ICA NEWS!
For Immediate Release
September 12, 2005
The recent hurricane disaster and its tragic and ongoing aftermath have dramatically pointed out the impossibilities of planning for every contingency, or anticipating the scale and nature of the next disaster, natural or manmade. The International Chiropractors Association (ICA) has worked hard to learn from each disaster experience, and to focus on positive means by which the chiropractic community can be more effective in its contribution to the relief effort the next time there is a major need.
One important area on which ICA has been hard at work is the federal health care professionals' volunteer pool organized by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of The Surgeon General and the Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness. Many chiropractic organizations, including the ICA have directed doctors of chiropractic interested in serving as an emergency volunteer to this federal clearing house, recognizing that there is no unique category for “doctor of chiropractic.” DCs have been encouraged to register under the “physician” category, and in the field for “specialty” to put “chiropractor”, thereby identifying their availability to provide chiropractic services.
ICA has worked tirelessly over the years for parity in all federal programs for chiropractic practitioners, and has written to Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, requesting the addition of a specific “Doctor of Chiropractic” category in the federal volunteer pool system. In a letter dated September 9, 2005, ICA President Dr. John K. Maltby told the Secretary, “The experience of the past several years has shown the tremendous contribution chiropractic care can make to those involved in the disaster relief and recovery process. From the Pentagon and Ground Zero following the 9/11 tragedies, to the wildfires in the west, to the current hurricane disaster, chiropractors have freely given of their time and energies to assist those on the front lines, and have an important role to play. It is appropriate to provide a specific category for the chiropractic profession in the federal volunteer clearinghouse system of the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of The Surgeon General and the Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness.”
ICA made a specific request that a chiropractic category be added: “In the present system, there is no specific category for doctors of chiropractic, and we request that the volunteer matrix be amended to include such a category. This would provide greater clarity for all concerned, and provide for a more effective mobilization of needed volunteers.” Dr. Maltby said in the September 9 th letter on ICA 's behalf.
ICA has also shared its goal of a specific DC category in this important federal program with a number of key Members of Congress in an effort to apply their influence as well in making this important change.
ICA had encouraged all DCs to sign up for the federal volunteer clearinghouse, in part to demonstrate to policy makers the size and willingness to serve of the chiropractic volunteer contingent available in the current disaster. Along with many other health care organizations, which have certainly encouraged their members to do the same, this system is no longer accepting individual offers of help. By September 15, 2005, the federal volunteer website, https://volunteer.ccrf.hhs.gov/ , had posted the following notice:
“At this time, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is NO longer accepting individual medical and relief worker applications. More than 33,000 health care professionals and relief personnel have registered with the Department of Health and Human Services for possible deployment in affected areas. We thank you for your interest.
GROUPS: HHS remains interested in identifying groups (of at least five health care professionals or relief personnel from a single employer) who are interested in deploying as a group.”
ICA has responded on behalf of its members with a group offer, and will continue to seek a specific chiropractic professional category, along with an established protocol for chiropractic volunteers, in this important relief and emergency service system.
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