Chiropractic Economics’ Point-Counterpoint is where doctors of chiropractic and health care industry professionals debate the industry’s hottest topics.
This issue: does the chiropractic message need to change?
POINT: The industry needs a new core chiropractic message, standardized exams
Words can certainly describe chiropractic, as in most state scopes of practice, as “removal of nerve interference,” but what a patient can expect when randomly walking into a chiropractic office today is similar to participating in a “Secret Santa” party.
By no means is chiropractic a well-defined model of care that can be effectively mass-marketed to an already-confused society. And, the more diverse we become in service, the less likely chiropractic is as a profession to ever truly and clearly educate the masses as to the chiropractic message of who we are and what we do.
As a profession that is misunderstood by many, maybe even including chiropractors, it seems it would be wise to design a core model and chiropractic message so that the public can learn who we are and what we do. Most don’t know it, but the musculoskeletal industry is the largest cost in health care. Our core message is messy, convoluted, ego-oriented, and creates an impossibility for this profession to move forward. You’d think those in charge of the profession would recognize this basic issue and design that core chiropractic message.
For years, I’ve used “Crooked Man” as a means of explaining to people why they should be in my office and what I will do when they come to my office. I explain that every human being is Crooked Man. The second means of making chiropractic relevant would be to establish a standardized examination of the musculoskeletal system that will provide information as to where these imbalances exist.
With this exam becoming standardized in our profession, we would be the only profession that looks at the biomechanics of the patient on a routine basis. The industry should give it a long, hard look and see if this might not be a good path to go down for the future of promoting chiropractic and the health of our profession.
TIM MAGGS, DC, has been in practice for 40 years, and now specializes in the evaluation, care and treatment of middle and high school athletes. He can be reached at CPOYA.com.
POINT: ‘Expanding the footprint,’ new Academy of Chiropractic name change implemented for 2020
The term “chiropractic orthopedist” is also not understood or recognized internationally. To solve the problems and misunderstandings regarding the term chiropractic orthopedist, the Academy felt the time is right for a name change that reflects more what we do as neuromusculoskeletal specialists treating acute and chronic pain.
The decision for change did not come on a whim, and it has been worked on by the Academy for nearly two years. The Academy contacted both DACO and DABCO clinicians about the new name, and all were upbeat and pleased. The doctors felt it was descriptive of our specialty. We provide manual medicine that includes the chiropractic adjustment to our patient’s frame and supporting structures.
The Academy has chosen the following name: International Academy of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine.
Yes, there remains an Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists. The Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists and Forensic Sciences will continue as a part of the IANM as sub-specialties.
The chiropractic message and footprint
It is our goal to continue to expand the footprint of the neuromusculoskeletal chiropractic physicians treating acute and chronic pain throughout the world. The specialty is on an upward path.
It is the Academy’s opinion that generic use of neuromusculoskeletal medicine complements our chiropractic orthopedist principles and desired treatment protocols. Other professions are using chiropractic manipulation; it is our opinion that the use of neuromusculoskeletal medicine is appropriate for our specialists.
Edited for space, letter from KIM SKIBSTED, DC, FIANM(us), president, International Academy of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine. To learn more, go to ianmmedicine.org.
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