When the Department of Defense (DOD) began designing the Chiropractic Health Care Demonstration Program (CHCDP), they invited representation from five chiropractic organizations:
Ronald C. Evans, DC -- Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research
Peter Ferguson, DC -- Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards
George Goodman, DC -- Association of Chiropractic Colleges
Rick McMichael, DC -- Congress of Chiropractic State Associations
Reed Phillips, DC, PhD -- Council on Chiropractic Education
These five chiropractors, along with Richard Beachman, DC, a clinical professor at Palmer College of Chiropractic West, were part of a 13-member oversight advisory committee that included representatives of the general accounting office, the surgeons general of the three services, military retiree organizations, and the DOD. They hammered out the ground rules under which the demonstration project would operate, including patient access to chiropractic care, and how the results would be evaluated. They also determined the personal services contracts, acquisition of equipment, credentialing, patient screening criteria, and evaluation planning. After the fourth committee meeting and many hours of debate and discussion, the project was ready to move to the next stage.
The three services began recruiting for two chiropractors and two assistants for each demonstration site to serve as civilians treating military personnel and their dependents. In this regard, the chiropractic profession had little input, other than the DCs would be graduates from a CCE accredited chiropractic college and in practice for a number of years. (Please see "Military Moves on Chiropractic Demonstration Project," Dec. 2, 1994 issue).
In a report to Congress, the office of the secretary of defense detailed the progress of the demonstration project. That document also describes the two criteria, "categorized by congressional mandate," under which the demonstration project will be judged:
Feasibility -- What are the implications of offering a new (chiropractic) service in the military health system? How can it best be done? Can it can be integrated into the "normal" functioning of the military without creating much change to the current system? Chiropractic brings new providers and a different philosophy of care. It is an "integration" question, according to the DOD, and for the military, the philosophical difference is at the "crux of the integration issue..."
Advisability -- What are the treatment outcomes? What are the clinical results (pain relief and level of functioning), and the psychological benefits (level of satisfaction)? The second component of advisability is resources. What will it cost the system in personnel and facilities to introduce chiropractic? What will it cost to maintain the service?
The chiropractors participating in the CHCDP must comply with four sets of demonstration parameters:
"Deliver chiropractic services at each of the demonstration sites. In addition to providing acceptable levels of patient care, chiropractic practitioners and support staff will collect all data necessary for the evaluation of the Demonstration Program."Deliver chiropractic services in an efficient manner, using procedures which have been established as valid through chiropractic research and clinical practice.
"Comply with individual MTF (military treatment facility) bylaws and quality management procedures, including utilization review processes, and with the quality criteria established by the Oversight Advisory Committee. They must learn and follow military medical protocols dictated at their individual MTF, and must cooperate with all quality management and review procedures.
"Follow practice guidelines as established in the Guidelines for Chiropractic Quality Assurance and Practice Parameters: Proceedings of the Mercy Center Consensus Conference, Aspen Publishers, Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, 1992 (or its successor)."
Unfortunately, no money was allocated by Congress for this demonstration program. Each of the facilities have to bear the cost. Ten military sites where selected for the project in January. Since then, the surgeons general of the Army and Navy proposed that two of the sites be changed. In March, the oversight committee approved the change. The final established sites are:
Army
Air Force
Navy
In addition, three military treatment facilities were selected as comparison sites to "provide a baseline for comparing study outcomes with sites not conducting a demonstration project." These sites are: Winn Army Community Hospital, Fort Stewart, Georgia; Naval Hospital, Pensacola, Florida; and Malcolm Grow Medical Center, Andrews Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.
While a randomized controlled trial of the efficacy of chiropractic care within the military setting was considered, it will not be a part of the demonstration design. After the program is underway, there may be an opportunity to select one site for this purpose.
Active duty members, active duty family members, retired members, and retired family members will be treated by the DCs in this program for spine-related neuromusculoskeletal disorders. Unfortunately, because of liability issues "patients 17 years of age or younger and female patients who are, or may be, pregnant are excluded from the demonstration. The Department recognizes that these parameter differ from those in typical chiropractic practice."
There will be two levels of patient access to DCs. Primary access to care will include the initial screening and assignment of the patient to either chiropractic or traditional care, based upon patient preference. The second level of access will be by referral of patients between chiropractors and other providers. The flow chart below shows patient access to care at the military demonstration sites.
Chiropractic care will be put to the test. Each DC chosen for this demonstration project will bear an awesome responsibility to represent chiropractic in the most effective, cost-efficient manner possible.
The DOD directed the military departments to begin offering chiropractic care at the demonstration sites on Aug. 1, 1995. The project will continue until Aug. 1, 1998. Evaluation reports from the DOD will be provided to Congress on a quarterly basis, with a final evaluation at the end of the three-year project. The final report will give recommendations on the feasibility/advisability of continuing chiropractic in the military.
The future of chiropractic in the military rests on the results.
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?
