How many times have you heard this statement? "If the chiropractic profession is going to survive, we must become primary care physicians." While becoming primary care physicians (PCPs) sounds noble indeed, I have argued for years that we should abandon the primary care term and instead focus on ensuring that we remain "direct-access, first-contact physicians."
I took and have maintained that position for two reasons. First, if we remain "direct-access, first-contact physicians," patients will be free to select us as their provider without having to ask their medical physician for permission. And second, promoting ourselves as "primary care physicians" is like waving a red flag before the "bull" of political medicine, because primary care is the absolute core of their existence.
Let's face it, one of the reasons the "primary care" flag is waved so fervently is because some in the profession view it as the basis and rationale for obtaining prescriptive drug rights. That argument continues even though it's been documented1-3 that doctors of chiropractic can successfully serve as primary care physicians without prescriptive drug authority.
So, let's look at primary care in the medical model. If there is a "Holy Grail" within the practice of medicine, it is vaccinations, no doubt about it. And if we as doctors of chiropractic truly want to be accepted in their medical model, we will have to adopt that position – or be viewed as despised heretics. There is no middle ground. Let's look at the recommended vaccinations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during the first two years of a baby's life, with most requiring multiple doses:1
And let's not forget there are more CDC-recommended vaccinations for adolescents and adults, including annual flu shots for all.
It is not the purpose of this article to discuss the benefits and risks of vaccinations. But I ask this question: Are you willing to administer all of those vaccinations to your infant, adolescent and adult patients so you can meet the accepted standard of a primary care physician? I suspect the majority of you will not just say, "No," but will say, "Heck no!" So, if we are not willing to do that, then maybe it's time for us to stop trying to be something we don't want to be and trying to obtain authority to do things we don't want to do.
Here's the bottom line: Yes, we should fight to the death to ensure that the public retains the ability to obtain conservative care from doctors of chiropractic by remaining direct-access, first-contact physicians. However, I do not think the majority of the chiropractic profession believes that primary care – when it includes the medical "Holy Grail" of vaccinations – is the right course to follow. But one thing is certain. If you truly want to be accepted as a legitimate primary care physician, then grab your hypodermic needles ... because follow it you will!
References
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."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
