The Clash Between Economics and Accreditation

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The chiropractic profession is at a crossroads. A profession based on hands on non-allopathic, holistic principles has methodically been moved closer and closer to the practice of medicine much to the chagrin of most practitioners in the profession.

Under the guise of ensuring the highest quality of care rendered to the public, the CCE has forced every chiropractic school into moving away from the profession’s founding principles and toward a sub-par version of manual medicine. Being the only accrediting authority in the profession, CCE has almost no oversight and has become a rogue agency imposing its will on the chiropractic profession. And, like a cancer, has gone virtually ignored by the U.S. Department of Education or the public which it supposedly is sworn to protect.

The folks at the Council on Chiropractic Education has even certified one chiropractic college to confer a degree of Chiropractic Medicine to its graduates. Not only is this outside CCE’s scope, it is dangerous for the public at large. the practice of medicine is difficult enough for those who attend medical school and do the residency necessary to practice that art. Chiropractors that play Medical Doctor are a menace to society just as is an MD that tries to manipulate patients in their medical practice.

10550948_10204346676805637_1617827022695810989_nThere is NO justification for teaching medicine to chiropractic students or requiring medical education at chiropractic schools. for one thing, it confuses the chiropractic student and graduate. The two professions have totally opposite philosophies and really are separate and distinct. In most states, it is illegal for the chiropractor to either make a medical diagnosis or prescribe even over-the-counter drugs for simple symptom relief. Personally, I think it’s a good thing that chiropractors have a narrow scope of practice.

[quote_left]From an economics standpoint, it is almost impossible for a new chiropractor to survive in practice.[/quote_left] let me restate that. It’s virtually impossible for a new chiropractor to survive in practice without heavy third-party reimbursement or participating in multi-level marketing or by having a part-time job. Here’s the truth. If people want Medicine, they’ll go to a medical doctor. people typically seek a chiropractor because they want something DIFFERENT from the medical approach. If all a chiropractor offers is medical LITE, he/she is simply not a good alternative. Hence, many chiropractors fail in practice.

Because so many chiropractors fail in practice, student loan default rates are the highest of ANY of the healing arts. If CCE’s purpose is to protect the public and make sure that student loan defaults are minimized, I would think they have failed miserably at their job. In fact, if I were the Department of Education, I would encourage the profession to create an alternative to CCE as soon as possible and prepare to remove CCE’s standing as THE sole accrediting authority. A worthy accrediting authority would ensure MINIMUM compliance with core requirements while allowing its schools to specialize and compete for students via different philosophical, clinical and business perspectives.

All the Council on Chiropractic Education has accomplished is to have raised the cost of chiropractic education beyond the average student’s ability to repay their debt. Something has to stop. Neither the chiropractic profession, the public nor the Federal Government is served by the policies and practices of the Council on Chiropractic Education.

Dr. Tim Langley is a chiropractor, economist and business consultant. He lives and practices in Marietta, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Dr. Langley writes on issues that relate to health, business, personal development, economic development and politics. He is also the developer of The Membership Practice. You can find out more about Dr. Langley at his web site http://www.langley-chiropractic.comor through his blog at http://drtim.wordpress.com