HIGHLIGHTS OF BC CHIROPRACTORS' 67th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, RICHMOND, B.C.
How much longer must the public wait for the health care they deserve?
British Columbians are being denied improved health care that is readily available at reduced cost, says the BC Chiropractic Association.
International researchers presented findings in November to an audience that included lawyers, human resource professionals and BC's chiropractic doctors in a conference emphasizing the efficacy, the economics and the politics of chiropractic care for neck and low back pain.
Citing the results of international studies, researchers suggest that our government - and insurers such as the Workers Compensation Board - continue to ignore the hard evidence: chiropractic doctors are best suited to diagnose and treat low back injuries, and could save the British Columbia and Canadian health care systems hundreds of millions of dollars each year.
“Injured workers suffering back pain in our province are not being informed of their options for care,” says Dr. Brian Arthur, President of the BC Chiropractic Association. “They are not being told that there's a better way. Informed choice is not happening in British Columbia.” People are suffering needlessly, say BC's chiropractors. E
mployers' costs continue to rise, when injured workers could be getting back to work sooner, at less cost.
Dr. Pran Manga, Ph.D., Professor and Director, University of Ottawa, says that the public should be asking governments and insurers, “Given the evidence and the rationale, what possible reason is there to remain with the status quo?” Dr. Manga suggests that our current health care system does not promote patient access to the full range of effective health care options available, and says that we could better utilize our existing health care labour force. He states, “Rather than evidence-based medicine, we should be talking about evidence-based health care. There is great economic sense in having chiropractors treat low back pain.”
The evidence is more than economic, says researcher Dr. LaVerne Saboe, a member of Western States Chiropractic College postdoctorate faculty. Some 40 randomized studies conducted worldwide confirm that chiropractic treatment is not only more effective than medical treatment - it's safer. Dr. Michael Vipond, president of the BC College of Chiropractors agrees. “Chiropractic is a non-invasive, drug-free, results-oriented form of treatment that exposes the patient to less risk than medical approaches that traditionally favour medications and surgery.”
Conference Keynote Speakers:
“Why Work Hardening May Fail in Patients With Low Back Pain” presented by James Elliott, MSPT, Research Director and Physical Therapist, Therapeutic Management, Inc., Denver, Colorado
“Comparing Medical and Chiropractic Morbidity, Mortality, Clinical Efficacy, and Cost Effectiveness: Chiropractic Doctors as Gatekeepers” - presented by Dr. LaVerne A. Saboe, Jr., DC, FABS, DAAPM, DACAN, DABDA, FIC, DABFE
“The Legal and Economic Reality of Chiropractic Care” - Keynote Address by Mr. Anthony Vecchio, President, BC Trial Lawyers Association
“The Economics and Politics of Low Back Care: Options for Better Outcomes” - presented by Professor Pran Manga, Ph.D., Professor and Director at University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario
“Evidence-based Practice and its Importance in the Delivery of High Quality and Effective Health Care” - presented by Dr. Kim Humphreys, D.C., Ph.D., Chiropractic Researcher, Head of Academic Affairs, Bournemouth, Dorset UK
An overview of speaker's notes will be posted here shortly.