• Magazine
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • Change Mailing Address
    • Surveys
    • Guidelines for Authors
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Editorial Deadlines
  • Practice
    • Business Tips
    • Chiropractic Schools
    • Clinical & Technique
    • eBooks
    • eCourses
    • Infographics
    • Quizzes
    • Wellness & Nutrition
    • Personal Growth
    • Podcast
  • Resource Centers
  • Products & Services
    • Buyer’s Guide
    • Products Directory
    • Submit a Product
    • Vendor Login
  • Datebook
    • Become an Events Poster
    • Post an Event
    • View Events
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
  • Advertise
    • Advertising Information
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Upload Advertising

Your Online Chiropractic Community

Chiropractic Economics Your Online Chiropractic Community
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • News
  • Webinars
  • Chiropractic Research
  • Students
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Will the chiropractor industry prepare for a doctor shortage?

David O'Bryon January 29, 2021

MD and DO schools increased enrollment to meet a projected doctor shortage head-on — when and what will chiropractic do?

MD and DO schools increased enrollment to meet a projected doctor shortage head-on — when and what will chiropractic do?

There are a lot of people thinking about what the future looks like as we hope vaccines will curb the pandemic. Health professionals across the world have been called to serve and respond, and they have. They have served the public and answered the call to provide needed care under extraordinary circumstances. There has been a lot of talk about resilience this year. There has been a lot of talk about retirements and a forecasted doctor shortage.

Like others of a certain age they have been considering what the future is going to bring.

Is chiropractic prepared for retired baby boomers?

Baby boomers are reaching retirement age and they are redefining the demographics of the country.

A larger part of the U.S. population will be considered “seniors” than ever before. Roughly 10,000 Americans turn 65 each day. By 2035 it is said that there will be more baby boomers (over 65) than people under 18 in the United States.

The question the chiropractic profession and its educational institutions should be asking is whether we are prepared with a workforce to serve this growing geriatric population. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that chiropractic will grow faster than the general workforce and the future employment outlook is strong.

Data on aging and retiring DCs

Chiropractic schools in the United States hover around an enrollment of 10,000 students in any given year. This has been a consistent figure for some decades. There was a demographic blip in the mid to late 1990s that swelled our student bodies to a high of 15,000. This was a result of a larger-than-usual under- graduate population.

There is not a great deal of data on the aging of the chiropractic practitioner. The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners provides some insights in their studies of the profession in broad areas by the number of years in practice. The profession has had its own demographic blips, such as those who served in the military during WWII and had the GI Bill, which allowed those individuals to go to chiropractic school.

Preparing for a doctor shortage

So what have other health professions done to prepare for a workforce or doctor shortage?

The medical professions projected a severe shortage of doctors to serve a growing population and increased enrollment in medical schools by 30%. In a similar fashion osteopathic schools increased enrollment by doubling the number of schools and growing graduation rates from 1,500 to 4,500 DOs per year.

Health care is changing in this country, and numerous innovations have taken place. COVID-19 has accelerated the pace. One of the innovations is telehealth and virtual classrooms. All health profession educational institutions have had to deal with moving curriculum to an online environment. Schools that have labs and clinical rotations needed to revise their approach and timing within their teaching schedules.

Are we adding the resources that are needed? Having a larger portion of our population retired will have an impact on the economy, with potentially slower growth. The entire population demographic in the U.S. is experiencing major revisions. California’s white population is now 38%, with other groups making up the majority. Changing cultural and diversity issues will impact all society.

DC education with the future in mind

For educational institutions that prepare the next generation of health providers the needed workforce has always been a statistical question.

Chiropractic schools are seeing a changing demographic at their schools. Practitioners in the field are 70% male and 30% female. The schools’ ratios are closer to 50-50% male/female. Student body diversity is occurring. The Association of Chiropractic Colleges is surveying to develop an understanding of these changes.

What we do know is that chiropractic care is growing. The Department of Veterans Affairs has had a steady growth of providers giving care. The baby boomer population is an active group. We can also learn about aging populations by studying Japan’s experience, for example.

So, as suggested by the aforementioned examples, we need to continue to train future chiropractors mindful of the nation’s pending needs. We will be competing with other health professions for students in what is a shrinking demographic pool of students attending undergraduate schools.

DAVID S. O’BRYON, JD, CAE, has been president of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges since 1996. He previously worked for the United States Congress. He can be reached at info@chirocolleges.org.

Related Posts

  • Black chiropractors and DC’s roles in black healthBlack chiropractors and DC’s roles in black health
  • A twin mission for educating on the importance of diversity in chiropracticA twin mission for educating on the importance of diversity in chiropractic
  • Not just issues in higher education a problem for chiropractic in the midst of COVIDNot just issues in higher education a problem for chiropractic in the midst of COVID
  • Improve cell membrane health and calculate phase angle – part IIImprove cell membrane health and calculate phase angle – part II
  • DCs in the News: chiropractic solutions for community problemsDCs in the News: chiropractic solutions for community problems
  • Performing a research study in the small officePerforming a research study in the small office

Filed Under: 2021, Chiropractic Practice Management, issue-02-2021, Personal Growth for Chiropractors

Current Issue

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube logoYouTube logoYouTube

820 A1A N Highway W18,

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

Phone 904.285.6020

Fax 904.395.9118

CONTACT US »

Privacy Policy & Terms of Service

Copyright © 2021, All Rights Reserved

SUBSCRIBE TO THE MAGAZINE

Get Chiropractic Economics magazine
delivered to your home or office. Just
fill out our form to request your FREE
subscription for 20 issues a year,
including two annual Buyers Guides.

SUBSCRIBE NOW »

Latest Chiropractic News

  • World Federation of Chiropractic announces open virtual congress in September
  • Life West marks 40 years of promoting vitalistic chiropractic
    Life West College photo
  • Lifestyle change for women, even in middle age, may reduce future stroke risk
x