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ISSUE 8  August 23, 2012 

In This Issue
DaVinci Group Supporters Unveiled
E-Mails to the Editor
ICA/ACA Pediatric Councils to Hold 2nd Conference
Chiropractic Neurology Featured on ABC Nightline
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2012 FCLB:

Dr. Riekeman

 
 







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May 2012:

DaVinci Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chiropractic Neurology: Miracle Method or Placebo?
Chiropractic Neurology: Miracle Method or Placebo?

 

 

 

 

 

The WHG Message
The West Hartford Group has recently surfaced as a minority group advocating for  the  elimination of  "subluxation" from the chiropractic profession.  The Following Published Papers are prominently displayed on the WHG "Our Message" page at: 

 

1Podiatry Paper 

 

2.  Subluxation/Dogma Paper

 

3.  Spine Care Model Paper

 

4.  Chiropractic Education Paper

 

Do you know who belongs to this politically active group of chiropractic elitists?  Click here and check for yourself.

Greetings!

Welcome to the eighth edition of the "ICA  In Action" newsletter.  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 and principles of "Chiropractic".  In this edition I will report on the growing list of Chiropractic Organizations that have formally endorsed the consensus statements developed by the "DaVinci Group" and share with you some feedback received from readers around the country.

 

Please note that in November the ACA Council on Pediatrics will join the ICA Council on Pediatrics and sponsor the 2nd Joint Conference on Chiropractic Pediatrics.  Registration information is now available.  

 

Finally, check out the ABC News Nightline segment aired last Friday night.  Dr. Ted Carrick and the Life University Functional Neurology Research Center were featured.   

 

Dr. Steve Welsh 
Secretary/Treasurer
ICA
Organizations Endorsing DaVinci Group Consensus Statements

The  "The DaVinci Group" has released a list of those organizations who have adopted formal endorsements of the consensus statements developed at the 1st conference in Atlanta, Georgia several months ago. 

 

 

  1. AMC Management & Consulting
  2. Arkansas Chiropractic Council
  3. Association for Reorganizational Healing Practice
  4. Band of Brothers International
  5. Band of Brothers of Tennessee
  6. Band of Brothers, Texas
  7. Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic Society
  8. California JAM
  9. ChiroFutures Malpractice Program 
  10. ChiroSecure
  11. Chiropractic Bio-Physics
  12. Chiropractic Fellowship of Pennsylvania
  13. Chiropractic Lifecare of America
  14. International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA)
  15. Chiropractic Society of Texas
  16. Chiropractors on the Road to Excellence, CORE
  17. Connecticut Chiropractic Council
  18. Council on Applied Chiropractic Sciences 
  19. Council on Chiropractic and Pediatrics
  20. Council of New Jersey Chiropractors
  21. Delta Sigma Chi Professional Fraternity
  22. Doctors for Excellence in Chiropractic Education, DECE
  23. Dynamic Essentials Seminars
  24. The Family Practice
  25. Florida Chiropractic Society
  26. Florida Chiropractic Society Political Action Committee
  27. Foundation for the Advancement of Chiropractic Tenets and Science
  28. Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation
  29. Garden State Chiropractic Society
  30. Georgia Council of Chiropractic
  31. Gibson Management
  32. Grostic Procedure Society
  33. Holder Research Institute
  34. ICA of California
  35. ICA of Indiana
  36. ICA of Nevada 
  37. The Illinois Prairie State Chiropractic Association
  38. Innate Expressions, Ltd.
  39. International Center for Chiropractic Office Management 
  40. The International Chiropractors Association, ICA
  41. International Federation of Chiropractors and Organizations, IFCO
  42. League of Chiropractic Women
  43. Maximized Living
  44. Michigan Association of Chiropractors
  45. Movement for Chiropractic Quality and Integrity
  46. National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association, NUCCA
  47. New Beginnings Seminars
  48. New Hampshire State Chiropractic Society
  49. New York Chiropractic Council
  50. Nevada Chiropractic Association
  51. Now You Know
  52. Palmetto State Chiropractic Association
  53. Practicing Chiropractors Committee for Radiological Protocols
  54. San Diego County Chiropractors United 
  55. Society of Chiropractic Orthospinology
  56. Sweat Institute for Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractic
  57. Upper Cervical Health Centers
  58. Washington State Chiropractic Association

 

Many Associations and Organizations, in addition to those present at the initial conference in Atlanta, have officially endorsed the consensus statements developed.  The list of organizations formally expressing concerns with the recent activities of the CCE will continue to grow.  Contrary to the assertions of the CCE , those seeking fundamental reform of the chiropractic professions monopoly accrediting agency are NOT a small minority.  Click here for the DaVinci Group Press Release

 

 E-mails to the Editor 

"What is the truth...no spin please"

The recent reporting on the activities of the CCE and the publication of specific language included in the new standards has generated some interesting e-mail from ICA In Action readers.  Here are a few:

 

A concerned chiropractor wrote:

  

Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate all this information of the horrible attempt to change Chiropractic via the CCE.  I am the daughter of a Chiropractor and I am a Chiropractor in practice with my husband (a Chiropractor) and the mother of two small children who are under Chiropractic care. 

 

I've always known that I could never know how I would be without Chiropractic care, I've been adjusted since birth.  I know that I am the healthiest person I know and I've never gotten adjusted for neck pain, back pain or headaches.

 

I've never been vaccinated or taken a medication, I've had two babies at home without drugs or medical intervention.  I've been to an MD three times in my life - one dermatologist for what turned out to be rubella.  Rubella for me was a skin rash with little to no other symptoms - amazing I know, but it was reported to the local heath dept, which instructed me to self quarantine for 7 days.  I believe I faired so well because I have an amazingly well functioning body.  The other two were ER visits.

 

To be honest I don't know who or what I'd be if subluxation was erased from the lexicon of Chiropractic.  The negative few cannot be allowed to outway the positive many. If these psuedo MD/DO's want to do that great!, but don't do it under the guise of Chiropractic because its not and I am a Chiropractor who tells the truth (the body has an innate wisdom and ability to heal when there is no interference) and sees people's lives change everyday.

 

Thank you again,

 

Dr. Jennifer
ID

 

Editor's Response:

 

Dear Doctor:    Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.  The ICA believes that while there is a wide range of practice styles in the "mainstream" of chiropractic practice, the focus on the adjustment to normalize the nervous system by correcting the subluxation is still the foundational concept and a fundamental "tenet" of the practice of chiropractic.  The concept that the practice of chiropractic is "without the use of drugs or surgery" is universally expressed in almost all regulatory jurisdictions world-wide with very few exceptions.  Although the debate continues regarding the role of the educational standards with respect to scope of practice, the list of concerned chiropractors and organizations continues to grow. 

 

 

 

Another concerned chiropractor wrote:

 

Are we really surprised at all of this?  We are witnessing the absorbtion of the Chiropractic profession into mainstream Allopathic thought.  It will not be long before, with enough disinformation, that mainstream chiropractors will be marginalized and demonized by those who wish to profit from abandoning our current practice model and philosophy to a medical bent and elimination of any philosophical ties to the original chiropractic idea.  It is obvious that through the back door, the drug companies have finally realized that they can tap into a whole new group of salesmen in the form of chiropractic physicians who would be just that, physicians.  When my age group retires or moves on, there will be nothing stopping the move.  What can we do?  It is very hard to compete with the "instant fix" which so many Americans demand. 

 

Peace, 

 

Dr. Robert, WA  

Editor's Response:

  

Dear Doctor:    Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns.  The ICA agrees with your premise that a campaign of mis-information has been used in an attempt to marginalize mainstream chiropractors and to abandon our Foundational Tenets in favor of a more medical orientation.  The ICA, however, has not found any evidence that drug companies have any involvement in the move to introduce prescription drug rights.  The ICA believes, however, that with the active involvement of more mainstream chiropractors, our profession can be integrated more fully into the healthcare system without the need to  sacrifice our core principles.  The ICA is also encouraged that many of the more recent graduates share your concerns and are willing to step up and stand up for chiropractic.  ( see next e-mail )

 

 

Another concerned chiropractor wrote:

 

Dear Dr. Welsh-

 

Thanks for the time and energy you're putting into these updates. I was a secretary for four years for a large non-profit representing about 60K people and was never acknowledged for my service - so in addition to having a Dad who taught good manners I am sensitive to how much work these take.

 

I must preface my comments by noting that I started school in 2001, graduated in 2005 and have been in private practice since 2006, graduating at 31 years of age. During school I visited over 100 DCs in practice in preparation for opening shop, and during school I was very politically active with all 4 associations (ACA, ICA and both CA state). Since opening practice I have quit ACA and my state's ACA-affiliated state association. I am philosophically straight and a Gonstead chiropractor but do several kinds of soft tissue therapies, and perhaps once a year do ultrasound or muscle stim. I graduated with about $170,000 in loans. In other words, I had far more life experience than my peers in school, worked hard to ground myself in straight concepts, and have found benefit in a few therapies in practice as a joint with healthy ligaments and muscles will hold the adjustment better and also a medically necessary/billable scenario. These details are germane not only to my comments but to understanding part of why the profession finds itself where it does.

 

I think both the medipractors and straight chiropractors are minorities. I think most DCs want to help people be healthier, believe in the power of the adjustment, and want to make enough to stay in business (otherwise you can't do the first thing). I do believe that the medipractors are a far smaller group, though they have obviously been successful with working with clear intention, good communication and strategy in a way that the rest of the profession can't pull off, ICA or ACA. I am far more aligned with the straights, am a contributor and follower of IFCO even though I am not a member: since I do modalities and see their value it feels hypocritical to be a member and I feel unwelcome among them.

 

Whatever the reason, I took to chiropractic, the politics of the profession, and a view that the schools are the place to focus early on - actually while still in school. At that time I thought common ground and unification was the smartest route: in recent years, seeing the aggressiveness of one of the minorities I no longer see that as viable. I think in one way the CCE issue is a huge blessing, as it has really focussed the attention of the straight minority on the schools in a way I haven't seen or heard talked about until now.

 

The very real reality is that the cost of education and the lack of emphasis on the adjustment in the majority of schools has created a separate profession. Even CCCLA, where I went, was a pretty straight school at the time, with perhaps only Sherman and Life "straighter" - and they didn't even have a set of the Green Books until I talked our alumni association into buying us a set. I was surprised to find that even Palmer Davenport seemed medlcalized when I went there for a Gonstead seminar my last year in school. Since the medical parts of our education are essential for PCP status and are mandated by CCE, the only area to sacrifice are philosophy and adjusting, unless a school is brave enough to try a 6-year program that no one will attend.

 

As I went through school I was well-exposed to the straight philosophy because I chose to keep my focus there and participate in a way that kept my head in that game. The curriculum provides little, and I can easily imagine there were many classmates who got this message: "Chiropractic was started by a magnetic healer who made some shit up and stumbled out of pure luck into this thing by performing an adjustment on neurology that couldn't have related to the cure he claimed. His followers went to jail for decades. Now we are PCPs." Oh, yeah, and you're going to have $150K in loans, no way to get a loan to open your practice and peers who will take 50% of your earnings. No wonder so many of us fail. Even young people inspired by true, straight chiropractic are being inspired by guys who graduated 30 years ago with little to no loans and have had three decades to build a practice. They don't see the circumstances at the end of the tunnel, and are freaked out once they get there.

 

Don't get me wrong, I am not a bitter person, at least not for myself: I am bitter about the future of our profession. I worked hard during school to prepare for practice, with an "ideal scene" document I revised weekly describing the practice I envisioned, daily club practice, visiting all those doctors, taking out extra loans so I could go to straight seminars, and emailing with practicing DCs in every state I thought I might move to asking questions about practice there. I am doing really, really well in practice, though not as well financially as some of the other DCs in my town. I brought in about $75k last year while the 4 new DCs who opened in my town all went under or went away.

 

I love this profession madly, and fight for it vigorously. I talk to my patients all the time about the power of chiropractic, and when doing soft-tissue work always say, "Ok, now that the important part is done, let's do a little physical therapy." I have made several attempts to get active in associations and they have always failed, due mostly to lousy communication. My personal view is that until someone on the straight side of things concocts a plan equal in comprehensiveness and power-placement, and enough chiropractors step forward to achieve it, things will keep going where they are currently headed.

 

I appreciate your ear, and hope this was in some way helpful or useful.

 

With blessings and gratitude,

Dr. Matthew, PA

 

 

 

Editor's Response:

 

Dear Doctor:

 

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns.  The ICA agrees with your assessment that those that are promoting the abandonment of the subluxation in favor of a medical model of practice are a small minority.  They have, however, been well organized and have been able to advance their agenda with little resistance.  The CCE crisis may very well be a blessing in disguise.  It certainly has awakened the silent majority of mainstream chiropractors across the spectrum of practice styles in both national associations.   The ICA is recommending that all concerned chiropractors express their concerns through their respective state and national associations,  alumni associations, technique associations, and solicit formal endorsements of the following consensus statements:

 

1) Vertebral subluxation detection and reduction in both symptomatic and a-symptomatic patients must be included in the Standards.

 

2) Chiropractic must be defined as "without drugs and surgery" in the Standards as the essential element in a curriculum leading to the Doctor of Chiropractic degree. 

 

 

3) Governance must be reformed to include: 

 

 A. Mechanisms for Councilor appointment/election that eliminate the current self-sustaining and perpetuating nature of the Council and broaden the base of participation in the elections process.

 

 B. Reforms in the current election processes and procedures to allow for greater autonomy in nomination and voting.

 

C. An expansion of the Academy of site team members and the opportunity for the program being reviewed to select one person from the Academy as a site team member visiting the institution.

 

 

 

 ICA/ACA Pediatric Councils
 to Hold 2nd Joint Conference
Meet your friends and colleagues in Colorado Springs!  The Pediatrics Councils of the ACA and the ICA will join forces once again for the 2nd Annual Joint Conference on Pediatrics to be held November 9-11 in Colorado Springs.
 
Colorado Springs and the gorgeous Broadmoor resort is an ideal place to meet old friends and make new ones.  In addition, you can get as many as 20.5 CE hours from a superb educational program. Among the 11 excellent speakers is Dr. Bill Moreau, Medical Director of the US Olympic Centers in the USA who returns again this year with more information on how to manage sports injuries. The topic will continue with renowned radiologist and author Dr. Terry Yochum and will include x-rays and case studies.  Vaccine safety advocate and practicing pediatrician Dr. Stephanie Cave, author of "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinations" returns this year.  Dr. Cave will update us on the latest in vaccines and also discuss safety tips she gives her patients to reduce risks.  Pregnancy is another topic that one can never know enough about and who better to learn from than Dr. Carol Phillips. She has the experience, expertise and passion that make her sessions worth attending.  Brigadier General Becky Halstead is a guest speaker at the Saturday luncheon and if you have not heard her inspiring chiropractic story you don't want to miss this opportunity. 
 
For the full program and to REGISTER click here. Don't forget to make your hotel reservations at the Broadmoor. The room block is limited and the room rate will go up once the block is filled.
Chiropractic Neurology on ABC News Nightline
 
Chiropractic Neurology: Miracle Method or Placebo?
Chiropractic Neurology: Miracle Method or Placebo?
Last Friday night, August 17, ABC News Nightline aired a story featuring the work of Dr. Ted Carrick at the Life University Neurology Research Center.

 

 In January 2012, Life University announced that it had established a new chiropractic functional neurology clinic. Chiropractic Neurology is defined as the field of functional neurology that engages the internal and external environment of the individual in a structured and targeted approach to affect positive changes in the neuraxis and consequent physiology and behavior. With leading research identifying the need for more non-surgical and non-pharmaceutical treatment of neurological conditions, Life  University has created the Functional Neurology Center specifically to address this need. Working in partnership, LIFE has secured the exclusive clinical services of Dr. F.R. Carrick, world-renowned chiropractic neurologist, educator, and clinician and a notable team of board-certified chiropractic neurologists to staff the clinic.

 

The ABC News Nightline segment gave an excellent insight into the incredible results that can be obtained without the use of drugs or surgery.  Needless to say, "mainstream" critics attribute the results to the Placebo Effect.  Kudos to Life University and Dr. Ted Carrick for the pioneering work being done. 

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