Because they have yet to pass national legislation protecting the chiropractic profession, Japanese DCs are in a similar situation that U.S. DCs faced. We were fortunate enough to be able to pass chiropractic licensure state by state. The DCs in Japan must accomplish this nationally, which has proved to be an extremely difficult task. And in spite of their efforts, Japanese DCs are currently faced with two chiropractic professions.
Chiropractic Raises $5500,000...for Others
Please don't get me wrong. I think it is wonderful that the chiropractic profession raised nearly a half million dollars in less than a month to support the Red Cross. The generosity and efforts of Foot Levelers' President Kent Greenawalt and the hundreds of DCs that contributed is commended and celebrated on the front page of this issue.
But is the Red Cross the only organization that can get this profession to stop bickering and come together for a common cause? Why are we so willing to give to the needs of others, yet are apparently incapable of doing the same for ourselves? What is keeping this profession from donating $500,000 a month to make the public aware of chiropractic?
The math is not that difficult. To make it even easier, let's assume that only 50,000 of the 60,000 DCs are full-time doctors.
Ready? Here's the formula:
50,000 DCs @ $10 per month =
$500,000 per month =
$6,000,000 per year
Think about $6,000,000 per year to teach and inform millions of potential patients about the importance and benefits of chiropractic care. We could generate thousands of new patients every month. If you get at least one new patient, you're ahead financially. If you get more, you're way ahead!
Even if you were one of the few who doesn't get a new patient, what would it cost you? You'd up the cost of a couple of "happy meals" per month so that chiropractic could impact the health of more people. You could take pride in making a difference in the health and lives of thousands of people.
What will it take for us to figure this out and make this a reality?
Donald M. Petersen Jr., BS, HCD (hc), FICC(h)
Editor / Publisher of Dynamic Chiropractic
don@mpamedia.com