Virginia Commonwealth Rep. John Welch, DC (R-House District 21), reports that chiropractic is now part of the Sentara Medical Group, the second largest managed care organization in Virginia. Sentara is based in Norfolk, Virginia.
Dr. Welch said getting results was a hard-fought battle: "The process was extremely time-consuming and personally challenging, as I was venturing into uncharted waters." He approached the medical group in 1995 about integrating chiropractic, but as he puts it, Sentara "was not ready for such a large leap of faith."
In 2001, Sentara was named the top integrated health network in the United States by the SMG Marketing Group, a Chicago-based health care information company. "After hearing of the 'top integrated' award, I decided to revisit Sentara with the possibility."
Dr. Welch noted that it took "eight months of educating, negotiating and reassuring" Sentara to get chiropractic in the door. Sentara now lists approximately 136 DCs on its provider list.
Preston Fitzgerald,DC, was selected by the International Association of Special Investigative Units to speak at its annual September conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He presented two topics: "Chiropractic College for Health Care Investigators," and "Understanding Current Examination Procedures Used by Health Care Providers."
Dr. Fitzgerald is president and founder of the National Board of Forensic Chiropractors. He is also an adviser to the Official Disability Guidelines (ODG) editorial review board, which seeks to establish scientific standards for health care practices for the American College of Environmental & Occupational Medicine.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
