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Alex Kassalias, DC,
Greenville, SC
When you look at the scope of DC’s in the field today, the diversity of
services they are offering to the pubic are quite varying. Why is the
Chiropractic profession so split on purpose, philosophy and direction.
It’s an old question by now in our profession that doesn’t seem to go
away. Yet, I find myself thinking about it more often as I have been
recently elected to the Vice President position of the Palmetto State
Chiropractic Association, a philosophically straight chiropractic
organization that has been created some years ago to represent those
D.C.’s whose practice is centered on the location, analysis and correction
of vertebral subluxation.
In comparison to the other chiropractic associations, our member numbers
pale. In fact, I was shocked to find out that our numbers have dropped
over the last few years. On the other hand, our purpose and mission is
becoming more crucial than ever before. There are two undeniable reasons
for this… The first being; the failing health care trends we see today in
our society.
The current statistics of poor health is alarming. Obesity and juvenile
diabetes represent approximately 22 million children under 5 years of age
that are overweight across the world. In our country the number of obesity
in children and adults has doubled in the last two to three decades. Over
18 million Americans who are clinically depressed, which adds up to
approximately 10 percent of the population in any given one year period.
More than 580,000 children take antidepressants. The horrible statistics
go on and on as we face the reality of heart disease, cancer, and flawed
medical interventions to name a few.
Some chiropractors reading this might find them selves thinking “what does
this have to do with our profession or chiropractic philosophy?” Or they
may think “this is the medical community’s problem.” The majority of
D.C.’s in our country today are not reacting to these poor health trends;
they continue to offer only crisis care management within their scope of
practice.
The second reason, and this reminds us why our mission is so crucial… is
the fact that our society, the state you live in, and the community around
you, needs a better model of health. It falls in our hands to inform the
public that health, healing and wellness come from with-in. It’s going to
be up to us, like-minded individuals, as those found in the PSCA and our
national association the FSCO to deliver the message “to achieve optimal
wellness we must remove interference to the brain body connection”. To
create value in people’s lives of this better health care model requires
an effective message that you and your subluxation centered practice
represents.
Are you in the right place to be a member of this Association? To answer
this, take a close look at your practice right now. Now honestly think
about the chiropractor you know you could be. Does your practice match
what’s deep inside? Do you find your self playing games with insurance
with fears of an audit because people don’t value the care enough to pay
out of pocket? Does the P.I. attorney’s office send you clients because
you need the patients and they know you will cut the reimbursement? Do you
catch your self getting caught up in discussions with patients as to why
chiropractic is good for a variety of musculoskeletal symptoms that leave
you feeling a bit sold out?
To build a practice that your patients enthusiastically refer others to
because they understand the impact that chiropractic adjustments have on
one’s health, requires a doctor that is a believable leader. This type of
Doctor is grounded in his/her philosophical beliefs and professional
associations. This type of practice communicates family wellness and the
philosophy of the self-healing body that your community leans on for their
health care needs. If you currently practice this way or wish to, join us
in advancing the mission of Chiropractic. The Chiropractors of the PSCA
are living the vitalistic philosophy of Straight chiropractic and are
individuals focused on the vision of an un-subluxated, healthier community
where they live and practice.
Although we are a minority in chiropractic we are also elite…in this big
vision. We need each other and this association. Please ask two D.C’s you
know to join us in our mission. If you wish, I am available to answer any
questions or thoughts you may have at 864-297-3000 or e-mail at drkass@charter.net.
Together we are going large!
REFERENCES
The North American Association for the Study of Obesity, Obesity Research
9:S239-S243 (2001)
Journal of American Medical Association, July 26,2000; 284(4): 483-5
National Institute of Mental Health, No. 97-4266
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