Accreditation Under Probation
Life University takes a step forward in its process to restore the school’s accreditation, as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools will allow Life University to keep accreditation for another year, with the accreditation remaining under the sanction of probation.

According to the Associated Press, Ben DeSpain, Life University’s president, expected probation, but stated that the net effect of the situation was that the university was making progress. Under the new accreditation status, students can seek federal aid to cover tuition and graduate from accredited degree programs. This news helps out many students whose degree credibility was jeopardized by the school’s accreditation loss.

DeSpain was selected as the 28-year-old university’s second president in November 2002, in the midst of the school’s accreditation complications. The Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) revoked the accreditation in June 2002 and denied Life’s appeal on that decision in October 2002. DeSpain said restoring the chiropractic accreditation is his top priority at Life, followed by generating more interest in Life’s undergraduate programs in its School of Arts and Science.

“Chiropractic is the foundation of this university, and we will devote any and all resources necessary to restore our program’s status,” DeSpain said. “It will also benefit us long-term to entice undergrad students studying business or biology to enroll at Life.”

Sid Williams, Life University’s former president and founder, requested an investigation of the organization that revoked the school’s chiropractic accreditation, arguing that Life University was discriminated against for being a conservative school that bases education on the traditional subluxation approach. Life University filed a suit against the CCE, seeking to restore accreditation, and thus helping students complete their education without delay.

PT Fined for Spinal Manipulation
Micheal Teston, a physical therapist who allegedly performed spinal manipulation on a patient and a private investigator, incurred $10,000 in fines last December by the Arkansas State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports.

One of Teston’s patients claims Teston “popped” her back, and that sound usually indicates spinal manipulation, the board executive director explained. Under state law, physical therapists can only manipulate joints and not the spine, so they can perform spinal mobilization, but not spinal manipulation.

Until recently, Arkansas had never had a case in which a physical therapist appeared before the state chiropractic board in a disciplinary hearing. According to the Democrat-Gazette, the state board of physical therapy backs Teston. The PT board’s chairman states that Teston’s case will have ramifications, such as pressuring therapists to treat patients more conservatively. Teston plans to appeal the chiropractic board’s order in circuit court.

CAM Therapies Gain importance
The discipline of chiropractic is gaining respect as a medical profession in the state of Oregon. According to the Associated Press, the Oregon Health & Science University’s clinic is now committed to teaching students about alternatives to mainstream medicine.

The clinic combines mainstream medicine with chiropractic, Chinese, and naturopathic disciplines. Patients at OHSU’s clinic consult with an intern from Western States Chiropractic College, as well as a licensed acupuncturist, a resident of naturopathic medicine, and fourth-year medical student.

The significance of complementary and alternative medicine practices are no longer being dismissed by modern science. Instead, an effort is being placed on integration of CAM therapies alongside mainstream medicine. According to Newsweek’s December 2, 2002, cover story, physicians in hospitals around the country are studying herbs and biofeedback as intensely as they would study a new antibiotic. With the increasing popularity of combining modern and CAM therapies, it is becoming significantly important to evaluate CAM practices for standardization and proper credentialing.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School published an article in the December issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, analyzing the credentialing challenges of CAM therapies. Describing the status and issues of fashioning health care credentials for chiropractors, acupuncturists, naturopaths, and massage therapists, the article suggests a framework for the use of CAM provider credentialing by physicians, insurance companies, health care administrators and national professional organizations.

The article states suggested solutions for CAM credentialing should aim to balance the need for nationally uniform credentialing standards against the need to curtail excessive standardization.

Wal-Mart Discusses Chiropractic Benefits
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and Wal-Mart Stores Inc met on December 12, 2002, to discuss the retail giant’s decision to drop chiropractic services from its employee benefits in 2003. In conjunction with the ACA, Wal-Mart has indicated a willingness to look at new data regarding the cost-effectiveness of chiropractic care in offsetting more catastrophic events in patient care.

During the meeting, ACA learned that Wal-Mart wants to make certain that it can cover the costs of catastrophic illness for its employees, rather than support services that are not as acute, ongoing, and may create a dependence on providers. Wal-Mart also told ACA officials that its data shows that chiropractic care increases costs.

The chiropractic benefit that Wal-Mart is cutting in 2003 impacts approximately 85% of associates who are enrolled in the employee PPO plan. The remaining 15% of associates with HMO coverage, and those with Workers Compensation claims have chiropractic benefits intact. Wal-Mart’s benefit team suggested offering chiropractic to its employees through an affinity program, but ACA stressed that taking chiropractic out of the core benefits is not an acceptable solution for patients or doctors. CP