A New Era

Pharmacology, manipulation under anesthesia, hospital protocol, medical rounds for chiropractic students in the world's largest medical center, close cooperation between chiropractors and other health care providers -- these are all activities associated with Texas Chiropractic College.

These activities are greeted by some with disdain, by others with praise. The critic generally does not understand that we teach pharmacology and other subjects in order that the profession better understands what goes on in all aspects of the healing world. Let me make it clear that TCC has no desire to legislate or to make medical practitioners out of chiropractors. The college's only interest is for the best possible patient care, which comes from cooperation between providers.

Critics do not understand that patients benefit by having their doctors working together in the hospital setting. I say to the straightest of straights they need not fear or reject these ideas, because in the hospital setting the doctor of chiropractic still remains in control of the chiropractic aspect of the case, just as in his clinic.

For several years our students have been making rounds at the Houston Medical Center, gaining broad and varied clinical experience. Our students have observed and been involved in every imaginable aspect of the medical world. They come back, without exception, more excited than ever about being a chiropractor. They have no desire to be anything else. They are more confident and their diagnostic and therapeutic skills equal or exceed any other health care provider.

Then came our entrance to mid-America's hospitals, beginning with Doctor's Hospital East Loop and Doctor's Hospital Airline, guided by Mr. Alan Beauchamp and Ms Jan Haines. They set the pattern for chiropractic staff privileges and established a successful program which benefited the hospital, the medical people, the chiropractors, and most of all the patient. We will always be grateful to Doctor's Hospital for their insight and action in this area.

Surgicare followed suit by granting chiropractors staff privileges doing manipulation under anesthesia (MUA)s on an outpatient basis.

A few months ago a new group purchased a beautiful 99-bed hospital exactly one mile from the Texas Chiropractic College. This group came to TCC with the idea of buying an MRI for use by both facilities. This began further discussions and negotiations. From meetings between the medical staff, the TCC staff, and local chiropractors, plans have evolved for further cooperation in hospital health care between providers, including hospital privileges for all.

The hospital now does lab work for our clinic. Our students have the benefit of supervision by the hospital pathologist. Students will do rounds, observe, and in some instances have hands-on learning privileges. There is the potential of the hospital becoming a teaching hospital and extension of TCC. There will be a chiropractic staff, MUA procedures, and routine symposia where hospital doctors will lecture at TCC on their various specialties. A brilliant physician/attorney combination from the hospital will help teach risk management and other legal classes to our students. In addition to patient care and teaching cooperation, we will also be sharing marketing and industrial health care contracts.

Yes, the future is now at Texas Chiropractic College. Mind- boggling advancements in the chiropractic health field are becoming a common occurrence around the TCC campus. Our students graduate prepared to give the very best of health care in any setting and in cooperation with all other health care providers.

S. M. Elliott, D.C.
Pasadena, Texas