The Industrial Medical Council (IMC), contracting with the University of California, has developed proposed guidelines for the treatment of back and neck pain. The IMC has policymaking and enforcement responsibilities over several medical aspects of the state's workers' compensation program. Unfortunately no chiropractors were involved in the development of those guidelines until the review stage.
Because of this oversight, a January chiropractic consensus panel convened at the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic to prepare a document for a March 1, 1995 public hearing regarding proposed changes to the IMC guidelines. The document submitted incorporates the Mercy guidelines.
The chiropractic consensus panel was composed of:
LACC Clinical Asst. Professor Michael Sackett, DC (who also organized the consensus panel);
Dr. Richard Beacham (Palmer West);
Dr. Michael Dobbins (Life West);
Dr. Gerald Perlman (CCCLA);
Drs. R. Lloyd Friesen, John Hemauer, Robb Russell (Calif. Chiropractic Assoc.);
Dr. David Cauble (ICA of Calif.);
Dr. Gary Schultz (ACA Radiologists);
Dr. Larry Tain (American College of Chiropractic Orthopedists).
Observers and advisors were LACC President Dr. Reed Phillips, Dr. Alan Adams (LACC), Dr. Robert Dark (IMC);
Dr. Robert Mootz (state of Washington Dept. of Labor and Industry. Dr. Gail Walsh (co-chair of IMC Practice Parameters Committee), who was not able to attend, was however instrumental in bringing chiropractic input into the IMC guidelines.
Dr. Sackett said the chiropractic panel represented a "diverse group of individuals and opinions," and was a "true consensus."
"We have our interests to protect, considering that more than 75 percent of our alumni practice in California," said Dr. Reed Phillips. Dr. Phillips had previously expressed concern at the flaws in the University of California guidelines during public testimony.
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?
