News / Profession

Consensus Works!

Mercy Center Conference Produces First Practice Standards by and for the Chiropractic Profession
Michael Pedigo, DC; Reed Phillips, DC, PhD

The place: Mercy (Retreat) Center in the foothills just south of San Francisco. The dates: January 25-30. The event: 35 doctors of chiropractic came together to produce the first practice guidelines for the chiropractic profession.

The conference was first commissioned in December of 1989 by the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations (COCSA). They were quickly joined by the following chiropractic organizational sponsors:

American Chiropractic Association (ACA)
Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA)
International Chiropractors Association (ICA)
Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC)
Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB)

Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER) Southeastern Chiropractic Federation Texas Chiropractic Association.

In addition, the following industry leaders also co-sponsored this historic event:

Activator Methods
Foot Levelers
Leander Technologies
Motion Palpation Institute (MPI)

National Chiropractic Mutual Insurance Company (NCMIC) National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA) Nutri-West OUM Group, Inc. SuperFeet World-Wide Chiropractic Placement Service (WCPS)

In total, a mere $47,500 was raised to accomplish what could easily have cost over one-half million dollars. What the conference lacked in funds, was more than compensated by the willingness of the 35 members of the Guidelines for Chiropractic Quality Assurance and Standards of Practice Commission (GCQASP) to volunteer their valuable time and effort for the profession to bring this important work to fruition.

The four day conference was chaired by Scott Haldeman, D.C., M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Haldeman has extensive experience in the guidelines setting consensus process. It was his passion for consensus on the various points of view that motivated the members to listen, debate, compromise, and ultimately forge the 304 recommendations within the 14 areas of chiropractic practice:


Section
Number of
Minority
 
Recommendations
Opinions
 
History and Examination
11
Diagnostic Imaging in Chiropractic
18
Instrumentation Used by Chiropractors
29
2
Clinical Laboratory
49
Recordkeeping and Patient Consents
44
Clinical Impression
12
Chiropractic Modes of Care
39
Frequency and Duration of Treatment/Care
15
Reassessment
10
Outcome Assessment
20
Quality Care Delivery in a Cooperative
18
and Collaborative Setting
Management of Complications
17
Preventative/Maintenance Care
7
Professional Development
15
----------------------------------
Total
304
2

Those who acted as observers to the conference were very impressed by the ability of the members to compromise for the benefit of the profession (see Dr. Jeffrey Prystupa's observations on page 29). This willingness to seek recommendations that every viewpoint could accept is reflected in the surprisingly low number of recommendations with minority opinions (only 2).

Throughout the four days, everyone worked very hard. The days began at 6 a.m. sharp and didn't end for some committees until 2 a.m. the next morning. The plenary session went on to almost midnight. The staff headed by Commission Secretary Donald M. Petersen, Jr. H.C.D.(hc) worked as many as 20 hours a day.

The proceedings are currently being edited by Commission Counsel David Chapman-Smith, L.L. B.(Hons). An introductory chapter is being co-written by Dr. Haldeman, Mr. Petersen, and Mr. Chapman-Smith. This introduction will include information on how the guidelines should be implemented, as well as disclaimers that will emphasis the right of the practitioner to ultimately make health care decisions.

One of the last tasks of the 35-member commission was to vote to have the copyright for the proceedings donated on a restricted basis to the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC) for distribution to the profession. An advisory committee of nine individuals was also elected to assist in this task.

Advisory Committee Members
 
Chairman:
William Meeker, D.C., MPH
Gerard Clum, D.C.,
(Steering Committee member)
(ACC president)
Robert Mootz, D.C., Ph.D.
Vice Chairman:
(Committee Captain member)
John Triano, M.A., D.C.,
(Steering Committee member)
Michael Pedigo, D.C.
(Committee Captain member)
Secretary/Treasurer:
Donald M. Petersen, Jr., HCD(hc)
Larry Rister
(Industry Sponsor)
(Industry Sponsor)
Thomas Hyde, D.C.,
Howard Vernon, D.C., FCCD(c)
(Commission member)
(Commission member)

The proceedings will be offered to the profession through any organization which wishes to distribute them. The proceedings may be offered at the list price, a discount, or given away free. This means that state and national associations (as well as other) could purchase the proceedings as a member benefit. Part of the funds from this distribution will be used to further the guidelines/standards efforts in the chiropractic profession.

Although the Advisory Committee held their first meeting at the end of the conference, a second meeting was slated for February 14, 1992 in Las Vegas, to coincide with the conference of the Consortium for Chiropractic Research. Further details as to the distribution of the proceedings will be forthcoming.

The 35 Members of the GCQASP Conference at Mercy Center

Alan Adams, D.C., M.S.Ed., DACBN
Marion McGregor, B.Sc., D.C., FCCS(C), M.Sc.
Los Angeles College of Chiropractic
National College of Chiropractic
Vice President of Chiropractic Education
Associate Professor in Research Department,
Professor of Clinical Science Division
considered a Clinical Researcher
Not currently in practice
Not currently in practice
Meredith H. Bakke, D.C., B.A.
Rick McMichael, B.S., D.C.
Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards
Past President, Ohio State Chiropractic
Chair of the Professional Standards
Association Vice President, Congress of
Committee, FCLB Chair of Wisconsin
Chiropractic State Associations Alternate
Chiropractic Examining Boards
deligate in Ohio for ACA Member ACA
Currently in practice
legislative commission Chiropractic
Associate Level 2 at Doctors Hospital in
Ralph Boone, Ph.D., D.C.
Massillon, Ohio
President, Southern California
Currently in practice
College of Chiropractic
Not currently in practice
William Meeker, D.C., M.P.H. Palmer
College of Chiropractic - West Dean of
Linda Bowers, D.C., B.S., M.T.(ASCP),
Research President, Consortium for
DABCO, DABCI, DACBN
Chiropractic Research
Professor of Northwestern College of
Not currently in practice
Chiropractic Currently in practice.
Teaches most of the time.
Dale Mierau, B.S.P.E., D.C.,
M.Sc., F.C.C.S.C.
Gerard Clum, D.C.
Faculty in Post Graduate Education at
President, Life College of Chiropractic - West
CMCC- Residency Program Research
President, Association of Chiropractic Colleges
Fellow in Division of Orthopedics Royal
Not currently in practice
University Hospital, Saskatoon, Canada
Currently in practice
Tammy DeKoekkoek, D.C., DABCO
Associate Professor in the Dept. of Diagnosis,
Silvano Mior, D.C., F.C.C.S.(C)
Principles & Practice at LACC. Prior
Associate Editor of the Journal of the
Professor at Logan College of Chiropractic
Canadian Chiropractic Association
Currently in practice
Canadian Memorial College of
Chiropractic, Associate Dean Graduate
Rob Francis, D.C.
Studies in Research
Dean of Clinical Sciences at Texas
Currently in practice
Chiropractic College Chiropractic Staff
at Five Hospitals
Robert Mootz, D.C.
Currently in practice
Palmer College of Chiropractic West-
Professor Director of Manual Medicine at
Arlan W. Fuhr, D.C., Doctor of Humanities
Advantage, Sports Medicine
President, National Institute of Chiropractic
& Work Hardening
Research Faculty Member Post Graduate at
Currently in practice
Logan, Palmer, Palmer West, Life- West,
Life-East, Parker.
Michael Pedigo, D.C.
Currently in practice
Delegate for the ACA Northern California
Member of the American Back Society
R. James Gregg, D.C., F.I.C.A.
ICA-Past President
President, International Chiropractors
Currently in practice
Association Member of Michigan
Chiropractic Council
Kelli Pearson, D.C., DABCO
Currently in practice
Post Graduate Faculty LACC Low Back
Pain Task Force for Group Health
Daniel T. Hansen, D.C., F.I.C.C.
Corporative Past President, Washington
Post Graduate Faculty for LACC
Chiropractic Association
Currently in practice
Currently in practice
Donald Henderson, D.C., B.Sc, FCCS(C).
Reed Phillips, D.C., Ph.D., DACBR
DACBR, FCCR, FICC
President, Los Angeles College of Chiropractic
Vice President, Canadian Chiropractic
Not currently in practice
Association Chairman of the Canadian
Chiropractic Association Standard of
William Remling, D.C., FICA
Practice Committee
Chairman for New York Chiropractic
Currently in practice
Council Involved with research project at
Hale House in New York
John Hsieh, M.S., R.P.T., D.C., Lic.A
Currently in practice
Assistant Professor in Research
Department for LACC
Dennis Skogsbergh, D.C., DACBR, DABCO
Currently in practice
National College of Chiropactic
Head of the Orthopedic Residency
Thomas Hyde, D.C.
Research Associate
President, Council Sports Injuries and
Currently in practice
Physical Fitness Member of Post Graduate
Faculty, Logan, NY, LACC.
Marilyn Smith, D.C., FICA, FACCA, FPAC, FPACW
Currently in practice
Associate Palmer Chiropractic University
Vice Chairman of Board of Trustees for
Donald Kern, D.C.
Palmer University
President, Palmer College of Chiropractic
Currently in practice
Not Currently in practice
Monica Smith, D.C.
Norman Kettner, D.C., B.S., DACBR
VA Health Science Specialist
Logan College of Chiropractic
St. Louis University Medical School
Associate Professor of Clinical Science
Health Services Research
Chairman of Radiology Department
Not currently in practice
President, ACCR (American Chiropractic College
of Roentgenology)
Louis Sportelli, D.C.
Not currently in practice
Immediate Past Chairman Of the ACA
Board of Govorners Board
Charles Lantz, D.C., Ph.D.
Member of NCMIC Board of Trustees at Local Hospital
Life Chiropractic College West Research Director
Currently in practice
Not currently in practice
John Triano, M.A., D.C.
Eugene Lewis, D.C., B.S.
National College of Chiropractic
Past President, North Carolina
Director of Joint Ergonomics & Research Laboratory
Chiropractic Association Past President,
Clinical Faculty
Southeastern Chiropractic Federation
Currently in practice
Extension
Faculty for Logan College
Howard Vernon, D.C., F.C.C.S.(C)
Currently in practice
Canadian Memorial College Associate Dean
Center for the study of Spinal Health at CMCC
John Martin, D.C.
Currently in practice
Immediate Past President, Congress of
Chiropractic State Associations Chairman
James Winterstein, D.C., DACBR
of Academic Affairs, Texas Chiropractic
President, National College of Chiropractic
Association Board of Regents Past
President, Council on Chiropractic Education
President, Texas Chiropractic Association
Graduate of Harvard Institute for Educational Management
Currently in practice
Not currently in practice

February 1992
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