Parker University was unable to elude the violent tornado that hit the Dallas, Texas area Sunday night, destroying businesses and homes, but thankfully resulting in no reported loss of life as of mid-Monday morning. According to unofficial weather maps, the tornado carved a path of destruction northeast from Irving to Garland, which would have put Parker University squarely in its path.
The photo below shows some of the damage to the university including broken windows and damaged gates. As of press time, we have been unable to contact university officials to ensure all Parker administrators, employees and students are safe and sound, or to verify the extent of the damage to the campus.
According to an article in The Washington Post, the tornado was part of a series of severe storms that hit the Dallas area, featuring 70 mph winds, heavy rain, lightning and hail. The tornado elevated debris an estimated 3 miles in the air, according to the article. While there are no reported fatalities at this time, several people have been hospitalized with non-critical injuries.
While cervical disc pathology can unquestionably produce radiculopathy, many patients presenting with arm pain, paresthesia or perceived weakness do not exhibit the clinical behavior of true nerve-root compromise. In these cases, failure to differentiate the primary pain generator may lead to unnecessary spinal injections, nerve ablation procedures or surgical consultation despite limited likelihood of benefit.
The New Jersey Board of Chiropractic Examiners has made a precedential decision, concurring with the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors' (ANJC) position paper on chiropractic X-ray guidelines. In plain terms, the board ruled, consistent with the ANJC position, that insurance companies cannot use medical X-ray rules or recommendations, like those written by the American College of Radiology (ACR), to decide whether a chiropractor's X-ray was necessary.
For decades, chiropractors have been told the answer to more professional referrals is simple: educate medical doctors about chiropractic. There is some truth in that advice; but it is also incomplete. The modern challenge is not simply getting another healthcare professional to know that chiropractors exist. It is becoming the kind of clinician (and building the kind of professional relationship) that makes collaboration easy and sustainable.
