UWS President to Chair Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Joseph Brimhall, DC, president of the University of Western States (formerly Western States Chiropractic College), was recently elected chair of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Dr. Brimhall, whose term runs through July 2016, was elected unanimously to chair the commission.
"We couldn't have found a more experienced leader to guide us through the next three years as the commission continues to effectively implement its new accreditation process in the Northwest, and proactively addresses the complex challenges facing regional accreditation and higher education nationwide," said NWCCU president Sandra E. Elman, PhD, in a University of Western States press release announcing the news.
The NWCCU oversees regional accreditation for 160 public and private higher-education institutions throughout the northwest (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington). Among other duties, the commission establishes accreditation criteria and evaluation procedures by which academic institutions in the region are reviewed.
Insurer Reverses Policy on Pediatric Spinal Manipulation
CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, which provides insurance in Maryland, the District of Columbia and portions of Virginia, has reversed its long-standing policy against pediatric spinal manipulation. According to the new policy, which took effect July 22 and covers both new and existing contracts, "The policy [8.01.003: Spinal Manipulation and Related Services] has been revised to remove limitations related to age." That said, the policy also states: "Spinal manipulation remains medically necessary only for treatment of acute, musculoskeletal conditions of the spine and not for treatment of non-musculoskeletal or chronic disorders."
Many relevant diagnostic signs are not performed deliberately by the examiner or by the patient at the examiner’s direction. They are observed as the patient reacts to their condition. Fortin’s finger sign, Minor’s sign, and Vanzetti’s sign are three examples of this principle.
Spearheaded by burgeoning scientific and clinical research literature, psychedelics have reached a level of media coverage and popular interest that has not been seen for over half a century. By “psychedelics,” we are referring to the unique class of substances that includes psilocybin (the active compound found in so-called “magic mushrooms”), LSD, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ayahuasca, 5-MeO-DMT, and mescaline – each of which occurs in the natural world (except for LSD, which is a semi-synthetic compound).
While working at the Lovelace Medical Center in Albuquerque, N.M., one of the primary care physicians stated that imaging every patient prior to receiving chiropractic was not medically necessary. It was at that point I reconsidered the need for the imaging of every patient to avoid malpractice.
