ACA Supports FCER's State of Research Initiative
At the recent Congress of Chiropractic State Associations (COCSA) meeting in Nashville, Tenn., the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) announced its support for the State of Research initiative launched by the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER).
The State of Research initiative is a project launched by the FCER earlier this year that would allow it to work with state chiropractic associations to identify practitioners' research-related needs, assist them in conducting the research and help them to use the research in an evidence-based practice. Currently, 22 state associations have appointed state research committee chairpersons to work with FCER State of Research Committee on this initiative.
"The American Chiropractic Association supports FCER's State of Research project as an aggressive way to help identify the research needs of our clinicians, especially in the area of reimbursement," said ACA President Glenn D. Manceaux, DC. "We encourage the state associations to get firmly behind this project, which will offer additional research- and education-related opportunities for the profession."
"We greatly appreciate ACA's support in this initiative, which is an important component of FCER's new mission," said FCER President Charles R. Herring, DC. "This project, along with the development of FCER's Evidence-Based Resource Center, adds to the profession's body of knowledge, which in the long run will make us better practitioners for our patients."
Four-Year Graston Lawsuit Ends
In a lengthy court battle, Graston Technique, a division of TherapyCare Resources Inc.(TCR), defended its copyright and trademark rights in U.S. District Court against competitor Carpal Therapy Inc. (CTI). Agreed to by both parties, the final judgment followed four separate actions brought against CTI during the past three years.
CTI agreed that, in the future, it would not misrepresent itself, use false advertising or infringe the copyright or trademark belonging to Graston Technique. CTI also agreed to not infringe on certain Graston Technique patents, while it did retain the right to use some of its soft-tissue treatment tools.
On four separate occasions, TCR brought contempt proceedings against CTI for failure to follow a consent judgment issued Sept. 20, 2004, by U.S. District Judge Larry J. McKinney. CTI continually used the name Graston, or variations of it, on its Web site, print marketing, metatags and search engines. CTI and its sales associations also would refer to patented Graston Technique stainless steel instruments as though they were the first generation of the CTI treatment tools. Other issues included CTI owner David Graston misrepresenting himself as an athletic trainer or chiropractor and using verbiage taken from Graston Technique training manuals and marketing material. He was formerly an employee and shareholder in TCR.
