Your patients come to you to feel better as quickly as possible.
With all the treatment modalities now available to integrate into your practice, you have even more tools to help them do just that. One popular, in-demand integration combination is chiropractic care plus physical therapy and rehab, which is the theme of this edition of Chiropractic Economics. Welcome to Issue 6.
Experts in this issue illustrate the advantages of this integrated approach and highlight how it can offer patients a comprehensive road map back to wellness. You’ll also find what’s new in pain relief, advanced exercise and movement techniques, natural approaches for holistic recovery and marketing strategies to grow your practice, including AI advice.
Our readers agree
Chiropractic Economics readers have this type of integration on their radar. According to the results of our recent readership survey, 34% said they want to read more about physical therapy and rehab in our pages. Other key survey findings:
36% told us the number-one reason they read this magazine is the expert-written articles and interviews.
52% want special coverage of sports medicine and treating athletes.
48% want to learn about laser therapy, with 9% planning to purchase a laser in the next 12 months.
36% say they will invest in nutritional supplements for their practice within a year.
Our readers buy, too
We have more good news from the survey for our supporting advertisers: 72% of our readers say their buying decisions are influenced by advertising or content they see in the magazine, and 60% have made a purchase because of an ad they saw here.
Chiropractic is breaking out of its box
US scope-of-practice laws for DCs differ across the nation and are just plain outdated in many states, as you likely are very aware. Legislation introduced in several states aims to modernize scope of practice and reduce inequalities between MDs and complementary healthcare providers.
At least two states are making official rules about chiropractic assistants’ roles, too, which adds to the growing codification of the valuable work DCs do.
New York leads the charge with Assembly Bill A4706, which defines the role of CA and would significantly expand DCs’ scope of practice, currently subluxation-specific, to add “neuromusculoskeletal conditions, structural imbalance, distortion and/or dysfunction…as it may relate to any human disease, pain, injury, deformity or physical condition.” It would also authorize DCs to:
Use topical analgesics and advise patients on OTC drugs
Order X-rays, diagnostic imaging, bloodwork, etc.
Give nutrition counseling and dispense supplements
Call themselves “doctors of chiropractic” or “chiropractic physicians.”
Montana House Bill 500, just defeated by a one-vote margin, had proposed expanding scope in much the same way as A4706 and giving DCs limited prescribing authority.
Also pending in a state near you…
Arizona House Bill 2876 would require DCs who want to advertise as specialists to register with and meet requirements of the state’s board of chiropractic examiners. A separate bill, House Bill 2877, defines CAs. Kentucky (Senate Bill 191) and Oregon (House Bill 3490) want to integrate DCs into the workers’ compensation system, as they are increasingly providers of choice. Minnesota Senate Bill 1686 would make telemedicine part of chiropractic care. Tennessee’s House Bill 0029 would require some insurers to reimburse DCs and MDs at the same rate for certain services. And Virginia Senate Bill 1015, just passed in the state’s House and Senate, authorizes DCs to offer nutrition counseling and dispense supplements.
For updates, visit chiroeco.com/news-and-wires.
I hope the experts featured in this issue give you the information and inspiration you need to make positive decisions for your patients and practice.
To your health, prosperity and success!
Gloria N. Hall
Editor-in-chief
