ICA NEWS!
For Immediate Release
September 9, 2005
Working through a growing circle of ICA volunteer members, affiliated chiropractic college presidents and representatives, chiropractic state associations and relief organizations, ICA 's Hurricane Relief Working Group continues to coordinate the activities of its membership, as well as those of hundreds of other volunteer doctors from across the nation in the hurricane relief effort. “Our top priority is to identify the most immediate needs and then seek practical solutions, using the resources and personal energies of the ICA community,” said ICA President Dr. John K. Maltby. ICA has made contact with the lead relief agencies in the impacted states and is building productive cooperative relationships with a growing number of active doctors of chiropractic and state chiropractic associations in the storm-damaged regions. Through those links, ICA is seeking to channel the outpouring of offers of help coming into the ICA headquarters to the areas of most urgent need.
Masses of displaced people are in a rapid state of movement, as federal and local officials are working to re-locate families from large shelters to individual accommodations or smaller, more manageable shelters. Opportunities for out-of-state DCs to volunteer at established relief sites remain limited, both by the logistical difficulties and by the rapid shifting of the refugee population. ICA is assisting DCs in Louisiana and Texas where on-site care activities are still being conducted, and is also working with local chiropractic communities to develop a means of in-office complimentary care for people displaced by the storm and its aftermath.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
In addition to helping organize the provision of emergency chiropractic care to the population of the devastated areas, and relief and security personnel, ICA 's is placing a special emphasis on assisting the chiropractic profession and chiropractic families impacted by the disaster. “Based on detailed reports from our representatives in the storm-damaged states, it is clear that large numbers of chiropractic practices and chiropractic families have suffered devastating losses, with clinics, homes and personal possessions destroyed and the opportunity to resume practice anytime soon simply not a possibility,” Dr. Maltby said. “ICA is asking doctors of chiropractic with employment offers, donations of equipment and other offers of assistance to our professional colleagues to contact ICA via e-mail at chiro@chiropractic.org , and also to utilize the emergency action website of the Chiropractic Association of Louisiana as an additional means of direct communication with DCs in urgent needs in that state, at http://www.3cdf.com/calinfo/katrinainfo.htm .
ICA has also been in direct discussions with Kathy Chittom, Executive Director of the Chiropractic Association of Louisiana and has learned that this hard-pressed organization has now set up a direct relief fund for victims of the disaster in that state. ICA is urging all concerned individuals and organizations to include this fund in their giving. One-hundred percent of all tax-deductible donations will go directly to storm relief. Please send your donation to:
CAL Relief Fund
Chiropractic Association of Louisiana
3070 Teddy Drive , Suite A
Baton Rouge , LA 70809
The chiropractic community in Mississippi has also established a relief fund. Information on that effort can be obtained by contacting Dr. Vicki Webb via e-mail at vickie_m_webb@bellsouth.net .
ICA will immediately disseminate information and post updates on the activities of other state organizations via the Association's website at www.chiropractic.org , as soon as it becomes available.
US GOVERNMENT HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
VOLUNTEER PROCESS
The federal government, through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of The Surgeon General and the Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness, is seeking health professionals to volunteer to serve in the current emergency. The link to the government site through which doctors of chiropractic can apply for this status is listed below. You will note that there is currently no specific category for “Doctor of Chiropractic”. ICA has contacted the agency as well as a number of senior Members of Congress requesting the immediate amendment of this site, as well as the government's volunteer protocols, to include “Doctor of Chiropractic” in this and in all future emergency calls for volunteers.
ICA is urging all doctors of chiropractic in the United States to apply through this website using, for the time being, the “clinical physician” designation under the “DISCIPLINE” category, and listing “doctor of chiropractic” under the “specialty” category. ICA believes that it would be a strong message to federal officials to see a massive outpouring of the chiropractic profession's willingness to serve in this disaster, and would significantly strengthen ICA 's campaign to secure parity status for the chiropractic profession in this process. To register for this important federal volunteer database, go to: https://volunteer.ccrf.hhs.gov/ .
THANK YOU
ICA is deeply grateful for the massive outpouring of offers of assistance and support we have received, and we have also been asked to forward a message of thanks from Kathy Chittom and the Chiropractic Association of Louisiana for the nationwide response to their urgent needs. ICA will continue to serve and assist in every possible way, and looks forward to a growing nationwide mobilization of the chiropractic profession in this difficult time.
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