Though Life University in Marietta, Ga, is appealing the Council on Chiropractic Education’s (CCE) revocation of its accreditation, some students have decided to look for greener pastures—and other schools are happy to accommodate them, The Associated Press (AP) reported July 29.

Life students are receiving offers from other schools that, in some cases, even include relocation grants and loans. Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas, for instance, offers Life students $1,000 discounts off the first two semesters and a $1,000 relocation grant, according to AP.

“We felt this was something we could do to help them through this transition because it is hard to just stop your education and relocate somewhere else,” Parker admissions director Tricia Young said in a July 29 article in the Marietta Daily Journal.

Palmer College of Chiropractic West in San Jose, Calif; Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa; Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida in Port Orange; and Texas Chiropractic College in Pasadena are also extending aid to Life students. Each of the Palmer campuses offers transfer students $2000 relocation grants, and Palmer College of Chiropractic West includes 50% off the tuition of the first two quarters. Texas Chiropractic College offers a $1,000 tuition reduction for the first trimester and the eligibility to apply for an interest-free $1,500 loan to help with relocation.

Life student Brian Weingart appreciated the grants. “Moving expenses alone are going to cost an enormous amount, so I think they are trying to help out the students who are in a horrible situation as it is,” he said in the Marietta Daily Journal article.

Former Life student Lonnie M. Hand said her new school, Parker College, informed its students during this past trimester that it would not actively seek Life students, but instead would offer assistance if directly contacted.

“I was at Life for approximately 2 years, and I lost most of my credits in the transfer along with tens of thousands of dollars in student loans,” says Hand, who also states that despite the loss of credits, she is glad she chose Parker.

Conversely, Life Professor Mike Desaulniers, DC, says that other schools are cashing in on Life’s situation.

“I feel that other colleges providing grants for tuition and relocation is bordering on unethical, especially since there were several colleges here the day after the announcement with free drinks, promises, and buses to transport [students] immediately to the new college,” Desaulniers says. “Did they offer that to any other prospective students interested in attending their college?”

Former Life student Buddy Touchinsky chose to transfer to a school that offered no tuition or relocation money at all—New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls.

“I very much appreciated [the grants and discounts], as it would have helped with moving costs, etc, but it started to seem like schools were bidding for us,” Touchinsky says. “I began to find a problem with it when students started using that as a reason to choose one school over another, not basing it on the overall quality of the school.”

Life’s chiropractic program, which boasted 2,600 students in May, dropped to 1,800 by August, according to an August 16 article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. According to a message from Interim President Michael J. Schmidt, DC, on Life’s website, students who transfer from Life will be welcomed back, and credit taken at other institutions is accepted upon return at the appropriate equivalencies.

The CCE revoked Life’s accreditation in June, citing problems with the curriculum and faculty members. In August, the university filed a formal appeal with the CCE and formed a search committee for a new president to replace former Life President Sid Williams, DC, who resigned in July. Under CCE regulations, Life retains its accreditation throughout the appeals process.

Low-back pain sufferers may want to skip the analgesics and grab a heating pad, according to the results of a study conducted at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark.

The 6-month blind study, led by a sports medicine researcher, found that low-level heat wrap therapy is more effective than over-the-counter (OTC) oral medications for relieving low back pain. The results were reported in the May 15 issue of Spine.

“Confirming that this treatment is effective is important to patients because it gives them a treatment option that does not have the potential risk to the liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract that can accompany analgesic usage,” said Scott F. Nadler, director of sports medicine at the school and co-investigator of the study, in a news release.

Of the 371 back-pain sufferers who participated in the study, 113 were assigned to low-level heat wrap, 113 to acetaminophen, 106 to ibuprofen for efficacy evaluation, 20 to oral placebo, and 19 to unheated back wrap for blinding. Researchers observed participants over 2 treatment days and 2 follow-up days.

The researchers found that the heat wrap group showed significant improvements in pain relief, lateral trunk flexibility, muscle stiffness, and disability compared with the patients taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

“On the first day of treatment, the heat wrap gave patients greater pain relief—33% and 52%, respectively—when compared to ibuprofen and acetaminophen,” Nadler said. “The heat wrap also improved trunk flexibility—71% and 48%, respectively—compared with ibuprofen and acetaminophen after just 2 days of treatment.”

In addition, the effects lasted more than 48 hours after the treatment was completed.

Proctor & Gamble funded the study and employed and/or provided consultant fees to its authors.

Soon, renewing a chiropractic license in Pennsylvania will be only a mouse click away.

On behalf of Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schweiker, Secretary of the Commonwealth C. Michael Weaver announced July 23 that licensed professionals in Pennsylvania can begin renewing their licenses online through License PA.

The online renewal process is initially only available to the State Board of Nursing Home Administrators. The remaining state licensing boards will be added over the next 2 years as their expiration dates occur.

“We are constantly striving to meet the challenge of improving access to public records and becoming more responsive to the needs of those we serve,” Weaver said. “The newest enhancement to the License PA website is our most recent response to that challenge. We are thrilled that 231 applicants have successfully renewed their licenses in just the first week—that’s almost 20% of the renewals to date.”

License PA—unveiled in July 2001—provides access to information on nearly 1 million business, health, and real estate professionals licensed in Pennsylvania and enables consumers, employers, and licensed professionals to verify the licensure status of professionals and businesses regulated by the Department of State’s 27 boards and commissions.

In addition to license renewals, licensees will be able to make various updates, such as address changes, to their records.

Future License PA features include applying for a new license, requesting duplicate licenses, and automating continuing education data submissions from providers.

License PA is available through the PA PowerPort at www.state.pa.us, PA keyword: “License PA.”