Record Attendance at 2011 ACC / RAC in Las Vegas
A record number of attendees explored "Integration: Chiropractic Education and Practice in Integrative Healthcare" at the annual ACC / RAC Conference, which combines the business meeting of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges with the Research Agenda Conference.
Retired Brigadier General Rebecca Halstead, spokesperson for the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress and a frequent speaker at chiropractic and health care events nationwide, gave the keynote speech at the conference, "Working as a Team – The Importance of the Integration of Chiropractic Services Into VA and DoD Healthcare Facilities." She also conducted a workshop on leadership. A closing plenary session included a keynote presentation by Stephen Shannon, DO, MPH, president of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Shannon addressed "The Future of Integrative Healthcare: Benefits and Obstacles of Integration," and was followed immediately by a panel discussion on the same theme by Dr. Ian Coulter of the Rand Corporation.
During the ACC annual business meeting, the association's Task Force on Enrollment presented its findings to the association board. The task force was created in July of last year to evaluate the current chiropractic college enrollment landscape. Following the task force's presentation of findings, several enrollment and marketing research firms also made formal presentations, after which the ACC board discussed ways to improve the profession's understanding of the chiropractic education marketplace.
Arizona Chiropractic Society Backs Suit Against Ariz. Dept. of Insurance
The Arizona Chiropractic Society (ACS) has backed a lawsuit filed by two doctors of chiropractic and a patient against the Arizona Department of Insurance. The suit, filed March 14, 2011, alleges that the ADOI has failed to enforce the state's chiropractic insurance equity law, which requires insurers to give patients the ability to see a chiropractor, if desired, for treatment of common back and neck problems under the same co-pay and treatment limitation guidelines as medical and osteopathic doctors.
According to the lawsuit, "[P]atients are unable to take full advantage of the Doctors' chiropractic procedures because health-insurance companies, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona ... charge a higher co-payment for chiropractic procedures than the same health-insurance companies charge patients obtaining medical or osteopathic procedures for identical physical ailments, injuries, and complaints. ... [The ADOI] has refused to take any steps to stop Blue Cross from committing the unfair claim-settlement practice of imposing a higher co-payment."
For more information, visit the Arizona Chiropractic Society online at www.azchiropractors.org. You can also contact Dr. Alan Immerman, president and executive director of the ACS, at (602) 368-9496 or
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Palmer Student Honored by National Naval Medical Center
Nathan Hinkeldey, who graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic on Feb. 25, has received the Clinical Excellence Award from the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where Hinkeldey served as an intern after being selected from a pool of candidates to train under the supervision of William Morgan, DC, the head of chiropractic services at NNMC. During his internship, Hinkeldey worked in the hospital chiropractic department and performed rotations in various medical specialties including neurosurgery, radiology, pain management, orthopedics, urology, and other clinics.
Hinkeldey's other responsibilities at NNMC during his internship included assisting Dr. Morgan in caring for the Naval Academy Football Team, and contributing to the chiropractic clinic's transition and realignment. He also participated in the hospital's Joint Commission Survey.
"Nate has an insatiable appetite for learning and caring, and he epitomizes our hospital's mission," said Dr. Morgan in presenting the award to Hinkeldey. "He is well-deserving of this honor, and I am glad that he will be representing chiropractic as an amply qualified emissary for our profession."
Parker Contingent Visits State Capitol, Meets With Legislators
More than 50 students, faculty and staff members from Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas recently visited the state capitol in Austin to "educate the Texas Legislature on the value and credibility of the chiropractic profession." The visit was coordinated by the Texas Chiropractic Association as part of a larger effort encouraging doctors of chiropractic and others to inform state legislators about chiropractic.
According to a press release from the college following the visit, "Parker students shared personal stories with legislators and expressed why they feel so strongly about the issues. Additional topics discussed included the freedom to diagnose, the safety of chiropractic, patients' right to choose their care providers, [and] preserving state-funded student scholarships."
"It's extremely important for us to be advocates for our patients and our profession," said Dr. Fabrizio Mancini, Parker College president.
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