The first meeting of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) sponsored Panel on Low Back Disorders was held on November 9 and 10, 1991. The panel is comprised of 21 members from a wide spectrum of health care disciplines. The chiropractic profession was represented by Scott Haldeman, D.C., M.D., Ph.D. and John Triano, M.A., D.C.
The AHCPR is a federal agency charged by the U.S. Congress to accomplish many tasks within the health care arena. One of those tasks is to "facilitate the development of practice guidelines and measurements of quality care (please see "Chiropractic Cost Comparisons Presented at AHCPR Conference" in the March 1, 1991 issue of "DC"). This is just one of the many panels that the AHCPR is planning to sponsor.
The chairman of the panel is Stanley J. Bigos, M.D., a professor in the Department of Orthopedics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Bigos made very clear the need for the panel: "Everyone has interest in dealing with patient needs and provider responsibilities to the patient." When asked about the inclusion of two members of the chiropractic profession he stated: "Chiropractors are represented along with all other specialties and providers that deal with back problems."
When the convening of the AHCPR panel was originally reported in the October 11, 1991 issue of Dynamic Chiropractic, the panel expected to complete its work _before _the Mercy Center Conference would convene in January, 1992. Now that the panel has had its first formal meeting, it appears that the panel will not complete the process until sometime in the fall of 1992. According to Dr. Bigos, the goal of the expert panel process will be to produce federally mandated expert guidelines for the treatment of low back pain.
The fact that the AHCPR panel will continue its process beyond the expected publication date for the Mercy Center Conference proceedings allows for the conference results to be included in the literature interpretation portion of the AHCPR project. It is also important to note that Dr. Haldeman is the chairman of the Mercy Center Conference and Dr. Triano is on the steering committee and is a committee captain.
The efforts of the chiropractic profession in the areas of chiropractic research, the Utah study (please see the October 25, 1991 issue of "DC"), the RAND Study (please see the October 11, 1991 issue of "DC"), and the Mercy Center Conference (please see the December 20, 1991 issue of "DC") are giving chiropractic greater access and credibility in the health care industry. The AHCPR Panel on Low Back Disorders will be yet another opportunity for chiropractic to prove itself and move forward toward greater recognition.
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?
