Every so often an event or circumstance will bring to light something that should have seemed very obvious. We all knew that there were terrorists in the world who hated the United States and attacked us in foreign countries. We also knew that we have virtually no system to keep would-be terrorists out of the country. Yet, our government agencies did little to protect us from a terrorist attack, as if they never believed it would happen on American soil. Then came September 11, 2001. It seems to me that in the least we are owed an apology by many agencies and branches of the federal government who have been asleep at the controls for the last 10 years or more. The conflict we are now engaged in is clearly demonstrating how widespread the problem is.
There is a conflict that confronts the straight chiropractic community at this time that has clarified a problem that exists, a problem that the leadership has largely ignored. We have worked hard to tell people what exactly we do and what we stand for and to a lesser extent we have explained what we do not do and why. Yet we have done very little to provide the information, the knowledge and the tools to practice non-therapeutic straight chiropractic. Heavens knows that the schools are not doing it. They are not even giving students the wherewithal to practice non-straight chiropractic let alone non-therapeutic chiropractic.
Unfortunately, we really have few role models in straight chiropractic. We have no practice management consultants for straight chiropractors. We maintain that we are different, so different that we have a different school and state and national organizations. Yet our graduates and members generally practice like traditional chiropractors or ICA-type chiropractors. People have not joined our movement, not because it does not make sense. It is the only approach that makes sense. It is a great way to practice. People have not joined us because as great as our message is, we have not demonstrated that you can make a good living practicing objective straight chiropractic. Some straight chiropractors are doing well, but many more are struggling. It is easy to tell people that chiropractic will make them feel better or that it can cure everything. It is not as easy to explain what we do. Most of the successful straight chiropractors have been at it for 25-30 years and became successful in a different era, so we are not role models.
We sponsor seminars to help explain straight chiropractic, but some of the speakers are not (yet) successful chiropractors themselves. Some need to take insurance to make a living. Some teach at schools as well as practice. While this gives them a great perspective on the academic aspect of chiropractic, the chiropractor building a practice cannot identify with them. Some have another business, depend upon a spouse’s income, or work other jobs to supplement their income. Those that have built successful practices have not had to do so for 25 or 30 years. We have always said that practicing objective straight chiropractic is a wonderful life, and it is. But can people do it? We tell them a cash practice is the way to go but the vast majority of us are still taking insurance. I suppose chiropractors figure that if they need to take insurance to make a living they might as well go all the way and get all they can. After all compromise is compromise.
So many times, I have talked to ICA-type chiropractors who cannot seem to see a difference between us and them (see The Mailbox). I cannot understand why they do not. It is clear to me and I have tried to make it clear to them. The problem is that too many of us do not practice any different than they do. Our practices do not reflect our philosophy. We are not role models for young graduates or those who truly want to change. If we are successful it is because we got there doing insurance or got there 25-35 years ago when the world was much different (e.g. no insurance, 30,000 less chiropractors, no student loans). We have managed to articulate modern day straight chiropractic. We have just not managed to demonstrate the practicality of it. We have shown it is sensible, but we have not proved it is workable. For that, I for one apologize.
I am sure there are successful chiropractors out there, practicing from day one in the objective straight chiropractic model. Of course there are people who could sell a refrigerator to an Eskimo. Most people can not. Because a few can do it does not mean it is a marketable commodity. We need to demonstrate the way to practice straight chiropractic and practice it successfully. We need to develop tools and procedures to help the chiropractor. We need to teach practical straight chiropractic. If we do not provide it for the chiropractor he will be forced to practice something else. The Foundation for the Advancement of Chiropractic Education in general and myself in particular will be putting its major efforts into developing, teaching, and promoting practical straight chiropractic in the coming year. We would appreciate any help you can give us. For those of you who want to practice straight chiropractic, we ask you to hang on a little longer. I believe it can be done and some of those who can show you how will be stepping up their efforts in the near future. v18n2