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 |
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?
