DCs on "Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce" List
Dynamic Chiropractic Staff
The phrase essential services has been a buzzword during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Essential services / businesses have stayed open, or at least are permitted to do so: grocery / convenience stores, gas stations, banks, hardware stores, and so on.
We've also seen the list of essential health care providers referenced repeatedly: medical doctors, nurses, dentists, etc.– without mention of doctors of chiropractic. However, a March 28, 2020 memorandum from the Department of Homeland Security includes DCs on its “essential critical infrastructure workforce” advisory list:
"As the Nation comes together to slow the spread of COVID-19, on March 16th the President issued updated Coronavirus Guidance for America that highlighted the importance of the critical infrastructure workforce.
"The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) executes the Secretary of Homeland Security’s authorities to secure critical infrastructure. Consistent with these authorities, CISA has developed, in collaboration with other federal agencies, State and local governments, and the private sector, an 'Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce' advisory list. This list is intended to help State, local,tribal and territorial officials as they work to protect their communities, while ensuring continuity of functions critical to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security."
Doctors of chiropractic are included on the advisory list under the Healthcare / Public Health section, which "identifies workers who conduct a range of operations and services that are typically essential to continued critical infrastructure viability.":
"Healthcare providers and Caregivers including physicians, dentists, psychologists, mid-level practitioners, nurses and assistants, infection control and quality assurance personnel, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists and assistants, social workers, optometrists, speech pathologists, chiropractors, and diagnostic and therapeutic technicians and technologists." [Our italics added]
To read the entire Department of Homeland Security click here.
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