image of similar contrast to conventional radiography, and chiropractors enjoy immediate access to the images while eliminating costly film processing steps. Chiropractors can also take advantage of special image processing techniques that enhance overall display of the image, improving their ability to communicate with their patients.

“Our Chiropractic Power Tools™, which we developed in collaboration with chiropractors, empowers doctors to annotate, comment, and enter patient data right on the image – enhancing patient communication while improving patient care,” commented Steve. “And we made it user-friendly, so there are no complicated processes a doctor has to learn to make use of the system.”

With competition from companies like Fuji, Idexx and others, ImaSight stated that one of their main competitive advantages, in addition to being a manufacturer of their own imaging products, is their focus on delivering the highest levels of customer care.

“We are absolutely passionate about taking care of our customers,” said Johnston. “It’s something so many companies say, but so few deliver. The chiropractors that we partner with are quick to find out, however, that in our company the term customer service isn’t a department – it’s our way of doing business. We’re there for every stage of the process, from helping in determining a chiropractor’s needs, to delivery, to training and follow-on support. And when they call, they don’t get voicemail – they get answers.”

CCE Receives Recommendation for Continuing Accreditation

Arlington, Va.– The Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) received a recommendation for a one-year continuing accreditation following a Dec. 14 hearing before the Department of Education’s (DOE) National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI).

A one-year continuing accreditation means that the council’s federal recognition is renewed with the requirement that it provide additional information in 12 months. The decision indicates that CCE substantially meets NACIQI’s criteria but must address specific issues to be considered in full compliance.

In addition to CCE’s own testimony, representatives of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), representing 15,000 members; the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC), representing all accredited chiropractic colleges; and the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB) provided testimony recommending that CCE receive continuing accreditation and praising the agency for its efforts to improve chiropractic education and prepare students to meet public health needs.

Dissenting opinions were also expressed by several groups and individuals, who cited concerns about CCE’s leadership, performance and its recently approved revision of chiropractic education standards. NACIQI determined that many of these issues are out of the purview of the reaccreditation process; however, the Committee did require CCE to improve communication with its constituents over the next year and to “demonstrate compliance with section 602.13 dealing with the wide acceptance of its standards, policies, procedures and decisions, and how its standards advance the quality of chiropractic education.”

“Chiropractic colleges are providing an excellent, quality education,” added David O’Bryon, ACC’s executive director. “CCE’s rigorous standards and policies have helped ensure those high standards that the public has come to expect.”

Members of the education community, some of whom have worked directly with CCE on accreditation for their institutions, also provided testimony bolstering the recommendation for CCE accreditation.

DOE staff person Rachael Shultz, who reviewed CCE as part of the accreditation process, noted that CCE leadership was very open to fixing the 43 regulatory compliance deficiencies identified during her review. She noted that because of recently updated Higher Education Act (HEA) regulations, it is typical for agencies under review now to have more findings than in the past.

The hearing served to alert everyone of the critical role CCE plays in the chiropractic profession. The availability of federal loans for chiropractic students and state licensing for doctors of chiropractic are all contingent upon the federal recognition that CCE accreditation provides. As FCLB President Lawrence O’Connor, DC, testified: “Without CCE, state licensing [for doctors of chiropractic] would grind to a screeching halt.”

Source: ACA.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), based in Arlington, Va., is the largest professional association in the United States representing doctors of chiropractic. ACA promotes the highest standards of patient care and ethics, and supports research that contributes to the health and well-being of millions of chiropractic patients. Visit www.acatoday.org.

Foot Levelers Releases New Software for the Associate® Platinum

Roanoke, VA- Foot Levelers has launched new software, V7+, which will enhance the Associate® Platinum and scanning patients’ feet. With sharper, more detailed images, the V7+ is designed to explain the severity of pronation and how imbalances in feet can lead to problems in the knees, hips, back and shoulders.

“We used our vast database of foot scans and new technology to enhance our V7 software. Our new features will make the scanning process more personalized for patients and individualize doctors’ assessments,” said Brad Wilton, Foot Levelers’ Chief Information Officer. “This is an exciting step in chiropractic technology and patient evaluations.”

Similar to previous versions, the V7+ delivers a quick scan of patients’ feet and produces reports to help them evaluate the importance of Stabilizing Orthotics.

New enhanced features include:

Pronation/Stability Index- Personalized index number and calculated measurements reveal severity of imbalances in patients’ feet

Increased Reliability-Updated and more dependable technology

Body Assessment- Demonstrates the foot-pelvis-body connection to clearly illustrate how foot imbalances lead to pain throughout the body

Vibrant Graphics- Displays sharper images of the foot to show pressure points and imbalances

V7+ is a more in-depth assessment tool that can help evaluate patients from the ground up. The new software enables healthcare professionals to choose the correct Stabilizing Orthotics for their patients. Stabilizing Orthotics help align the feet, ankles, knees, and hips to provide a balanced foundation for the body. Stabilizing Orthotics also help chiropractic adjustments hold longer, helping prolong patients’ wellness.

About Foot Levelers

Foot Levelers, Inc., the world’s exclusive provider of individually designed Stabilizing Orthotics and other therapeutic products, has been serving healthcare professionals for more than 58 years. Foot Levelers supports every step patients take to enjoy fuller and happier lives at work, home, or at play. For more information visit FootLevelers.com or call 800.553.4860

Urge Your Representative and Senators in Washington to Support Legislation Designed to Expand Chiropractic!

Earlier this year, four separate pieces of legislation were introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and one in the U.S. Senate that would expand patient access to the services provided by doctors of chiropractic in several federal health care delivery systems. It is very important that doctors of chiropractic and chiropractic students immediately contact their Member of Congress and Senators and urge that they cosponsor each of these measures.

BACKGROUND:

HR 329, the Chiropractic Care to All Veterans Act, introduced by Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), would require the VA to have a chiropractic physician on staff at all major VA medical facilities by 2014. It would also amend the current statute, the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001, ensuring that chiropractic benefits are included in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations and therefore, cannot be denied.

HR 409, the Chiropractic Health Parity for Military Beneficiaries Act, introduced by Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), would require the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to allow any beneficiary covered under TRICARE to select and have direct access to a chiropractic physician. The plan deadline is Aug. 31, 2011. Currently, only active duty members are afforded the chiropractic benefit.

HR 531, the Access to Frontline Health Care Act, introduced by Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA), would establish a new program that would help chiropractic physicians and other select health care providers repay their student loans if, in exchange, the providers establish and maintain practices in medically underserved areas.

HR 664, the Chiropractic Membership in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Act, introduced by Rep. Gene Green (D-TX), would also benefit the public and the profession by requiring the inclusion of chiropractic physicians in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps. The Commissioned Corps is an elite team of more than 6,000 well-trained, highly qualified public health professionals dedicated to delivering the nation’s public health promotion and disease prevention programs and advancing public health science.

S 1147, the Chiropractic Care to All Veterans Act, introduced by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), is the Senate companion bill to HR 329, above.

Palmer College of Chiropractic Receives National Recognition for Providing Quality Back Pain Care at Clinics in All Three of its Campus Communities

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) in Washington, D.C., announced in June that the Palmer College of Chiropractic outpatient clinics in Port Orange and South Daytona, Florida, have received Recognition from the Back Pain Recognition Program (BPRP) for providing superior care to clinic patients suffering from low back pain. The two Palmer Chiropractic Clinics are affiliated with the college’s Florida Campus in Port Orange, Fla.

Additionally, the college’s West Campus clinic in San Jose, Calif., was recently renewed in the NCQA Back Pain Recognition Program. It originally received Recognition in 2008. With the two clinics located on Palmer’s Davenport Campus in Davenport, Iowa, having received Recognition in October 2010, this means that clinics affiliated with all three of Palmer’s campuses have received this prestigious national quality recognition.

The Back Pain Recognition Program was designed to improve the quality of care to the nearly 30 million Americans who experience low back pain, by motivating healthcare providers to deliver high-quality care and service. To receive recognition, the Palmer Chiropractic Clinics were required to pass a rigorous, comprehensive review of several key clinical measures demonstrating quality healthcare delivery and service. These measures include appropriate imaging for acute back pain, recommendations for exercise and attention to health risk factors, among many others.

Back pain is among the most common ailments in America. Each year, nearly one in nine Americans experience pain severe enough to impair their usual daily activities. Treatment costs total approximately $91 billion a year and back pain accounts for 25 percent of all workers’ compensation claims. The BPRP is the first independent program to systematically evaluate back pain care. NCQA developed the program’s requirements from widely accepted medical evidence with significant input from back pain specialists, and health plan and employer representatives. BPRP-Recognized healthcare providers provide patients with the care that best meets their needs, restores health and mobility and avoids unnecessary treatment and procedures.

“Needless imaging and procedures provide no real benefit to patients who suffer from back pain,” said Margaret E. O’Kane, president, National Committee for Quality Assurance. “By earning recognition, these Palmer Chiropractic Clinics on all three of Palmer’s campuses have demonstrated that they consistently provide proven, evidence-based care to their patients with low back pain.”

“The Palmer College clinics at each of our three campuses are committed to the delivery of quality, patient-centered care, and to providing a clinical education model that prepares our graduates for today’s practice environment,” said Vice Chancellor for Clinic Affairs Kurt Wood, D.C. “This recent NCQA recognition for our Florida Campus clinics, along with the renewal of our West Campus clinic recognition and the recognition of our Davenport Campus clinics last fall, provides external validation for our patients and residents in all three of our campus communities that we have processes in place to ensure consistent delivery of high-quality, evidence-based care in an effort to generate the best patient outcomes.”