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Providing
information to members of the Chiropractic Association of British
Columbia since 1989
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Third Quarter 2002
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President's Message — Dr. Brian Arthur
The CCWG has done a superb job of keeping members informed about the Lewis inquest. As a result, members have demanded that we take aggressive action to counter this unwarranted attack on our profession. We are in the midst of reviewing several action plan options for implementation immediately following the outcome of the inquest.
If you are approached by the media with regard to stroke or other related issues, please refer them to the BCCC or BCCA, or the bcchiro.com web site. Our web site’s home page contains a link to Chiropractic and the Risk of Stroke, found under the In Your Hands: Chiropractic Library menu. Media experts and advertising focus groups indicate that mentioning safety issues only serves to raise questions such as “Why are they telling me that treatments are safe?” followed by, “What are they not telling me?” Other health professions respond to safety issues publicly by stating that there is risk with all health services. Chiropractic safety is only an issue if we allow it to be. There is nothing to debate or discuss - our safety record is enviable.
BCCA Advertising
July marked the end of our spring/summer TV advertising campaign, which included two flights of patient testimonial ads and a 13-week flight on The Golf Show- Great Golf Destinations. August 1st marks the beginning of our new fiscal year. The Board is developing our fall/winter media campaign, which includes television, radio and print. We continue to receive positive feedback from members about our TV advertisements. Our print campaign includes seasonal tips for gardening and winter sporting activities. These ads are published in various newspapers across BC. The Association has several camera-ready ad mats available for members who wish to advertise in their community newspaper.
This year’s complementary KVOS TV holiday prize recipient is Dr. Michael Buna, winner of airfare and accommodations for two to Las Vegas.
BC Affairs and Politics
The ICBC Committee continues to prompt the Corporation to improve its claims management practices. ICBC has voiced concern over the cost of claims, specifically income replacement to injured motorists who are unable to work. When clinically indicated, chiropractors should encourage patients to return to work despite contrary health advice from other practioners. On the issue of adjuster interference, Association legal counsel advises that DCs should document this interference in their clinical notes, as it is relevant to the patient’s ongoing care. It is important that each member use the BCCA guidelines for motor vehicle accidents when documenting notes. The priority is to ensure that the patient, insurer and lawyer are all aware of clinical information submitted by the patient’s chiropractic doctor.
In an effort to build a more positive relationship with ICBC, the BCCA has asked the Corporation to initiate a pilot project with the BCCA, using our guidelines and report forms. The Board will keep members posted on the progress of this project.
Strengthening Chiropractic
Navigating Privatization
Only a few practitioners have expressed a desire to return to the public health care system, based in part on the political interference of the system. Most practitioners are resolute in revitalizing their practices. For many chiropractic doctors, the situation has brought about a state of self-examination. How well do we communicate with our patients? Some of us forget that effective patient communication skills are key to successful patient care. We build our practices by word of mouth, through caring about patients, building trust and doing our absolute best to help them. Our collective professionalism builds the publics’ trust and awareness of chiropractic care. No amount of public education can substitute for effective, direct patient communication.
For those of us who grew up in Western Canada, universal healthcare always included chiropractic care. The public knew that not all of their healthcare needs were being met by orthodox methods. This fact has not changed. The increased cost of care has obviously impacted our profession, yet historically speaking, hikes in user fees typically decreased utilization for three to six months. The financial issues of our patients, as well as prospective patients, will diminish over time. To this end, the Board has been redirecting its energies to respond to and set the agenda for insurance in BC’s health care system.
Partnering with Corporate BC
The BCCA has taken an unprecedented step to ensure better public access to our services by sponsoring a conference for health plan administrators, human resource personnel, insurers, employers and union representatives. Held on September 16th at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver, the conference focused on how chiropractic care can significantly reduce employer disability costs and loss of productivity, improving their bottom line. Details from this event will be published for member review.
Working with the CCA and Provinces
The BCCA continues to support the CCA in building the chiropractic profession in Canada. Subsequent to the Provincial Presidents Meeting on March 2, 2002, the CCA continues to help coordinate and unify media relations concerning issues of national importance. Dr. Don Nixdorf has been appointed by the Board as provincial CCA media spokesperson. The provincial Board presidents and CCA governors are working to enhance inter-provincial information-sharing processes and create awareness of emerging provincial, regional and national issues.
Supporting our MCA Colleagues
The BCCA proudly supports the MCA in its defamation suit against the Manitoba College of Physicians and Surgeons. The conclusion of this matter will take time and resources. However, it is important for the profession to show its resolve to see this action through. The BCCA has donated five thousand dollars to the MCA legal defense fund.
Leaving a Chiropractic Legacy
What type of community healthcare environment do we want for our children? Society can play an integral role in the development of chiropractic awareness at the community level. The BCCA encourages members to participate as a team in raising the public profile of the spine and its importance. The Board thanks Dr. Liza Grant for her efforts to restore a spinal awareness program for children at the primary school level. Watch for more information about how you might use this program in your community.
Building Positive Inter-professional Relationships
The BCCA/BCCC is committed to improving its relationships with medical professionals. Following our Ipsos-Reid study regarding MD attitudes and knowledge about chiropractic, the College and Association are currently developing a Powerpoint presentation about chiropractic care for members to use as an educational tool when meeting with individuals, groups or soceities of MDs. In the future, educational materials will be sent to all medical practitioners in BC.
Enhancing BCCA/Member Communication
This year, members of both Boards once again ventured to various BC locales to meet, listen and discuss chiropractic issues with practitioners. Destinations included Qualicum (NVICS), Victoria (SVICS), Cranbrook, Prince George, Kelowna and the Lower Mainland. Watch for a “road show” in your area next spring, 2003. Come out, be seen, ask questions and be heard. The Boards would like to thank Drs. Kathy Murphy, Van Redekopp and Cormack for organizing these events on our behalf.
It is vital that we hear your thoughts and concerns about chiropractic issues. Each Association mail-out now contains a feedback form for you to share your input and fax to us. Be sure to print your name at the bottom so that we know who to respond to!
The Board recently set quarterly publication dates for the Contact newsletter in 2003. These are January, April, August and November. We welcome your personal contributions to the Contact, as they help invigorate and improve our profession.
Dr. Brian Arthur can be reached at barthur@bcchiro.com
WCB Update — Dr. Colin McKay
Relations with the WCB have improved significantly since ratifying a contract and establishing a Liaison Committee. One of the committee’s objectives is to study chiropractic treatment outcome and its affect on lost work time and lower employer costs. The committee is jointly developing a list of health and ergonomic aids that patients may be reimbursed for by the WCB. Please contact the Liason Committee directly with any questions or suggestions you may have.
To clarify any confusion caused by last year's contract discussions, we are providing an update with regard to treatment and reporting procedures for injured workers. Chiropractors are still able to treat injured workers for eight weeks. A request for extension is not necessary for continuation of treatment beyond the four-week time frame. DCs must submit an 8c within five days of patient presentation. An 11c is submitted at the three- to four-week time frame to advise WCB if treatment is to continue and what the treatment plan entails. Further treatment and payment for visits beyond the four-week time frame will not be facilitated until the WCB has received an 11c. WCB can be billed at any time during treatment of the injured worker. If you are providing reports in electronic format, $1.50 is to be included in the billing amount.
Legislative Committee Update — Dr. Robert Masse
It is interesting to witness some of the BC Liberals’ policy directives and subsequent reversals. Recently, when two MLAs were questioned about cuts to chiropractic care, they stated in writing that chiropractic care was never included in any other provincial health plan. The BCCA followed up to ask the MLAs which government department or personnel provided them with this false information. When speaking with your MLA, be sure to remind him or her that BC is the only province to have cut necessary care.
Since the delisintg of spine-related problems from Medicare, many British Columbians are discovering that their private extended health plans do not contain adequate chiropractic coverage. It appears that Minister Colin Hansen is working to rectify private insurance inadequacies for chiropractic coverage.
As you may recall, the BCCA implemented a petition requesting that chiropractic care be covered under MSP, on an equal basis with medical care. Although the project was not largely supported by the membership, those who did participate achieved some worthy results. In addition to presentation in session at the legislature, the petition generated local media coverage. Stronger membership participation may have enabled us to achieve more significant results. It would be helpful if you could take a moment to express how you think MSP delisting has affected your practice. Do you want us to pursue inclusion of our services under MSP? And if so, under the same terms as before? Do you prefer the current system? What is your ideal MSP scenario? Please email your feedback to robertmasse@hotmail.com.
Some members have found the changes to the health care system to be a major challenge, while others have not. Factors affecting the impact of changes include regional economics, style of the individual's practice and communication strategies to address patients' perceived value of services. My advice to all who are struggling is to concentrate heavily on your practice. Focus discussions with patients on their health and how chiropractic can help them and their family. At the end of each day, call patients who received their first chiropractic adjustment and ask how they are doing.
D.D. and B.J. Palmer are often quoted as having said that all illness and disease is caused by subluxation. What they actually said is that all illness and disease is caused by a failure to adapt to changes in either internal or external environments, and that subluxation compromises the ability of the individual to adapt and maintain homeosatsis. My point? In order to succeed and prosper in this profession as a whole, each chiropractor must adapt to the changing healthcare environment. In my opinion, we will succeed to the degree at which we continue to enthusiastically, proudly and unapologetically provide the outstanding and unique service that is chiropractic care.
Our provincial (and Canadian) values and standards are very high and as such, are also different from those in other areas. There are some excellent communication and practice management skills that can be learned from the American practice management companies that aggressively offer their services. There is also some unethical, illegal and offensive material designed to maximize patient compliance and profitability at the expense of honesty and integrity. Think carefully before adopting methods and materials presented by someone who encourages you to be a chiropractic warrior and abandon College rules.
There is a lot of work to do with regard to educating the public about the benefits of chiropractic and in turn, maximizing utilization. Your BCCA Board is comprised of practicing members like you, who are doing their best to further the profession on your behalf. It would help immensely if the membership would participate more fully when asked. I'll be very pleased if I receive more than five responses to my request for email feedback regarding MSP. I hope your reply is among them.
Dr. Robert Masse can be reached at robertmasse@hotmail.com
Manitoba Chiropractor Chosen for Core Medical Team at 2002 Commonwealth Games
The College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences (Canada), is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lawrence Schledewitz to Canada’s Core Medical Team for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.
Schledewitz attained fellowship status with the College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences (Canada) in 1999. In 1995 he became the first chiropractor to serve as president of the Sport Medicine Council of Manitoba, of which he is currently the past president. From 1997-1999 Schledewitz served as co-chair of chiropractic services for the Pan American Games in Winnipeg. He has served at numerous local, provincial, and national events, as well as the Pan Am Games in 1999 and as alternate at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Schledewitz continues to work with university, national and international-level athletes and is a recognized provider with the National Sports Centre (Manitoba).
New BCCA Directors Elected
Nominations for directors of the BCCA and the CCA governor position officially closed Friday, September 13, 2002. Dr. Robert Masse will continue to serve the membership in his current term as a BCCA director. The bylaws of the BC Chiropractic Association mandate that a CCA governor also be a director of the BCCA Board. The directors elected by acclamation are Dr. Brian Arthur andDr. Colin McKay, and Dr. Chris Martin as CCA governor.
Chiropractic Relay Teams Raise Over $16 Thousand For Charity
Twenty dedicated chiropractors and their patients teamed up as the Victoria Chiropractors’ Running Backs for this year’s BC Lions’ Society 24-hour Charity Relay on June 24 and 25th. Its fourth year participating in the event, the Running Backs raised over $10 thousand to help send special needs children to summer camp for a week.
Team Captain Dr. Stan Marcus attributes the group’s success to the generosity of all chiropractors and patients in the community. “Over 50 Victoria chiropractors placed pledge sheets in their offices and the $10,300 we raised was the eleventh highest donation among the 60 participating teams!” says Marcus. “The exposure for chiropractic in Victoria was amazing. People in our community know that we not only have healing hands, but also healing hearts!”
Meanwhile, The Back In Action Team Chiropractic of Vancouver finished first in the health care division for miles run, raising approximately six thousand dollars for the same event held in Vancouver.
Both teams extends their thanks to all chiropractors and their patients who donated their time, money and/or running skills to the event. Thanks also to the Scotia Bank, the BCCA, the CMCC alumni and the Orthotic Group for their donations. The Running Backs would also like to thank Dr. Colin McKay, Captain of the Vancouver 24-Hour Relay team, for his assistance with the Victoria event.
Ongoing involvement by chiropractors in these wonderful events lets the public know that chiropractic doctors are a special group.
In Memorium
Chiropractor Frank Underhill passed away on January 24, 2002 at the age of 80 years. A well-known city chiropractor for over 40 years, Frank will be remembered with love by his wife Dorothy; twin sons Craig (Annette) of Warren, Maine; and Steve (Susie) of Tucson, Arizon; and his six grandchildren. Frank fought in WWII and while fighing in Italy with the Calgary Tank Regiment, won the Military Metal of Honour for bravery in the field. It was presented to him by King George at Buckingham Palace. Friends so wishing may make a memorial donation to the Heart & Stroke Foundation.
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