Join Our Mailing List! 

ISSUE 7  July 20, 2012 

In This Issue
CCE Meets Stakeholders: Round 2
COCSA Expresses Concerns to CCE
Who is the "West Hartford Group"?
CCE Releases Key Document
DaVinci Group Meets: Round 2
CCE Addresses Subluxation and Elections Process
ICA In Action In Australia
Quick Links
Past Issues
 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
Video Links
FCLB Janse Speech 2011 Highlights.mov
2011 FCLB:
Dr. Winterstein

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
JanseSpeech2012.m4v

2012 FCLB:

Dr. Riekeman

 
 
DaVinciConference.m4v

May 2012:

DaVinci Group


    
The WHG Message
The Following Published Papers are prominently displayed on the WHG "Our Message" page at: 

 

1. Podiatry Paper 

 

2.  Subluxation/Dogma Paper

 

3.  Spine Care Model Paper

 

4.  Chiropractic Education Paper
Greetings!

Welcome to the seventh edition of the "ICA  In Action" newsletter.  Every two to three  weeks  I will continue to inform, educate and assure you that the ICA is working on your behalf to "Advance chiropractic throughout the world as a distinct health care profession predicated upon its unique philosophy, science and art." 

As the ICA continues to increase its involvement in state, national and international events I hope to keep you informed as to the "what, where and whys" behind the ICA actions.  I look forward to your feedback.

 

The CCE continues to be the center of attention for a growing body of conservative chiropractors who continue to question the policies and procedures that have allowed the CCE Standards to stray so far from the core values of "Chiropractic". 

 

On July 12, 2012 the CCE held a stakeholders meeting in a small conference room at the Hyatt in Scottsdale.  Downstairs in the main ballroom a larger group of "univited stakeholders" met under the auspices of the "DaVinci Group".  On Friday the CCE held its Semi-Annual business meeting.  As a participant in all three meetings I will devote this issue to sharing a unique perspective on what happened last week in Scottsdale and how the CCE is responding to the concerns of the chiropractic community.

 

Dr. Steve Welsh 
Secretary/Treasurer
ICA

 

CCE Meets the Stakeholders: Round 2
On Thursday, July 12 the CCE held its second in a series of "stakeholder meetings" held to improve communications with concerned stakeholders, as well as to demonstrate to the Department of Education full compliance with the Secretary's Criteria for Recognition.
 
In comparison to reports from the first meeting, the number of participants was expanded, the meeting was open to the public and the tone was much more accommodating to the concerns and comments of the stakeholders.
 
The meeting opened with the announcement of the selection of the new President and CEO of the CCE, Tom Benberg Ed.D. ( see official CCE announcement ) 
 
The meeting was highlighted by the comments from Dr. John LaMonica who expressed the concerns of the Congress of Chiropractic State Organizations (representing 35,000 DCs) and the appearance of Dr. John Ventura as a stakeholder representing the controversial West Hartford Group.  (see related articles)
 
A total of 16 stakeholders, including 4 chiropractic students, provided a wide variety of comments expessing both concerns and support for the CCE. 
 
Speaking in support of CCE were:

David O'Bryon from the ACC
Dr. Mike Simone from the ACA
Donna Liewer from the FCLB
Dr. John Ventura from the West Hartford Group

Speaking on behalf of organizations expressing concerns regarding CCE Policies, Procedures and Standards were:

 

Dr. John Maltby from the International Chiropractors Association

Dr. Felicia Stewart from the Sustainability Committee

Dr. Christopher Kent from the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation
Dr. John LaMonica from the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations
Dr. Bill Decken from the International Federation of Chiropractors and Organizations
Dr. Joe Merlo from the Movement for Chiropractic Quality and Integrity
Dr. Greg Stetzel from the Garden State Chiropractic Society
Dr. George Augar from the Palmetto State Chiropractic Association
 
Students:
Darrel Blackburn, from Parker
Robert Love, from Life
Jarret Browning, from Parker
Brett Jones, from Life West

and myself, appearing as an individual practitioner stakeholder.
COCSA Expresses Concern to CCE
 
Dr. John LaMonica, 2nd Vice-President of the Congress of Chiropractic State Organizations ( COCSA ) provided comments to CCE.  He explained that COCSA represented state associations whose combined membership represented about 35,000 DCs.  Acknowledging that COCSA recognized and supported the concept of "state determination" on scope issues, he proceeded to articulate a series of concerns developed through a consensus process of the leadership in his organization. 

Those concerns were :

Transparency of the CCE Board ( Council )
Representation on Board ( Council ) and Site Teams
Remaining a "Drugless" profession
Retaining a focus on "subluxation"

The comments of Dr. LaMonica were significant in that they reinforced the concept that the concerns throughout the profession are NOT limited to a small minority
 group.
Who is the "West Hartford Group" ?

A little known group of chiropractors calling themselves a "think tank" was introduced to the chiropractic community during the July 12th CCE Stakeholder Meeting.  First mentioned in comments made by Dr. Joe Merlo of MCQI, a representative of the West Hartford Group, Dr. John Ventura, spoke in support of the CCE and the new standards.  I invite you to visit  www.westhartfordgroup.com and learn what this "minority group" of about 120 chiropractors, self selected "by invitation only", has planned for our profession.  A series of opinion papers published in the electronic journal "Chiropractic & Osteopathy" are prominantly displayed at http://www.westhartfordgroup.com/ourmessage.htm .

I invite you to read the papers and "get the message".  Following are a few excerpts :

 

"We feel that the profession must undergo its own version of the Flexner Report in medicine ... "

 

"No matter how one looks at it, or what one would like reality to be, chiropractic medicine is about back pain, neck pain and headache. ..." 

 

"Chiropractic has frequently been described as being two professions masquerading as one, and those two professions have attempted to live under one roof. One profession, the "subluxation-based" profession, occupies the same metaphysical and pseudoscientific space as foot reflexology. The other chiropractic profession - call it "chiropractic medicine" as we do in this commentary - has attempted to occupy the same scientific space as the podiatric profession.  We must finally come to the painful realization that the chiropractic concept of spinal subluxation as the cause of "dis-ease" within the human body ... is an albatross around our collective necks that impedes progress."  

 

I suggest that you read the following papers, authored by members of the WHG:

 

1.  Podiatry Paper

2.  Subluxation/Dogma Paper

3.  Spine Care Model Paper

4.  Chiropractic Education Paper

 

There are many different theoretical models of subluxation and there are many differing views regarding the preferred "identity" of the chiropractic profession.  All chiropractors should promote the positive attributes and contributions of their efforts to expand the knowledge base through scientific research.  Denigrating those fellow professionals who practice based upon a different model is both divisive and self-destructive to the profession.  

 

Do you believe that the spinal subluxation is an "albatross" or do you believe that the subluxation is fundamental, foundational, and  core concept central to the science of chiropractic? Which group do you think actually represents a "small minority" in the profession?  E-mail me at icainaction@mindspring.com and share your thoughts on the subject.

 CCE Releases Key Standards Development Document

  On June 14, 2012 the CCE responded to a request for information submitted in June 2011.  Among the documents released to the ICA is a copy of the new standards clearly showing that the Standards Review Task Force (SRTF) did add a reference to subluxation in draft 3 and the Council did remove it before final approval of the document.  Click here to review the document.  See page iii.  Given the testimony of the CCE before the NACIQI one has to ask why the following sentence, added by the SRTF, was removed by the Council:

 

 Each individual DCP chooses how to incorporate chiropractic principles and practices, such as spinal subluxation, into the course of study according to its educational mission.

 

It seems that there may be some truth to the assertion that the CCE Council did act to remove subluxation from the 2012 standards.

 DaVinci Group Holds 2nd Meeting
in Scottsdale
The CCE held its 2nd Stakeholders meeting in a small conference room at the Hyatt in Scottsdale on Thursday July 12, 2012.  The DaVinci Group held its 2nd meeting in a larger ballroom in the same hotel on that same day. 

More than sixty individuals representing thirty organizations met for an intensive day-long session of dialogue, information sharing and an in-depth discussion of the specific reforms needed within CCE to restore profession-wide confidence in and acceptance of chiropractic's sole accrediting agency. Click here for a copy of the official press release from the DaVinci Group.     

CCE Addresses Subluxation and Elections Process
During the Semi-Annual Business meeting the CCE took two major steps which appeared to be directly related to feedback received from concerned stakeholders.  In response to recommendations made by a committee of CCE and ACC members reviewing the CCE governance structure, the Council voted to suspend a sentence in the Policies that required the pairing of nominations of category 1 Councilors for the upcoming elections.  This move was approved as a "trial" which might lead to permanent changes in the elections process in the future.
 
Near the close of the business meeting there was also a lengthy discussion of the fact that many of the public members may not be aware of the definition and/or the significance of the term "subluxation".  A recommendation was made to establish a Task Force to address the issue of "subluxation" as it relates to the activities of the CCE and the standards.  Several Councilors supported the suggestion, several opposed it.  After much discussion the Council agreed to form a sub-committee under the standing BSP Committee ( By-laws, Standards and Policies ) to review the issue.  White papers will be solicited and the sub-committee was charged with determining if a full task force effort is warranted.  Given the concern that has been expressed over the removal of the "subluxation" from the standards, the activities and recommendations from this sub-committee will surely be watched very closely.
ICA's Pediatrics Council Raises the Bar in Australia with a Building Bridges Symposium
The ICA's Pediatrics Council continues to build bridges with colleagues outside the US and to bring credibility to the profession with its educational programs that focus on quality education and clinical excellence. The Council's most recent "Building Bridges Symposium on Chiropractic, Pediatrics and Research" was held in Sydney, Australia, June 20-22 and attended by more than 200 chiropractors. At a time when chiropractic pediatric care in Australia has been the target of criticism by some groups and in the media, this symposium helped to reaffirm the clinical appropriateness of chiropractic care for children and pregnant women with lectures supported by evidence-based research.   According to some attendees the speakers were "brilliant" and the program was "way over the top."

 

The Council brought together 15 expert speakers from the US, Australia, New Zealand and the UK for 3 days of learning and networking. Research was an important component of the symposium and in addition to the the updates on research recently completed or ongoing in UK/Europe, there were also several platform and poster presentations of professional papers.

One of the highlights during the weekend was the commencement of the 2nd group of Diplomates in Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics (DICCPs) down under. The DICCP program in Australia/NZ is administered by the New Zealand College of Chiropractic and this year 22 doctors of chiropractic passed the DICCP exam in Melbourne, Australia. Commencement guest speaker Dr. Eric Russell, president of the New Zealand Chiropractic College congratulated the doctors for successfully completing their 3 years of study, but reminded them that this was not the end but just the beginning of their clinical education.

 

"We are very grateful to the Chiropractors' Association of Australia for allowing us to hold our Building Bridges Symposium in their country, and to the New Zealand College supporting our pediatrics program," said ICA Pediatrics Council Chair Dr. Lora Tanis. "Our focus has always been on quality pediatric education. Our goal is to build bridges with our colleagues all over the world by sharing the knowledge we have been learned through years of practice and study and by providing the latest information and the most current research so the care they provide this special population is appropriate, effective and above all, always safe."

 

The ICA Pediatrics Council has held successful symposiums in Ireland, London and Scotland.

 
The ICA continues to strive to advance chiropractic throughout the world as a distinct health care profession predicated on its unique philosophy, art and science on a daily basis.  I sincerely hope that the "ICA In Action" newsletter will assist you in combating the mis-information campaigns that have begun to proliferate as the ICA continues to increase its efforts to defend chiropractic. 
 
 
Sincerely,

 
Stephen P. Welsh, DC, FICA
International Chiropractors Association