Admitting We Have a Problem is the First Step to Solving It
The chiropractic profession in the United States has been continually hampered by one serious problem: no unity.
Every time you see this profession miss another opportunity, you can be certain that our lack of mutual cooperation is much to blame. On a national level, we have two primary chiropractic associations. And while the ACA and ICA don't always agree, the biggest mischief-makers are the handful of "wanna-be" organizations. These typically have negligible membership, no voting structure, and cannot hope to accomplish anything more than spoiling the plans of one or both of the primary national chiropractic associations.
The national situation is complex, and may be solved over time. Meanwhile, the situation only seems to improve as long as the ICA and ACA continue to focus on what they each do well, and develop the confidence to leave other tasks aside.
On a state level, the issues are more tangible and the players more sensitive to member expectations. Even so, there are at least 25 states have more than one state chiropractic association. Typically, this results in unnecessarily limited participation by local DCs. It can also result in embarrassing showdowns in the state legislature and a seemingly justified position taken by legislators: "I'll listen to you when you chiropractors can agree on what you want."
The Congress of Chiropractic State Associations (COCSA) has decided to attempt to bring together chiropractic state associations in states with multiple associations. This will not be an effort to force any mergers or influence the philosophy of any organization. Instead, it will be a chance to:
While some may be inclined to refuse the COCSA invitation, there is really no legitimate reason to do so. The worst that can happen is that your association could lose the price of an airline ticket and the two nights' hotel stay. This is nothing compared to the potential benefit to your chiropractic association, your practice, your patients, and the citizens of your state who have yet to enjoy the benefits of chiropractic care.
If you are a member of one of the associations invited below, make certain your association doesn't miss out. Talk to your leaders and let them know you want one of them there. We are expecting important things to happen at this meeting, including alliances and cooperative efforts between chiropractic associations in the same state and neighboring states.
State Chiropractic Associations Invited to Meet:
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?
