Mark Mandell Joins CP’s Editorial Advisory Board
Chiropractic Products welcomes to its editorial advisory board Mark Mandell, DC, MBA, president of BrainStorm Group, and member of the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors and the American Chiropractic Association. Mandell will contribute business articles, technical expertise and advice, and will provide editorial direction to the magazine. Mark Mandell, DC, MBA
Mandell is a 1995 graduate from the National College of Chiropractic. He also holds a BS in Policy Analysis from Cornell University and an MBA in Management from New York University. He served as chairman of the 1994 World Cup Opening Ceremonies Medical Staff and helped involve 100 chiropractors, chiropractic students, and staff in the care of the 2,500 performers for 6 weeks. Mandell also practiced for 8 years with his family’s third-generation office, Mandell Chiropractic. “The business of providing top-notch chiropractic care should focus on continually striving to improve the quality of care as well as the cost effectiveness of care,” says Mandell. “I hope to impart this kind of information to the readers of Chiropractic Products and help them understand how to integrate advanced treatments and technological changes into their practices.” |
ACA News Replaces ACA Today
Beginning in January 2005, the American Chiropractic Association will reach more than 60,000 doctors of chiropractic and students every month with ACA News, the organization’s new professional newspaper, which will replace ACA Today.
“The moment of truth is not far away,” says Donald J. Krippendorf, DC, ACA president, and George B. McClelland, DC, ACA chairman. “The clock is ticking and our profession is approaching an important turning point. It is up to us, not the medical community, to decide whether we will remain a profession on the fringes or become widely embraced nationwide as an integral part of the health care system, and the decision must be made now.”
The newspaper will educate doctors about developments affecting the ACA, its practices, its profession, and its role as a leader in national health care issues. It will also frame the profession’s national agenda, build a sense of community among all within the profession, and inform and demonstrate to nonmembers the involvement and support of the ACA and its programs, which are essential to the future and professional livelihood of every doctor.
Meanwhile, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) will become the official scientific journal of the ACA. Both print and online versions will be provided free to all ACA general members; all other membership categories will receive discounted rates.
The Journal of the American Chiropractic Association (JACA) will also move to an online-only version, JACA Online, which will be housed in a fully searchable database allowing ACA members instant access to a wealth of clinical and educational materials to assist them in their practices.
Palmer College Celebrates Its 2004 Homecoming
Nearly 2,300 alumni, friends, and prospective students attended Palmer College of Chiropractic’s annual continuing education and networking extravaganza.
“It is a very busy time for many of us as we host more than 2,000 people, but it is truly energizing and worthwhile,” says Donald Kern, DC, Palmer’s interim president. “I appreciate the teamwork and the great feeling of accomplishment that this event brings to the college every year.”
The chiropractic expo attracted 100 vendors, who shared the latest products and services for chiropractors. Also on the agenda was a book signing by Gretchan Pyne, wife of 1987 Palmer graduate Warren Pyne, DC, who wrote Lulu’s Rose-Colored Glasses, after the tragic death of the Pynes’
4-year-old daughter. In addition, more than 70 of the top speakers in the profession entertained and educated the attendees.
The 2004 homecoming also included 25- and 50-year reunions and Palmer College of Chiropractic International Alumni Association meetings, during which new officers were elected. Traditional special events included a talent show and barbecue, and the Saturday Night Festival, complete with food, music, and fireworks.
“We basically build a small city every August,” says Heather Arcaute, expo manager. “It is a big task, but it’s where the best networking takes place. We already have more than 40 vendors signed up for 2005.”
ACA Chairman Appointed to URAC Advisory Committee
George B. McClelland, DC, American Chiropractic Association Chairman, has been selected to serve on the Consumer Directed Health Advisory Committee of the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC).
George B. McClelland, DC
“The members of this committee will provide invaluable guidance and insight as URAC explores how accreditation can aid organizers in their consumer-directed initiatives,” says Garry Carneal, URAC president and CEO. “A particular focus will be how to support consumers in managing their own health care decisions in this new consumer-directed environment.”
McClelland’s role is patient focused. He will help chiropractors advance as prevention experts, as well as secure placement of chiropractic care in insurance benefits. This will give members the opportunity to prevent debilitating chronic care conditions and open up a new line of reimbursement for chiropractors.
URAC is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting health care, quality, certification, and other improvement activities. Members represent constituents from all areas of the health care industry, including trade association representatives, consumer advocacy constituents, benefits consultants, public relations experts, and consumer-directed health plans.
Chiropractors Accused of Insurance Fraud
Allstate Insurance has filed a $500,000 lawsuit against All-Care Chiropractic in Philadelphia.
“Allstate is serious about fighting insurance fraud,” says Edward J. Moran, assistant vice president in charge of Allstate’s Special Investigations Unit. “We have no tolerance for this crime. Our policyholders and consumers in general benefit from our aggressive fight against insurance fraud. Allstate’s Special Investigations Unit will continue to partner with law enforcement officials in Pennsylvania and across the country to identify and fight fraud.”
The suit alleges that All-Care owners and operators Richard Walinsky, DC, and Eileen Nelson Means, DC, fraudulently billed Allstate more than $50,000 for treatments that were never performed, in addition to billing more than $300,000 for in-home patient visits that were performed with improper licensing and unsupervised personnel.
“We believe that, among other fraudulent acts, Richard Walinsky and Eileen Nelson Means deliberately misrepresented medical bills and sought payment for procedures that were never rendered,” says Moran.
According to the filing, All-Care Chiropractic was set up in 1996 to maximize billings to insurance companies. The suit says in order to maximize their revenue, the defendants have employed unlicensed and improperly licensed individuals to perform procedures.
All-Care could not be reached for comment.
Back Pain Sufferers Prefer Drug-Free Pain Management
According to a study conducted for the ACA by a national market research firm, more than 80% of chronic back pain sufferers surveyed prefer to avoid the use of medication to treat their ailments. Ironically, a majority are taking either narcotics, muscle relaxants, or over-the-counter medications to deal with their pain.Furthermore, more than 64% of respondents reported they would consider seeking the professional health care services of a chiropractor who offers a drugless approach to pain relief.  Survey results indicated that while millions of Americans trust their health care to one of the nation’s 60,000 chiropractors, only 13.8% of respondents were currently seeking health care from them.
When survey respondents were asked if they felt their pain was under control as a result of other current treatment, 30% indicated their pain was not, and an additional 39.3% said their pain was moderately under control. More than 27% of respondents reported that they were taking a form of analgesic or narcotic for their back pain, 25% indicated that they relied on over-the-counter medications, and 19.6% percent used muscle relaxants. “The survey results reiterate that chiropractic care offers the treatment options desired by patients,” says ACA President Donald J. Krippendorf, DC. |
Increase in Chiropractic Firms in the United States
The latest US Economic Census reported that there was a 2.8% increase in the number of chiropractic employer firms from 2000 to 2001. However, the number of people employed by the chiropractic profession increased by 12.1% during the same time frame to reach 111,637, breaking the 100,000 mark for the first time.
“The primary reason for this large increase is that chiropractors, like all health providers, have added staff to meet the increased paperwork and demands from managed care,” says Mark Mandell, DC, president of BrainStorm Group. “With the number of employees growing by 10 percentage points more than the number of offices, we are seeing some dramatic labor changes in the profession. Companies that can help control the increasing costs of staff for chiropractors will have some great opportunities in the coming years.”
The overwhelming majority of the chiropractic offices are either chiropractors practicing alone, or chiropractors with one to four employees. However, with 16 chiropractic firms each having more than 100 employees, some large-scale chiropractic clinics are being formed. The largest percentage increases in employees came from chiropractic firms with more than 20 employees, indicating growth in corporate chiropractic firms.
“Chiropractic is overwhelmingly a mom-and-pop or small health care business,” says Mandell. “There are a handful of major chiropractic product and service companies that can create some large-scale win-win opportunities. Companies that market to the chiropractic profession can maximize their results by targeting the single-person chiropractic offices differently than the chiropractic corporations.”
Free Interactive Course Offered to DCs
A 2-hour interactive course on vertebral artery injury/CVA and cervical manipulation is being offered free of charge by CEvantive.com, a Foundation for Chiropractic Research (FCER) partner in research.
For those who wish to receive CE credit for the course, CEvantive.com has agreed to donate all funds raised to FCER. The cost of the 2-hour course is $40 to $50, depending on discounts with other organizations (NCMIC insureds receive 20% off all course work).
The vertebral artery injury/CVA and cervical manipulation course has been endorsed by most leadership organizations and malpractice insurance carriers worldwide. All course work is done in conjunction with a chiropractic college of good standing with the Council of Chiropractic Education.
The FCER encourages all chiropractors to take advantage of this timely information and obtain CE credits while raising funds for continued chiropractic research.
JVSR Encourages Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
New research by the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research suggests that there is an increased potential for spinal instability in pregnant women, which results in subluxations and may affect the health and well-being of both mother and fetus. The subluxation guidelines for maternal care include many references on current texts and writings on chiropractic approaches to pregnancy and pediatric care and midwifery. The authoritative book on midwifery by Helen Varney Burst et al, Varney’s Midwifery states: “The potential for damage in pregnancy and the postpartum period to a woman’s neuromusculoskeletal structure is great. Shifts in the center of gravity forward and slightly up destabilize her posture and realign the carriage of weights and forces through her joints, predisposing nerves, muscles, bones, and connective tissues to damage. Increased levels of relaxin and elastin further aggravate this situation.”
A woman’s body experiences numerous biochemical adaptations and physiological changes, which may have an adverse affect on her neuromusculoskeletal system. Because of these changes, the practitioner must select the specific analysis and adjustment most appropriate for the complex changes during the various stages of pregnancy. Currently, most published research on chiropractic care during pregnancy addresses the efficacy of the adjustment for low back pain. One study revealed that 75% of women who received chiropractic adjustments during their pregnancy stated that they experienced relief from pain. Chiropractors should be aware of the available research and clinical guidelines supporting the importance of chiropractic care during pregnancy for safer births. It is also important that doctors understand the causes of dystocia (abnormal labor) and the potential effect chiropractic adjustments have in reducing its causes. The guidelines also state that there is still much research to be done to substantiate the efficacy of chiropractic care during pregnancy and that “facilitating a healthy pregnancy and restoring a normal physiological environment for natural birth is well within the chiropractic scope of practice.” |
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