The three new additions to the Department of Defenses's Chiropractic Health Care Demonstration Project are all fully operational. Chiropractic care began at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., in September; at the Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas in October; and at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland in November.
Each of the new locations is a "patient choice site," meaning that a patient has the option of seeing either a traditional provider or a chiropractor for neuromusculoskeletal complaints.
The legislation to bring chiropractic to the armed forces was introduced in 1994 by Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina. The Chiropractic Health Care Demonstration Project was initiated through the National Defense Authorization Act of 1995. The project, which began at 10 sites, was slated for three years beginning in 1996. The project has been extended to September 30, 1999.
Through the duration of the program, doctors of chiropractic have been hired on a contractual basis to treat military personnel and their families on the military bases and related hospitals.
The data from the now 13 sites will determine if chiropractic care will be a permanent part of the military health care team and whether we'll see DCs commissioned as officers.
"If DOD bases its decision on the surveys, chiropractic care is highly desirable among beneficiaries," said Jim Carlson, program administrator at the Wilford Medical Center. "If patient interest here is any indicator, chiropractic care could catch on fast. We maxed out the patient appointment line the first month and we're seeing as many as 48 patients a day."
The addition of the Reed Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center could play a key role in the success of the project.
"The expansion of this important demonstration project to medical facilities in the Washington, D.C. area that are often visited by members of Congress offers some exciting possibilities," observed ACA President Dr. Michael Pedigo. "We are confident that legislators who utilize chiropractic services through the demonstration project will realize the health benefits and cost-saving potential of chiropractic care."
Each of the three new sites has two doctors of chiropractic and two chiropractic assistants. The staff include:
- Wilford Hall Medical Center: Matthew Williams, DC; CharlesStulga, DC; James Carlson, site manager.
- National Naval Medical Center: William Morgan, DC; Kirk Parge,DC; Dilcia Morris, site manager.
- Walter Reed Army Medical Center: Jon Buriak, DC; Dilcia Morris,site manager.
A final report on the demonstration project is expected from thesecretary of defense by May 1, 2000.
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