0 Chiropractic Unity: Option for Growth or Necessity for Survival?
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Dynamic Chiropractic – October 12, 2006, Vol. 24, Issue 21

Chiropractic Unity: Option for Growth or Necessity for Survival?

By Herb Newborg

The chiropractic profession recently came within a few votes of not being able to license new chiropractors in the 43 states that require Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE)-accredited program completion in order to sit for licensure exams.

The National Advisory Committee on Institution Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) of the U.S. Department of Education held a meeting on June 5, 2006 in Arlington, Va. This nine-member committee was making a decision on whether to continue recognition of the CCE as the accrediting agency for chiropractic education for the next five years. The CCE is the only such accrediting body in the United States.

At the meeting, the floor was open for public comment before the vote. There were 16 public comments delivered by members of various groups within chiropractic. Twelve of the 16 comments were negative and requested an abbreviated recognition period. No negative commenter, save one, suggested recognition be withheld completely, but rather that a shorter period of recognition be approved (one to two years, rather than five years), in order to force reform in the interim. The NACIQI committee chair, Laura Palmer Noone, suggested the committee entertain a shorter recognition period of three years. A lengthy discussion took place regarding facts suggesting possible conflict-of-interest issues with directors and board members of the CCE, and the legality of certain bylaw changes made by the CCE as expressed by Dr. John K. Maltby, president of the ICA.

At least one member of the committee referred to the relationship between college officials and CCE officials as one best described as "incestuous." It was suggested by NACIQI committee member Ronald Blumenthal that something resembling a "monopoly of power and a cartel" existed. Had the committee found that such a relationship existed, it would have been grounds to deny recognition. Two NACIQI committee members stated that before the public comment, they were prepared to vote for continued recognition, but after hearing the testimony of the commenters, they had reservations.

In the end, the committee decided to overlook these issues for the time being. Seven members of the committee voted in favor of the continued recognition status, with two voting against such recognition. A stipulation was made that the CCE provide an interim report addressing the cited policy issues, due in June 2007.

Imagine the possible outcome had the dissenting comments come from outside the chiropractic profession. What if a well-funded, outside entity with researchers, legal advisors and medical experts had spearheaded an effort to derail the continued recognition? If a small number of members of the chiropractic profession were able to cast doubt, imagine what those outside the profession could achieve with a calculated effort. For example, no one pointed out the fact that chiropractic colleges lead the nation's health education institutions in Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) student loan defaults, currently with 666 students in default on $67,468,793 (nearly double the next highest discipline, dentistry, which has 227 students in default on $34,825,040). It also was not pointed out that Life University leads the country in student loan defaults with $17,526,661, nearly double the highest default amount of any other health education provider in the country. These facts could have been used to disparage the CCE and its handling of Life University's accreditation.

Had the CCE been denied recognition in close proximity to recent governance, transparency and financial disclosure issues within the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) and subsequent replacement of the existing chair, president, vice president, treasurer and secretary of the NBCE, combined with Life University's recent loss of accreditation and subsequent "sealed" agreement of re-accreditation, these events collectively could have been spun into some very bad publicity. Just imagine the story:

ARLINGTON, Va. - The U.S. Department of Education today denied recognition of the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE), the only accrediting agency for chiropractic education in the U.S. The Department of Education also has requested details of alleged improprieties in the governance of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE), the organization that develops and administers exams for the state licensing boards. Conflict-of-interest issues were raised regarding the agency director's relationships with colleges whose students the NBCE is charged with testing. Similar issues were cited in the denial of the CCE recognition.

The CCE has been under scrutiny recently after revoking the accreditation of one of the 14 chiropractic colleges in the U.S. for which it provides oversight. The agency subsequently reinstated accreditation in an agreement that was sealed by the court and of which no details are available. Subsequent to the reinstatement, the president of the college involved, Life University, was elected to the board of directors of the CCE. Life students currently lead the nation in government-sponsored Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) student loan defaults with 121 students in default on $17,526,661...

Combine this with other recent negative public relations issues, including the British study on manipulation; the billboards and bus ads in Connecticut; the Penn and Teller Showtime episode on alternative health care; the Alan Alda-narrated "Scientific Frontiers" episode on alternative health care; and the ongoing Quackwatch/Chirobase efforts - simply put, it could have created what might be described as a public relations meltdown.

Has there ever been a greater need to get involved, to rally together and protect and promote the chiropractic adjustment? That is the chiropractic "brand." Every chiropractor has been trained and licensed to perform chiropractic adjustments. Philosophical and political beliefs aside, each and every chiropractor performs the chiropractic adjustment and agrees there is a resultant benefit to the recipient. The adjustment is your product you are licensed to "sell" and you need to protect that. Philosophical and political debates can serve as catalysts for improvement. When these debates threaten to possibly eliminate educating and licensing new chiropractors, the wisdom of conducting them in very public forums needs to be questioned. Organizations that are unable to police themselves risk turning over this task to outside regulatory bodies. Preventing this should be a top priority.

Whether you adjust someone to improve athletic performance, to relieve low back pain or to allow them to reach 100 percent of their God-given potential, you have several things in common. You adjust. You want the right to practice your craft. You want the opportunity to be paid for your efforts. You want the ability to market your services, and you expect this will be possible for future generations of chiropractors as well.

Each and every chiropractor needs to do everything in his or her power to protect and promote the chiropractic adjustment and the right to deliver it. The spine is important. Adjusting it is important. Get involved in the process by participating in the associations and organizations that reflect your views of chiropractic, and help this profession to grow and blossom.

Be part of an effort to expand and promote chiropractic awareness and utilization. Recognize that those within the profession are not the enemy; they are just chiropractors with different views than your own. There is common ground on which you can rally together to ensure chiropractic's continued and expanding role in our nation's health care future, without compromising your personal beliefs or asking others to compromise theirs.

Editor's note: Dynamic Chiropractic has reported on several of the "negative public relations issues" referred to by Dr. Newborg. For more information, read the following articles in DC or online at ChiroWeb.com:

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