A white paper generated by the Academic Consortium for Complementary & Alternative Health Care's (ACCAHC) Primary Care Project and UCLA Center for Health Policy Research Senior Research Scientist, Michael Goldstein, PhD, addresses a clear oversight noted in recent workforce analyses designed to assess the nation's primary care needs: the potential contribution of doctors of chiropractic and other providers, including doctors of naturopathic medicine, acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners, and direct-entry midwives. The white paper consists of four 6,000-word chapters, each authored by representatives of their respective profession. Authoring the chiropractic chapter are Drs. William Meeker, Joseph Brimhall, Vince DeBono, Willard Evans and Glenn Bub.
Among the recommendations endorsed by the project's co-leaders is the following, directed to each profession's leaders: "Clarify your discipline's relationship with primary care in conventional medicine by identifying gaps in training and specify how these gaps might be addressed. Explicitly distinguish those in the discipline who work in primary care from those who prefer to work as specialists. Promote and engage research that will assist all stakeholders in understanding your discipline's role in helping meet primary care needs.
"Specify the extent to which your discipline encompasses a distinct model of primary care, and clarify the unique contribution this approach can make to conventional primary care practice, and coordinated care provided in patient-centered medical homes."
In an ACCAHC press release announcing the white paper, Dr. Goldstein commented: "It's clear that while generally unrecognized by the conventional medical community and workforce planners, these disciplines presently relieve some of the burden on the primary care system. These practitioner groups represent a hidden dimension of primary care in the United States. Especially in a patient-centered era with the emergence of patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) and accountable care organizations (ACOs), these disciplines merit more focused and objective examination."
To review the ACCAHC white paper, "Meeting the Nation's Primary Care Needs: Current and Prospective Roles of Doctors of Chiropractic and Naturopathic Medicine, Practitioners of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and Direct-Entry Midwives," click here.
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?
