The theme of this year's conference is "Promoting and Restoring the Nation's Health: Chiropractic's Evolving Role." Speakers will address relevant issues including: the future of chiropractic in a changing health care system; managed care; alternative perspectives in the development of standards of care; and chiropractors as experts on wellness and health promotion.
A unique twist this year will be the addition of a clinical track, geared to the needs of the practicing chiropractor. In addition to the traditional research papers, the clinical track will give time to topics such as muscle pain syndromes; the usefulness of plain film radiography; developing standards of care; and protecting injured workers from reinjury in the workplace.
"The ICSM is a one-of-a-kind conference in chiropractic," notes Steve Wolk, Ph.D., FCER's director of research. "Although the chiropractic colleges and state associations sponsor many worthwhile seminars and postgraduate courses, only the ICSM offers a comprehensive research-based analysis of current and compelling issues confronting the chiropractic profession.
"The ICSM also presents an accurate and complete picture of the current state of scientific development and knowledge that support the theory and practice of chiropractic. Illustrative of this is the fact that over the last three years, the ICSM has provided a forum for the presentation of more than 230 original papers that have covered topics on low-back pain; analysis of the cervical spine; the biomechanics, neurology, and physiology of spinal manipulation; occupational health; and treatment effectiveness of chiropractic care.
For 1992, the FCER staff found it necessary to expand the conference program to 2-1/2 days to accommodate the anticipated increase in the quality and quantity of contributed scientific papers.
Deb Callahan, FCER's assistant director of research who is coordinating the conference, noted that this is the first time the ICSM is being held outside of the Washington, D.C. area. "We hope that the combination of a dynamic educational program and having the ICSM in Chicago, an exciting and centrally located city, will make the ICSM the one conference that no one in the profession will want to miss."
A major focus of the 1992 ICSM concerns the evolution of managed care in the United States and chiropractic's possible role in a managed health care system. A symposium featured Thomas Allenberg, D.C., a principal in the ownership and management of a managed health care practice in Minnesota; Reginald Hug, D.C., ACA Alabama state delegate, a member of the ACA Task Force on Managed Care; and Merwyn Greenlick, Ph.D., vice president of research at Kaiser Permanente in Portland, Oregon, who has had extensive experience in managed health care outside of chiropractic. Managed care will also be analyzed by George McAndrews, Esq., who will address chiropractic's role in a changing health care system in the United States. Chiropractic's survival in Canada's socialized health care environment will be examined by Norman Danis, D.C., president of the Quebec Order of Chiropractors.
The 1992 ICSM's comprehensive focus on current health care issues will also include an important seminar on the development and use of standards of care. The seminar features Robert Brook, M.D., Sc.D., director, Health Science Programs, vice chair of medicine for Health Services Research and Primary Care, UCLA/RAND Corporation; and Kathleen McCormick, Ph.D., R.N., director, Office of the Forum for Quality and Effectiveness in Health Care, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR).
Drs. Brook and McCormick will analyze standards of care development from the private research and governmental perspectives. Dr. Wolk observes, "The 1992 ICSM, in covering managed care and standards of care, provides the profession with topical presentations that convey important implications for the future of chiropractic."
During the conference, participants will also have an opportunity to hear updates on FCER-funded clinical research trials. These important studies will help to establish the effectiveness of chiropractic when compared to standard medical care.
Of course, attendees won't want to miss the social events planned for the weekend. A Friday evening Chicago-style reception will be followed by a gala dinner featuring the presentation of the annual "FCER Researcher of the Year" award.
Mark your calendars today and plan to attend this important and intriguing gathering. For more information contact:
Robin Merrifield
FCER/ICSM
1701 Clarendon Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22209
(800) 637-6244 or (703) 276-7445
Fax: (703) 276-8178
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