CCA Members Spread HOPE
On February 15th, the California Chiropractic Association (CCA) sponsored its annual HOPE (Helping Other People Eat) day.
CCA members throughout California provided free chiropractic services to anyone donating a grocery bag full of goods, including nonperishable food, personal care/hygiene items, and/or toys. The donated items were distributed to local charitable organizations. Chiropractic services included history, consultations, examinations, spinal check-ups, treatment, and x-rays when needed.
The California Chiropractic Foundation (CCF), the educational affiliate of the CCA, is offering a two part managed care credential program: "Understanding the Mercy Conference Document," and "Understanding and Working within the Managed Care System." The program is geared for the DC to become familiar with the history and structure of the managed care system and learn about the quality assurance and what reimbursement arrangements are available.
Doctors must attend both seminars and pass a written examination to receive the managed care credential. This program is available for 12 hours of continuing education credit, pending state board approval. Contact the CCF at (916) 387-0177 for more information.
Seminars
The CCF is offering seminars on E/M coding, utilization review, technique, and managed care.
E/M coding usage will be required by all indemnity, personal injury, workers' compensation, and managed care organizations. The seminar will detail comprehensive levels of history and examination. The seminar will also cover RBRVS codes/procedures, and new workers' comp. changes involving CPT, E/M, and other treatment codes.
The utilization review will help participants understand the methods of utilization review organizations in managed care and the private sector. Topics covered include UR processes and methods for appealing utilization review decisions.
The technique seminar will stress hands-on experience in one of five areas: extremities, applied kinesiology, diversified, Activator, and Cox.
The managed care seminar will teach DCs how to use computer information systems to streamline form processing/maximize productivity, and to work with MACROs and productivity software.
All seminars will be submitted to the Calif. State Board for continuing education credits. For more information contact the CCF at (916) 387-0177.
LACC President Dr. Reed Phillips presented diplomas to 104 new doctors of chiropractic at the college's winter commencement ceremony, December 18, 1993. Louis Sportelli, DC, gave the commencement address, speaking to the graduates of the successful battles that the chiropractic profession has fought and the resources used in those confrontations.
"Perhaps it is time to beat the swords into treatment tables," said Dr. Sportelli, adding that chiropractic may have won the war, but asking if the profession can win the peace.
Dr. Phillips introduced the co-valedictorians, Stacey Barbossa and Donald Graham. Five graduates were presented with special awards at the ceremony:
New graduate Dr. Rob Engel has been appointed as alumni coordinator for LACC. He will be working in the department of institutional advancement. Dr. Engel will serve as a liaison between the college administration and the alumni president in planning and organizing alumni meetings/activities, assist in the organization and management of the alumni association, and will work with the admissions department in supporting the efforts of the Volunteer Doctors Council in recruiting new students.
Dr. Engel will also be involved as a governmental affairs representative on behalf of the college, working on local, state, and national issues.
The 1994 edition of Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges will include the names of 22 students from Cleveland Chiropractic College of Los Angeles (CCCLA) who have been honored for their national outstanding campus leadership. The students were chosen from more than 1400 institutions in all 50 states based on their academic achievement, service to the community, leadership in extracurricular activities, and potential for continued success.
The CCCLA students are: Michael Abrams, Romel Axibal, Ron Barak, Brad Barez, Kenneth Best, Joanne Buettner, James Dirkes, Cynthia Dix, Keith Henry, Rocky Kemp, Lynn Kerew, Carl Larson, Michelle LeBlanc, Evan Lessuk, Stuart Martin, Robert Nielson, Kenneth Obarski, Carlos Pacini, Sharon Pickford, Robin Riba, Jennifer Smith, and Guy Wilson.
The CCCLA internship program at Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital (CPDH) in Norwalk, California was initiated nearly a year and a half ago. Now, in addition to this program, qualified interns are part of an extended pathology rotation at Whittier Hospital Medical Center. A total of 44 interns (called externs at the hospital) have participated in the program since in began in June 1992. Students observe hospital protocol in the areas of pathology, surgery, and radiology.
Fall 1993 CCCLA graduate Leona Graham participated in the radiology rotations at CPDH. She had the opportunity to exchange information on chiropractic, and observe the medical treatment approach up close. "There are many hours of interaction and learning on both sides," she said.
Dr. Judith Zatkin has joined the CCCLA faculty as a part time research associate to assist the research director. Her responsibilities will include assisting in the development of an atmosphere and infrastructure supportive of the research efforts of the faculty and students. Dr. Zatkin will assist in the selection of a research design, helping the principle investigator develop the proposal, interpreting data, and polishing reports for publication. Dr. Zatkin will also assist researchers in using various statistical software packages which have been created to further research efforts.
Life West student Dane Silva, a junior from Hilo, Hawaii, is the recipient of a $9,000 post high-school financial award by the Kamehamea Schools/Bishop Estate. It is the second year in a row that the Hawaiian scholarship went to a Life West student.
The Honolulu-based program provides community service scholarships to native Hawaiians studying full time in degree granting programs of higher education.
Three Life West students were awarded $500 outstanding student scholarships based on community service, dramatic career changes, academic standing, involvement in school activities, or personal accomplishments: recipients were Michelle Paris, Mel Penell, Marcus Strutz, and Rick Bonar.
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?
