SAN DIEGO, CA - The annual meeting of the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations (Congress), Nov. 4-6, took another step toward uniting the chiropractic profession to build a better future. This effort, coined "Project Leadership," originated at the 1998 Congress meeting representatives from chiropractic's national organizations participated in a round table discussion and presentation on issues of common interest. This year's meeting saw the same national organizations come together with state associations to support a unified vision for the chiropractic profession.
The vision statement presented by the Congress board and accepted by national and state organizations reads: "Within 10 years, chiropractic will be positioned in the health care market as the primary contact provider for optimal health and well-being." In addition to lending their support to this vision, each national organization was asked to share with state leadership their top three priority projects. Discussions were also held on how their projects speak to the newly ratified vision statement.
Priority projects discussed by the various organizations include:
American Chiropractic Association (ACA)
• HCFA lawsuit;
• Access to all Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans and positioning chiropractors as the pre-eminent authority on spinal manipulation/adjustment;
• Legislation of House Bill 1046.
Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC)
• Enhance chiropractic education and scholarly activities;
• Organize and sponsor chiropractic activities;
• Develop and implement mechanisms to affect health care policy related to public opinion and interdisciplinary understanding.
Congress of Chiropractic State Associations (COCSA)
• Provide a forum for information exchange;
• Be a resource for state and national associations;
• Integrate chiropractic into the mainstream of the health care system.
Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE)
• Reorganize;
• Revise educational standards;
• Develop clinical standards.
Council on Chiropractic Guidelines and Practice Parameters (CCGPP)
• Survey the profession about guidelines;
• Create a monograph on the status of guidelines;
• Revise/update current guidelines.
Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB)
• Share data and facilitate communication with state associations' departments of continuing education in the area of instructor credentials and verification;
• H.I.P. databank reporting;
• Share licensing information and requirements.
Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research
• Raise money for research;
• Fund research that enhances chiropractic awareness and public confidence;
• Help build an infrastructure in chiropractic colleges for research.
International Chiropractors' Association (ICA)
• Make membership a financial decision rather than a moral one;
• Legislative/administrative efforts in Washington, D.C.;
• International promotion of chiropractic survival and success.
National Board of Chiropractic Education (NBCE)
• Job analysis of chiropractic study;
• Chiropractic college assessment test (CCAT);
• Part IV national practical examination.
National Board of Forensic Chiropractors (NBOFC)
• Advance the service of forensic exams and consultations;
• Establish standards of knowledge and professional competence;
• Enable forensic chiropractors to penetrate the medicolegal market.
World Federation of Chiropractic
• Educational standards worldwide;
• Develop a research community;
• WHO affiliation.
The next step for "project leadership" will be a long range planning session to be scheduled early in the year 2000. The purpose of this session is to refine the vision and establish a strategic plan and action steps for achieving it.
While the focus of the meeting was national unity, the Congress meeting included a variety of sessions aimed at assisting state associations with better serving their members needs. The gambit of topics covered included discussion of prominent legislative initiatives, research considerations, multidisciplinary practice concerns, and an interactive session on the future of complementary and alternative approaches to health care lead by Dr. Clem Bezold, president of the Institute for Alternative Futures. Programs were also offered for the doctors on boardsmanship and for the executive directors on meeting planning, membership development, association-sponsored insurance programs and new doctor programs.
Election of Officers
The following officers and board members were elected at the Congress business meeting:
President: Dr. Dale Cohen, New York State Chiropractic Association
First Vice President: Dr. Tom Klapp, Michigan Chiropractic Council
Second Vice President: Dr. Kevin Dononan, Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island
Secretary: Dr. Stephen Simonetti, New York Chiropractic Council
Treasurer: Dr. Terry Peterson, Arizona Association of Chiropractic
Past President: Dr. Len Suiter, Missouri State Chiropractic Association
District 1 Director: Dr. John Boyden, II, New Hampshire Straight Chiropractic Society
District 2 Director: Dr. Bill Bender, Michigan Chiropractic Council
District 3 Director: Christine Caron, North Carolina Chiropractic Association
District 4 Director: Dr. Jerry DeGrado, Kansas Chiropractic Association
District 5 Director: Dr. Larry Stemp, Washington State Chiropractic Association
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?
