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."
Ohio's 3rd Annual Multidisciplinary Hospital Seminar Brings DCs, DOs and MDs Together
In 1990, the Ohio State Chiropractic Association (OSCA), and the Southwestern Ohio Chiropractic Association (SWOCA) worked diligently with Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati to present the chiropractic profession's first hospital-based seminar. Over 125 chiropractic physicians attended that first seminar, eager to learn about protocol in a hospital setting.
Now, after only two years, the seminar has its eye on becoming Ohio's first regional multidisciplinary symposium. On March 7-8, Jewish Hospital Kenwood in Cincinnati will present the 3rd annual multidisciplinary hospital seminar, "Diagnostic and Treatment of Upper Extremity Syndromes." This seminar will bring chiropractors together with osteopaths and allopaths to learn about health care in the hospital setting.
"Each year the seminar gets better and better," said OSCA Executive Director Cheryl Bassitt. "The 1990 and 1991 seminars were strictly targeted for chiropractic doctors and their license renewal requirements. Now the hosting organization, Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati, has taken the initiative to secure continuing medical credit for its MDs and DOs on staff."
Like the first two programs, the 1992 seminar is a joint effort involving the OSCA, SWOCA, and Jewish Hospital Kenwood. Jewish Hospital Kenwood is an osteopathic and allopathic hospital that first opened its doors to chiropractic doctors in 1987. Now, the hospital has 20 level-two chiropractors and more than 40 level-one chiropractors on staff. Jewish Hospital Kenwood and Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati are affiliated through the Midwest Hospital System.
This year's seminar boasts an impressive speaker format. Dr. Warren Hammer M.S., D.C., D.A.B.C.O., a nationally recognized author and lecturer, and Dr. Steven Skurow, a chiropractic doctor from Cincinnati, Ohio, will represent the profession at the seminar. Joining Dr. Hammer and Dr. Skurow are seven other medical and osteopathic speakers representing the areas of neurosurgery, neurology, orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, radiology, and internal medicine.
This multispeaker format gives the seminar the perfect platform to address patient conditions often seen by DCs, DOs, and MDs. Some of the topics include: "Categorical Diagnosis of Upper Extremity Pain: Referred, Radicular, Focal, and Systemic"; "Central Disease Manifesting as Upper Extremity Pain or Dysfunction"; "Etiologies and Treatment of Radicular Syndromes of the Upper Extremity"; "Peripheral Nerve and Plexus Disorders of the Upper Extremity"; and Dr. Hammer's topic, "Differentiation of Inert vs. Contractile Tissue and Treatment of Upper Extremity Soft Tissue Lesions."
"I am very excited about the Ohio's multidisciplinary conference. It provides an excellent opportunity for the healing professions to communicate and compare methods of evaluation and treatment for various health problems," said Dr. Warren Hammer.
Cheryl Bassitt asserted that the hospital's initiative is evidence that the seminar is heading in the right direction, especially when it comes to educating hospital administrators and their medical staff on the benefits of chiropractic care.
Dr. Steve Bleser, chairman of the OSCA Hospital Practice Committee stated, "Professional relationships between DCs, MDs, and DOs have developed slowly. Chiropractic physicians have survived the conflict with the medical profession. Now, medical doctors see more than ever that the time has come for chiropractic physicians and that we have something valuable to offer."
Dr. Bleser added: "Any clinical and social event that brings DCs, DOs, and MDs together will help build a better relationship. When the three professions get together the similarities are emphasized and the differences are de-emphasized."
With greater interaction between DCs, DOs, and MDs in hospitals and at seminars, the health care delivery system will someday be able to offer a full-team approach to health care.
The planning of the March seminar is the result of the special effort made by Dr. Richard Freiberg, director of Orthopedic Surgery at Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati; Dr. Barry Rubin, vice president of Medical Affairs for Jewish Hospital Kenwood; Mrs. Janice Falstrom, assistant vice president of Medical Staff Development for Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati; Ms. Auroroa Lambert, executive vice president and COO of Jewish Hospital Kenwood; Mrs. JoAnn Reis, manager of Physician Relations for Medical Staff Development for Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati; Dr. Gerald Weis, seminar chairman and past president of the OSCA; and Dr. Ron Fudala, seminar co-chairman.
Ohio State Chiropractic Association
Columbus, Ohio