The challenges facing the chiropractic profession are tremendous. The historical roots of subtle prejudice are still there; only they are intensified by the desire to manage costs/manage care. All practicing chiropractic physicians know firsthand the barriers to accessing their services because of gatekeepers, plan exclusions, plan capitation, etc.
What are we to do? The answer to my questions may very well determine our future!
Who speaks for chiropractic on the national level?
Who is the voice for the chiropractic profession (or do we have multiple voices)?
Where is the partnership between state associations and the national voice?
Who is responsible for establishing and promoting ethical standards, clinical standards and educational standards?
Who is the national advocate for the integrity of the patient/doctor relationship?
Who is dealing with the politicians, government agencies and insurance bureaucrats?
What is the multilevel strategy for portraying the professionalism of today's chiropractic physicians?
Who listens to the field doctor's daily problems?
What are the chiropractic priorities from survival to scholarship?
Who is responsible for guaranteeing the patient's direct access to chiropractic care?
Who is communicating to the many different groups we treat that our health service is non-drug, non-surgical and offers a choice to the patients of America?
Who monitors chiropractic utilization data?
Where do the managed care businesses get their chiropractic utilization standards?
Please watch for my next article in the July 3, 1995 issue of "DC," which will be a follow-up on these questions.
Arnold Cianciulli, BS, DC, MS
Bayonne, New Jersey
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?
