Dr. Henry Rubinstein, FCS co-chairman of the guideline committee, believes the document will undo the "years of divisiveness by insurance, medical and government agencies dating back to the origins of the AMA."
Endeavoring to stem the tide of insurance and government restrictions on chiropractic practice at the state level, the Florida Chiropractic Association (FCA) and the Florida Chiropractic Society (FCS) have joined forces to produce a document on practice parameters and guidelines.
The 400 page document, Chiropractic Practice Guidelines and Parameters for the State of Florida, was approved unanimously by the boards of the FCA and FCS at their April meetings. The document culminates hundreds of hours of work by committee members of both associations.
"We now speak with one voice," said Dr. Ronald Wellikoff, FCA co-chairman of the guideline committee. He noted it was the first time the two Florida chiropractic organizations had put aside their differences to come together.
Dr. Henry Rubinstein, FCS co-chairman of the guideline committee, believes the document will undo the "years of divisiveness by insurance, medical and government agencies dating back to the origins of the AMA." He stressed that the chiropractic profession in Florida would no longer be viewed as two factions, and have greater influence.
Dr. Kurt Hegetschweiler, president of the American Chiropractic Association, commended the chiropractic profession in Florida for a job well done. "Both the FCA and FCS showed great diligence and effort in developing this document."
Dr. Robert Braile, president of the International Chiropractors Association observed how much chiropractors can accomplish when they work together on a common project. "Cooperative effort should always be encouraged on projects that protect and define our principles and unique practice."
"I have always strongly felt that chiropractic should be unified and only have one organization," commented Dr. Ed Williams, CEO of the Florida Chiropractic Assoc. Dr. Williams congratulated the committee on a tremendous job, saying the unified standard would make it "easier on those of us who deal on a day-to-day basis with government and bureaucratic officials" to promote chiropractic. "This will provide the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration with the first unified practice guidelines ever submitted by Florida chiropractors," observed Barney Bishop, III, president of the Windsor Group and lobbyist for the FCS.
He predicted that eventually the guidelines "will reflect chiropractic both in theory and in reality." He applauded the FCS and FCA for accomplishing the task in a professional manner.
The document will be available to the profession and other interested parties within one to three months.
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