| 1979
— The message contained here we feel is of tremendous
importance to the chiropractic profession. We hope
each doctor will read it carefully and thoughtfully.
This hospital is one of a kind and deserves our support
Dear
Doctor:
In
1933, Dr. Leo Spears founded a non-profit Colorado
Corporation, the forerunner for Spears Chiropractic
Hospital. In 1943, the first building, dedicated to
Dr. William Carver, was opened, and in 1949, the D.
D. Palmer building became operational. But it was
not until July 1, 1950, after a span of seven years
litigation, that the verdict of the Colorado Supreme
Court containing the edict …”It (chiropractic)
may not be arbitrarily limited or discriminated against,
and its advocates may lawfully erect and operate buildings
and facilities for the treatment, according to its
tenets, of patients seeking its aid,” that Spears
Chiropractic Hospital became licensed through the
Department of Public Health, State of Colorado, as
a chiropractic hospital retroactive to 1943. That
license has been maintained to the present. In May,
1956, the untimely death of Dr. Leo Spears occurred.
Since then, the hospital has continued in operation
with no change in purpose or character.
A
popular Denver Post columnist, Bruce Gustin,
carried in his column the following lead after the
high court decision of 1950: “Seldom if ever,
has a Colorado state agency been chastised more severely
as the State Board of Health was spanked by the Supreme
Court in the Spears Chiropractic Sanitarium case ...”
Now
it is 1979. Forty-six years and many thousands of
patients later since our non-profit corporation and
hospital became a reality. During this time, contributions
and free services to those needing financial assistance
have totaled in excess of $5 million. An equal amount
has been expended publicizing chiropractic, for the
profession as well as the hospital’s benefit.
Hospitalization
of chiropractic patients is a ball game few have succeeded
in winning and even fewer fully understand its rules.
Within the last decade, the aspect of the third party
payors, the federal government including “Medicare,”
welfare including “Medicaid,” “Blue
Cross, Blue Shield,” and many insurance companies,
have dominated the health care field. All of these
health care providers pay for substantial medical
hospitalization costs while refusing chiropractic
hospitalization reimbursement. This unfair policy
has severely restricted the participation of Spear
Hospital in the competitive health care system. Our
institution has become dependent, more than ever before,
upon the support of the chiropractic profession. Without
your referrals, without your aid, not only will Spears
Hospital fade, but the concept of chiropractic hospitalization
may cease to exist. We can assure you that
if health insurances paid this hospital, this letter
would not be necessary.
To
those who have supported this hospital throughout
the years, and have taken the time to thoughtfully
assess the problems we face, we are eternally grateful.
Many doctors of chiropractic have been our patients
where they sought help from colleagues without discomfort
or dishonor. We feel that Spears Hospital has ably
served the profession and has proven the need for
chiropractic hospitalization. However, it has become
increasingly difficult for us to continue this unique
service when patient referrals are so few. This does
not allow us to improve facilities and increase our
services.
Spears
Chiropractic Hospital was designed to be an extension
to the office clinical procedure of the practicing
doctor of chiropractic; to provide a professional
and intensive care program for those who have health
problems treatable by chiropractic measures and who,
for many and varied reasons, do not respond satisfactorily
to office trials. Those patients should be given the
privilege and the choice to continue chiropractic
at Spears Hospital. When patients are released, they
are referred back to their doctor with full records.
Patients, who have not been sent to the hospital by
a doctor, are always referred to a doctor in their
area. Many thousands of patients, many who had never
been treated chiropractically before, have thus been
referred and kept within the chiropractic care discipline.
It
should be pointed out that the patient who has to
pay his own costs at Spears will probably find it
no more expensive to spend two weeks at Spears as
compared to one week in a medical hospital. Most insurance
companies pay 75-90 percent of the medical hospital
costs. The percentage the patient will have to pay
out of his own resources for his medical hospitalization
could cover his total cost as Spears for as long,
if not longer, period. This should be explained to
the patient prior to his coming to Spears if economics
are a factor.
Perhaps
the chiropractic profession has been taking Spears
Hospital for granted for many years; that it is an
indomitable institution. It is correct that none have
chosen to imitate it and become licensed as a hospital.
The same obstacles still exist.
It
is not our plan or desire to cease operation, nor
do we mean to suggest that chiropractic hospitalization
is not practical or workable. It is not always understood,
even by the consumer that uses its facilities. But
they do understand results. And chiropractic hospitalization
can often get dramatic results when all other methods
have failed. Insurance companies have yet to recognize
this.
However,
we have a proposal for you to consider.
If
every doctor of chiropractic would refer just
one patient to Spears Hospital within the
next year — our goals to physically improve
the hospital and increase the services to the patient
could be met. And Spears Chiropractic Hospital could
still be here in years to come when you may need it,
even more than is apparent now.
Please
accept our sincere gratitude for the support that
has been given us over the years. We feel our contribution
and dedication to our profession, and that of the
founder Dr. Leo Spears, has been as total as was humanly
possible. The future of Spears Hospital could be ensures
and made considerably brighter if your response to
our request is taken thoughtfully, and those patients
whom you have decided to refer, are referred to Spears
Chiropractic Hospital.
Thank
you for your consideration, and we would like to wish
you a most successful and satisfying 1979.
— Drs. Dan and Howard Spears
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