Developing a Collective Voice

Unity is not only a concept the chiropractic profession struggles to accept, but also an ideal now embraced by both of the major political parties in the broader discussion of political reform. One of the biggest "hot button" issues the presidential candidates must attempt to explain to voters is their position regarding health care reform. The specifics of this debate will be made clear in the next few months, now that the public has selected its Democratic and Republican presidential nominees.

Although the chiropractic profession has not unanimously embraced the unity concept, chiropractic leaders do seem to recognize the need to have an open dialogue in this historic presidential election year. As reported in DC last month, both national associations are in the process of addressing the topic of Medicare.1 And earlier this year, members of 24 chiropractic organizations, including membership associations, educational institutions, research and public-education foundations, gathered in Washington, D.C., for a Chiropractic Summit - the purpose of which was to seek common solutions to the challenges facing the profession as the national health-care debate intensifies.

Prior to the summit, members of a broad-based steering committee - members of which included Dr. Carl Cleveland III, president of Cleveland Chiropractic Colleges and the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC); Dr. John Maltby, president of the International Chiropractors Association (ICA); Dr. Jerry DeGrado, president of the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations (COCSA); and Dr. Lewis Bazakos, former chairman of the board for the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) - participated in seven conference calls to coordinate the event.

According to the steering committee, "The representatives of the participating organizations spent a full day in intensive and wide-ranging talks, seeking to examine emerging threats and challenges facing the profession, establishing a list of priority issues and then examining possible action plans. By unanimous consent, the initial focus of the Summit discussion was on Medicare and the upcoming national debate on system-wide health reform."

While sometimes appearing to resist unity, the chiropractic profession actually might be closer than it thinks to achieving some measure of unification, at least on a political/legislative level. As the steering committee reported, "In-depth presentations were made by the government relations staff of the ACA, the ICA and the ACC. All three organizations' presentations were in complete agreement on the intensity of the upcoming national health care debate and the massive challenges chiropractic will be facing."

The groups involved in the summit also agreed, "Chiropractic must be prepared to defend and promote the unique contribution the profession can make, not only to the individual health and well being of millions of citizens of all ages but to the greater financial health of the nation's health care economy."

Action issues agreed upon by summit participants included:

• marshalling resources of all kinds, from money to unique and valuable skills;
• establishing and effectively deploying a doctor-patient chiropractic supporter database that would deliver a powerful stream of messages to legislators on chiropractic's behalf;
• mobilizing lobbying personnel, materials and a coordinated strategic lobbying plan;
• generating a stream of positive media messages about chiropractic to better educate consumers and motivate policy-makers; and
• building strong new alliances with other organizations, including allied health professions and consumer groups, especially senior citizens' organizations.

The current political landscape and the needs and demands of an aging population just might force the chiropractic profession to work together, regardless of whether the major organizations formally declare such a policy. The importance of a loud, clear and collective voice cannot be understated, particularly because the American public (your patients and potential patients) is engaged, perhaps more than ever, in the current political process. Candidates are proclaiming change is in the air, which could be the perfect time for chiropractic to make its case.

"The summit's activities are intended as a profession-wide initiative with no boundaries of individual philosophy, organizational membership or personal differences," said Carl S. Cleveland III. "The profession may never have a greater opportunity for victory in influencing health care reform."

Reference

1. "National Associations Focus on Medicare." Dynamic Chiropractic, June 3, 2008. www.chiroweb.com/archives/26/12/12.html.

Chiropractic Summit attendees as pictured in photo:

Back row, left to right: Mr. David O'Bryon, ACC; Ms. Sandy Mooney, CCE; Dr. John Nab, Cleveland Chiropractic Colleges; Dr. Stan Gorchynski, Canadian Chiropractic Association; Mr. Ron Hendrickson, ICA; Dr. Richard Brassard, Texas Chiropractic College; Dr. Mark Ziegler, Northwestern University of Health Sciences; Dr. Rick Cole, National Board of Chiropractic Examiners; Dr. Glenn Manceaux, ACA; Dr. Don Harrison, FACTS; Dr. Gilles Lamarche, Parker Chiropractic College; Dr. Jerry Clum, WFC; Mr. John Falardeau, ACA Government Relations Committee; Dr. Mario Spoto, CCGPP; Dr. Vincent DeBono, National University of Health Sciences, Dr. Reed Phillips, FCER; and Dr. Tom Ventimiglia, New York Chiropractic College.

Front row, left to right: Mr. Paul Lambert, National Association of Chiropractic Attorneys; Mr. David Chapman-Smith, WFC; Dr. Rick McMichael, ACA; Dr. Jerry DeGrado, COCSA; Dr. Carl Cleveland III, ACC, Cleveland Chiropractic Colleges; Dr. Lewis Bazakos, CSSC; Dr. Steve Welsh, ICA; Dr. John Gentile, ACA; Dr. Mark Sanna, Breakthrough Coaching; Dr. Fabrizio Mancini, Parker Chiropractic College; and Mr. Kent Greenawalt, Foot Levelers and Foundation for Chiropractic Progress.