The concept of professional discrimination is not new. The profession of osteopathic medicine encountered it during their first 50 years of existence. With the advent of World War II, the U.S. Medical Corps initially denied commissioning of DOs. However, with the overwhelming increase in U.S. war casualties, Congress (against the opinion of the medical corps) authorized the commissioning of DOs into the Armed Services Medical Corps. Thus, DOs became employed as civilians at government hospitals after the war.
Since the chiropractic profession has never provided allopathic treatment, being the specialty profession that it is, the road to acceptance in the public workplace will take a different legislative route than osteopathic medicine. Remember, DOs never had the luxury of government research, or a Navy project, or even the U.S. Public Health Service favoring them before Congress commissioned them.
In the meantime, until DCs are commissioned and then become employed as civilians at government hospitals years later, I have drafted a proposed definition of what constitutes "professional discrimination." My definition is certainly open to debate within the chiropractic profession and I welcome all discourse.
Professional Discrimination -- Definition
"Any state tax-supported facility (e.g., hospital), providing service for a common condition (e.g., acute low back pain), that denies employment to a licensed professional qualified to deliver that service (e.g., a chiropractor) as has been determined by agreed research (e.g., Rand study of short-lever manipulation/chiropractic) and government decision (U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for Acute Low Back Pain), constitutes professional discrimination."
Paul M. Kell, DC
San Diego, California
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?
