In Don Petersen's "Report of My Findings" column in the March 11, 2002 issue, he announced a new column designed to share stories of DCs working together to accomplish chiropractic goals.
The first article for this column was submitted by Kent Greenawalt, president of Foot Levelers, Inc. (see "Raising Chiropractic Awareness: Let's Shoot for the Moon!"). Mr. Greenawalt describes his brainchild, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (FCP), which consists of himself and DCs Carl Cleveland III; Peter Ferguson; Jerilyn Kaibel; Louis Sportelli; and Terry Yochum.
"We want more than just one out of 10 Americans seeing a chiropractor!" is Mr. Greenawalt's blunt message. To that end, the FCP's goal is "to deliver 24 published articles by the end of this year." The first article was published in the April 1 issue of the New York Daily News (see "FCP Scores First Big Hit").
Chiropractic Goes to Washington
If you missed the ACA's National Chiropractic Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., no worries, just read "Chiropractic Converges on Capitol," and Dr. J. C. Smith's personalized report ("Celebrate Our Victories"), and you'll feel like you attended.
Chiropractic was able to celebrate the passage of the VA legislation that mandates chiropractic as a permanent benefit in VA health care, and to continue its lobbying efforts. According to the ACA, its political action committee raised more than $400,000 last year.
"For many years we've heard, 'What have you done?' At no other time in our history is this profession doing more," notes ACA Chairman James Edwards,DC.
Injectibles?
In our Jan. 14, 2002 issue, we reported on a hearing before the Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine (yes, that's the name of the Florida board) on the question of incorporating injectibles into the state's scope of practice). While we presented both sides of that issue, doctors are still weighing in on the subject. In this issue, Daniel Abeckjerr,DC, president of the Florida Chiropractic Society, asks: "Where Do We Draw the Line?".
Dr. Abeckjerr recalls the prophetic words of B.J.: "In the future, chiropractors will prescribe drugs and medical doctors will adjust the spine."
"Is that what our profession has fought so hard for all of these years?" Dr. Abeckjerr asks.
Beware of Scams
In this issue, Louis Sportelli,DC, at the request of a number of doctors, directs his comments to "scams cleverly disguised as providing better service to patients, but really designed to enhance a doctor's income." (See "If It seems too Good to Be True, It Probably Is").
Dr. Sportelli explains how doctors are being lured by slick marketing efforts of certain "diagnostic groups, equipment manufacturers, or those just determined to make money and perhaps plead ignorance to the illegality of the programs."
Chiropractic Vision
Richard Brassard,DC, president-elect of Texas Chiropractic College, explains in this issue his vision for the chiropractic profession and the college (see "How is Your Chiropractic Vision?"). Dr. Brassard questions if doctors of chiropractic are nearsighted or farsighted. Have doctors with established practices on "tried-and-true chiropractic techniques"developed an "unwillingness to look beyond our current scope of practice?" he asks.
In a similar vein, Jonathan Sevy,DC, who worked closely with Dr. James Parker, founder of the Parker Seminars and Parker College of Chiropractic, speculates: "Is the VSC the end-all of chiropractic?" (See "Look Again").
Next Time
In the next issue will be looking at the recommendations of the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy. We will also be reporting on an interesting national survey on how insurance coverage correlates to CAM usage.
Stephen Kelly
managing editor