Nancy Gallagher, DC, a member of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta Auxiliary in New York, made the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes, France in May as a member of the order's medical team. This is the third consecutive year that Dr. Gallagher has participated in the program, serving the disabled and poor in this village nestled against the Pyrenees in southwest France. The order also administers to about 200 malades (the infirm) who the organization takes to Lourdes for pilgrimages.
Dr. Gallagher, who has a BS in biology from Manhattan College and a chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic, is the only chiropractic physician who accompanies the order on its annual sojourn to Lourdes.
In April, she was one of 400 volunteers organized by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta Auxiliary to refurbish 14 homes of poor, elderly, and handicapped people in Jersey City, New Jersey. The volunteers, who provided services from building decks and replacing kitchen floors to painting and gardening, included a diverse group of professionals including plumbers, carpenters, and electricians.
Dr. Rick Tucker of La Junta, Colorado, is the first DC in his state to be given authority to co-admit patients to a hospital with an MD. Colorado DCs can refer patients to doctors for hospital treatment or diagnostic tests such as x-rays, but have not been permitted to admit and treat patients in hospitals. Dr. Tucker's privileges will allow him to order diagnostic tests through the hospital including x-rays and lab work.
A 1988 graduate of Parker College of Chiropractic, Dr. Tucker said that he is hopeful that this action will open doors for other DCs in Colorado. He said, "I found out, working with people in the medical field, many of them really don't know what chiropractors do. Working together we will develop a better understanding of what each professional does, and ultimately that should do two things: improve health care by getting patients well faster, and reduce the cost of health care."
An interactive workshop on pediatrics was one of the highlights at the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research's 1993 International Conference on Spinal Manipulation (see "An ICSM with a French Flair" in the June 4th issue for story). Dr. Carol Phillips, DC, a clinician specializing in pediatric care, was the main speaker at the workshop.
Dr. Phillips discussed how to create an office atmosphere that is in keeping with caring for children, how to educate children and their families, and how to encourage cooperation and coordination with other profession. Attendees had the privilege of attempting to design a clinical trial on otitis media for a first-hand view of just some of the problems researchers encounter when designing a study.
Deb Callahan, FCER's director of education said next year's ICSM will offer a clearly defined clinician's track to provide more of this kind of experience.
Ted Mayeaux, DC, a Baton Rouge, Louisiana practitioner was chosen head of a special assignment group of the U.S. Olympic team. The group conducts drug use evaluations and administers tests to ascertain substance abuse among competitors during the years between Olympic games. Use of steroids, stimulants, and other body altering drugs in competition -- especially by competitors from countries where it is not regulated -- is a growing concern. Field tests are conducted by a two-person team who set up random samplings through urine specimens. A first offense leads to a one year suspension; a second offense keeps the athlete out of the Olympics entirely.
Dr. Mayeaux, a 1987 Parker graduate and a former trainer for the Olympic weight lifting team, commented that chiropractors are highly respected among the Olympic participants because athletes know chiropractic is one of the best forms of natural treatment for injuries and strained muscles.
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?
