In trying to figure out how to angle this particular post, I came across the website for the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). It took me a very short time before the flame within exploded into a full-fledged fire.
To begin, here is the ACA stance on chiropractic and chiropractors:
“Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.
Doctors of Chiropractic – often referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians – practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.”
People have no idea what chiropractors do, and it’s no wonder why. The ACA, CCE, CCGPP, and a whole host of other organizations have bastardized chiropractic into a wannabe subset of Medicine. With physical therapists now having the ability to become doctors themselves, why would anyone go to a chiropractor when a PT can now treat neuromusculoskeletal conditions? Not only that, but they can do it with more credibility and respect within our society today.
First off, chiropractic DOES NOT focus on disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous system. True principled chiropractic focuses on one disorder: the vertebral subluxation. Chiropractic is about finding the subluxation, removing it, and letting the body’s innate intelligence patch up areas of dis-ease with its healing power.
As a profession, chiropractic has to get away from this mindset that a specific adjustment isn’t enough. It was enough for 95 years, and then for the last 20, the profession decided it wanted to start getting paid by insurance companies.
Second, let me focus on the term “chiropractic physician.” This has got to be one of the dumbest terms around. Let me explain by giving you different definitions of the term “physician:”
Answers.com, YourDictionary.com, thefreedictionary.com
1. A person licensed to practice medicine; a medical doctor.
2. A person who practices general medicine as distinct from surgery.
3. A person who heals or exerts a healing influence.
MedicineNet.com
A physician is a person trained in the art of healing. In reality, contemporary physicians express their skills by combining art with science. A physician is also referred to as a doctor of medicine.
The term “physician” is used somewhat differently in different English-speaking countries. For example, in the UK a physician is a specialist in internal or general medicine while in the USA it is a more general term for a doctor of medicine.
1: a person skilled in the art of healing ; specifically : one educated, clinically experienced, and licensed to practice medicine as usually distinguished from surgery
2: one exerting a remedial or salutary influence
A person qualified to practise medicine.
Did you see the trend? Did you read the definitions the same way I did? If so, you will notice that in every single entry, the word physician related to someone practicing medicine.
As far as I am concerned, that is the job for the MDs. But, apparently the ACA, FCLB, CCE, and a whole group of other “chiropractic physicians” decided differently. Lucky us. Their take on what a chiropractor is should be defined as “practicing pseudo-medicine by hand.”
The public is confused by what we do. MDs are confused by what we do. PTs are confused by what we do. WE are confused by what we do.
How are people ever going to understand what chiropractic is when organizations in the profession are telling them we are, in fact, second-rate physical therapists?
I did not go to school to become a physician. I did not take MCATS and get a low score, thus choosing chiropractic school because it was easy to get into. I have no desire to come up with a differential diagnosis in order to come up with my final diagnosis. I have no desire to “treat” anyone or anything. I will never palpate for cardiac thrills or perform Homan’s test.
Getting the chance to be a portal-of-entry physician is just a way to get into the insurance game, to get into Medicare, to see if we can get the MDs to like us. What ever happened to taking a stand and focusing on removing the cause of all dis-ease and becoming excellent at that?
Instead of the incompetents bringing us down away from that, why don’t they get competent and aid in the cause? Maybe we would have more research proving the vertebral subluxation exists, that a specific adjustment can have a powerful, lasting effect when done correctly, that Innate Intelligence does exist and does work powerfully when free from interference.
I chose chiropractic because it changed my life, my wife’s life, and my five kids are the five healthiest kids I know.
When done correctly, chiropractic is about keeping the nervous system interference-free. I have witnessed and felt the power of a nervous system getting cleared from interference. It reminds me why I do what I do. It’s not high volt or ultrasound or laser that does all that.
So, how can I throw my hat in with a group of people that discount the power of true, principled chiropractic and want to relegate me to being a second-rate PT?
If anyone has an answer, let me know.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Brandon, I like your perspective on this issue.
If only more chiropractors would take a stand on chiropractic being big and vitalistic and beneficial for all areas of life…
If the national associations could just agree that specific chiropractic is essential element for people to live a happy, healthy, whole, and holistic life; rather than the small notion that we offer a “natural drug-free hands-on therapy for your back pain”…
If the schools would actually hear from the chiropracTORs instead of M.D. wannabees, P.T. posers, and know-it-all diagnosticians and radiologists…
If the students would stand up for the ADIO principle and insist on a vitalistic education (instead of the mechanistic garbage they are feeding us)…
If the government would just let us serve humanity and exist distinctly in society without their Big Brother control tactics…
Which leads me to another question related to the current fear about nationalized healthcare. Is it better for chiropractic (or upper cervical chiropractic) to be included in OR excluded from the government’s system?
I have some ideas about the topic, but don’t really know the reality (financial or otherwise) since I’m still in the student bubble for a little while longer. Anyway, thought it might be an interesting discussion.
Hey Brandon,
Great post. Physician used with chiropractic serves many purposes. My heart agrees with you , wholeheartedly. But the reality of the desire for chiropractic physician is desired by many , for many reasons. Some –just status, makes someone feel like a “real doctor” . But for other reasons are “physicain status” which has much to do with our positioning relavent to the insurance industry, how we are allowed to exam and care for our patients.
Physician status does in some ways permit patients to have direct access to us. Exam and adjust patients without referral and the patient get reinbursed for those services . I may be wrong on this , and if so I hope someone posts and advises.
Speaking of those issues, Do you or others out there feel PT’s should have to have a physician referral. If so why– are you just afraid they will compete with us, take more of our patients. I dont think so . I personally think patients should be able to access PT’s without a referral. A person can a massage therapist but not a PT — crazy. Lets do hope we as DC’s continue to be able to have patients access us without a referral.
Thats All
BJ
I have to jump in here and say that the chiropractic profession should not be run by insurance and referrals. How is that doing what’s best for the patient?
I personally don’t believe any health care provider should need a referral. That’s ridiculous. We all provide different services that the patient/consumer has the right to partake in. Why should MDs or insurance companies or the government have a say in who a patient can see?
Personally, I don’t plan on taking insurance at all, or being a Medicare provider either. If that excludes me from having some people as patients, then they don’t value my services as much they should. That’s fine. What I will do won’t be for everyone, and I’m okay with that.
Dr. Patzer, don’t take my response as being harsh… i didn’t mean it that way. I see your point very clearly. I’m just clear on what I will do in practice and it might differ from other people.
Why, at this critical time in our profession, is unity not the voice from all chiropractors- agree to disagree, but for now, avoid the judging of one’s practice type. Please read the following with care…The top news story over the last few weeks has been the continued progress of Health Care Reform in Washington . As a result, several emails, letters, and other pieces of information have circulated regarding the inclusion of chiropractic in these programs. The ICS is extremely concerned that some of this information may be destructive to the goals of the profession.
The Illinois Chiropractic Society not only understands the importance of chiropractic inclusion in these Health Care Reform proposals, we have been working diligently on this issue for many months. Over 18 months ago, before both the general election and the primary election, I wrote an article that discussed the formation of The Summit: “the ACA, ICA , COCSA, CCE and others agreed, in form, to create The Summit – an attempt at non-formal unification.” This group has developed since that time and has formed an all important single message – that “your interests and those of your patients that need and depend on the essential services provided by a Doctor of Chiropractic are fully protected in any final legislation likely to emerge from Congress.”
This sounds simple, but instead it is THE message that must be heard. All of the above groups, including the Illinois Chiropractic Society and the American Chiropractic Association, have been working together on this message to ensure that the profession moves forward with one voice. The ICS believes it is critical that we continue to work in unity with these groups, who have the authority to act on behalf of the profession, with one voice on National Health Care Reform. That voice has not been silent, it has not been delayed. It has been purposeful.
In fact, the plan has been in process for several years. The American Chiropractic Association had the foresight to see the need for the nation to recognize that chiropractic is essential to health care. As a result, the profession pressed forward for the expansion of Medicare, and the Demonstration Project began. Other efforts have been made even more recently by our national associations and other organizations working in concert for the advancement of chiropractic in the National Health Care Reform discussion. This unified strategy is the plan and message that the ICS has and will continue to support.
The emails some of you have been receiving were written by well meaning people whose actions, the ICS believes, are unfortunately misguided and harmful to the profession. These individuals have been acting in opposition to the very groups who fight for the profession on a daily basis in Washington . These individuals have been opposing those who understand the importance of a unified message, the power of a strong behind the scenes lobby, and the strength of voices from around the country. These individuals have not been appointed by any group to represent all of chiropractic and they unilaterally have put themselves and their “ideas” above the profession as a whole. Finally, their actions are causing dissension and division within the profession when we must be unified. The call for more, unofficial meetings is a distraction from the hard work that our organization and others have already accomplished. All of us agree that “Hope is not a strategy.” Now is NOT the time for more meetings. Now is the time for action. Real work is what the ICS is calling for again today.
The Illinois Chiropractic Society has often asked and urged our Illinois doctors to become involved in the process. We have challenged each of you to ask your patients to advocate for their chiropractic care by signing up on http://www.ChiroVoice.org – a chiropractic patient advocacy center. We have asked each of you to take action on Health Care Reform through ACA’s Legislative Action Center . We have asked our doctors for these actions within our print publications, online and via emails, and we appreciate the participation of those who have done so in the past. We understand the pressures each and every one of you faces in your daily lives and practices, but we need your action to help us accomplish chiropractic inclusion in the final Health Care Reform model.
For that reason we are now asking again. Please visit the ACA’s Legislative Action Center and contact your Senator and Representative today. Also, please encourage your patients to sign up at http://www.ChiroVoice.org – many doctors are asking their patients and entering them into the site themselves. Whatever it takes, now is the time that both doctors and patients should be contacting our elected officials.
What is this message, this plan that the ICS supports as it comes from our unified national leaders?
“Specifically, we must:
A) Guarantee that essential services delivered by a Doctor of Chiropractic are included as a covered benefit under any national reform plan.
B) Ensure that all plans (including Medicare) allow for full direct access to the providers and health care pathways of their choice. Every patient should have the right to choose and be reimbursed for all health care services from doctors of chiropractic without barriers and limitations that unfairly restrict their freedom of choice.
C) Defeat any attempt to impose an MD-referral requirement for patients to obtain access to chiropractic care.
This is what you need to do TODAY!
1) Contact your Members of Congress (House Member and two U.S. Senators) immediately using ACA’s Legislative Action Center (http://vocusgr.vocus.com/grconvert1/WebPublish/Controller.aspx?SiteName=AMCHRONew&Definition=ContactLegislators&IssueID=5536) or ICA ‘s http://www.AdjustTheVote.org. At both sites, you can sign on to mobilize your patients and send regular appropriate pre-prepared messages to Congress quickly and efficiently.
2) Contact the President of the United States immediately via http://www.HealthReform.gov AND write a letter directly to the President of the United States , expressing your personal wishes regarding chiropractic inclusion in any reform proposal. Address your letter to:
Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500″
Please join me today in maintaining our profession’s current unification and take action immediately as outlined above. Let us remain focused on our goal of chiropractic inclusion in National Health Care Reform.
Marc Abla
Executive Director
PO Box 9448
1143 S. Spring Street
Springfield, Illinois 62791
(800) 424-0121
Brandon,
To quote BJ, “Enuf said.”
Thanks for stopping by Ryan. You hit the nail on the head.
You know Brandon, I regularly read and re-read posts on your blog, and I’m decided that this is not only my favorite post,but in many ways the most important.
Keep ruffling feathers
Thanks Moses!