The absence of federal funding for research, educational programs, and activities in chiropractic is an issue of major concern to the chiropractic profession. Over the past six months, FCER has taken steps to initiate a study that addresses this critical concern. Proposals for the study were submitted from research organizations that specialize in policy analysis research.
At its annual meeting on June 1-2, FCER's board of trustees made a major commitment to the project by awarding a $240,000 contract to Corporate Health Policies Group (CHPG), a health care consulting firm based in Washington, D.C., with significant experience in health care policy analysis, health care services research, and the analysis of health profession's education and research programs. CHPG will conduct a 15-month study entitled, "An Evaluation of Federal Funding Policies and Programs and Their Relationship to the Chiropractic Profession."
"The CHPG study is one that has been long overdue for chiropractic," said Steve Wolk, Ph.D., FCER deputy executive director for education and research. "It is a study that will offer an objective analysis of the current federal, state, and health care milieu within which chiropractic is seeking funding. It is a study that will be able to stand the test of scientific scrutiny, yet offer the chiropractic profession reasoned guidance in the pursuit of federal and other external sources of financial support for its education and research institutions and programs," added Wolk.
The objectives of the study are to:
CHPG will rely on accepted data collection and policy analysis techniques. These include: structured interviews with federal officials, legislators, chiropractic researchers, educators, and association officers; a membership survey; chiropractic college site visits and evaluations; focus group interviews; content analysis of federal funding policies and programs; and feasibility testing of proposed strategic planning alternatives.
In addition to a proven track record with a wide range of clients, CHPG will provide an impressive study team of senior members comprised of co-principal investigators Ruth S. Hanft, Ph.D., and John M. Pinney; project director, Salisbury M. Adams; and senior specialist, Hadley S. DePuy, Ph.D.
Dr. Hanft is currently research professor in the Department of Health Services Administration at George Washington University. She is also program director for the Robert Wood Johnson Local Initiative Funding Partners Program. She has served as deputy assistant secretary for Health Research, Statistics, and Technology in the Department of Health and Human Services, and deputy assistant secretary for Health Policy Research and Statistics, heading the Office of Program Development and Planning for the U.S. Public Health Service.
Mr. Pinney is chief executive officer of CHPG, and executive director of the Institute for the Study of Smoking Behavior and Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He served as director of the Office on Smoking and Health in the Department of Health and Human Services and special assistant to the secretary. Mr. Pinney has also served as a consultant to industry, government, and associations.
Mr. Adams is president of CHPG and is an experienced consultant to government, associations, and private industry. As a former United States Congress legislative assistant, he is an active member and section leader in the American Society for Public Administration. During his 15 years as a consultant, Mr. Adams has been involved in a wide range of assignments and engagements in health care and associated fields. He was previously a manager in the Washington Health Care practice of Arthur Young and Company.
Dr. DePuy has served as a consultant to a variety of institutions and organizations related to public policy issues, strategic planning, and productivity research, including the United States Department of Education, American Council on Education, American College of General Practitioners of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey, and the Hospital Corporation of America. After six years as president of a public college in the State University of New York system, Dr. DePuy served as New York State's commissioner of Higher and Professional Education.
This project will have far-reaching impact on the future of chiropractic research.
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