Chiropractor Eliminated from DOT Physicals in New York
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Poster Profile:
Name: DrTirpak
Email: Amy@cecruncher.com
Age: ????
Location: Tampa, FL
Position: Owner
Sign: Gemini
Bio:Helping Chiropractors find some class is my job.
Experienced Chiroprctor and Internet lover, Amy Tirpak, DC, started CE Cruncher with the support of the Advertising Agency that she co-owns.
by: DrTirpak posted: August 04, 2016
When New York Chiropractors certified to do DOT physicals received a letter saying that they would be removed from the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners Doctors of Chiropractic in New York and across the country wanted answers. An alphabet soup of agency, registries and organizations are all part of this frustrating puzzle with no quick fix in sight.
As of June 1st 2016 New York Chiropractors are no longer able to provide DOT physicals and have been classified on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) list as not currently certified, compliments of the New York State Board of Chiropractic.
The New York State Board of Chiropractic decided to reverse their opinion on DOT physicals that had been in place for over 10 years late last year. On September 24th of 2015 the New York State Board of Chiropractic sent letters to New York Chiropractors on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME) list explaining that DOT physicals were, “beyond the scope of chiropractic practice as defined under New York State law.” To make matters worse they also stated that it would take a legislative decision to expand the scope of practice. The Chiropractic board's decision resulted from strong arming by the New York State Education Department, no member of the Chiropractic Board signed the letter.
The history behind this controversy starts in 2005 when the New York State Board of Chiropractic sent a statement to the FMCSA through the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB) that the components of the DOT physical exam were within the scope of practice of Chiropractors in New York. In 2014 the FMCSA created the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners requiring all providers to pass a national exam to become certified and listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. Federal and New York State law supports Chiropractors inclusion in the NRCME. 48 DCs in New York were listed as providers and performed over 30,000 exams before being removed this June. Currently hundreds of Chiropractors across the country are certified and conducting DOT exams on truck drivers every day.
Currently challenges are being made to return New York Chiropractors to the NRCME list by petitioning the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration over the procedures of their recent ruling. Other options include having the New York State Board of Chiropractic reversing their decision or a legislative change to the chiropractic practice act.
The New York State Chiropractic Association is also working on changing the state practice act part of their agenda this year. They want to add a number of law changes to expand the scope of chiropractors in New York. The changes include the ability to diagnose and differentially diagnose, along with the examine; which includes stand-alone examinations such as those required for DOT exams, school sports physicals, scoliosis screenings, and more. Without changes the ability of Chiropractors in New York to perform any type of physical exam beyond the spine could come into question. Medicare and Insurance carriers could question a Doctor of Chiropractic's ability under the New York scope to provide exams and treatment.
Fortunately for New York Chiropractors and DOT certified DCs nationwide the Safe Drivers, Safe Road Coalition (SDSRC) stepped up to battle this fight. This 501 (c)6, formed by a group of dedicated DOT educators and certified Chiropractors that want to protect, defend and expand the rights of chiropractors in their participation in the performance of DOT physicals. They believe maintaining Chiropractors on the national registry will allow truckers and the trucking industry greater access and lower costs for exams.
The trucking industry agrees with the SDSRC. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) sent a letter to the New York State Board for Chiropractic asking them to reconsider their decision and that they shouldn’t make truck drivers’ lives any more difficult.
A larger battle could be brewing in other states based on the New York situation. According to the SDSRC, they believe challenges in Connecticut over DOT physicals two years ago from the Connecticut Medical Association, Connecticut Orthopedic Medical Society and other groups could be part of a strategy to eliminate Chiropractors state by state. After recent online statements on an industry list serve they fear theses attacks are being fueled by a few medical doctors in the transportation industry.
Extra Opinion: After having the opportunity to meet with Dr. David Thorpe of the the Safe Drivers, Safe Road Coalition last weekend I understand the potential set backs that face the entire Chiropractic profession. The real problems generated from this biased attack against Chiropractors in New York and others in recent years, namely in Connecticut and Texas, shows with legal and administrative challenges to state laws can eliminate the ability to provide school physicals, order and perform diagnostic tests, receive and accept referrals, plus much more. The right to practice is being eroded by malicious factions using the state chiropractic practice acts against DCs.
Today they are coming for New York DOT Exams, who will be next? It is time for Chiropractors to stand up and demand to practice to the extent of their education. The Safe Drivers, Safe Road Coalition (SDSRC) wants to defend Chiropractors across the US and is asking for help. Donate to the SDSRC
CE Cruncher's 2014 Year in Review - Chiropractic Continuing Education, News and Humor
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Poster Profile:
Name: DrTirpak
Email: Amy@cecruncher.com
Age: ????
Location: Tampa, FL
Position: Owner
Sign: Gemini
Bio:Helping Chiropractors find some class is my job.
Experienced Chiroprctor and Internet lover, Amy Tirpak, DC, started CE Cruncher with the support of the Advertising Agency that she co-owns.
by: DrTirpak posted: January 02, 2015
CE Cruncher compiled all of the stats from 2014 with amazing results. We wanted to know more about what sparks a Chiropractor’s interest. Chiropractors are eager to learn, have busy lives and have a need for continuing education. CE Cruncher always strives to fulfill all of those needs by providing more of what Chiropractors want and need. Our 2014 list gave us a vast amount of insight to what DCs are searching.
We thought CE Cruncher’s list could also serve as an indicator for up and coming trends in the professional with techniques, business practices and shifts in identity. Maybe help identify where the profession is headed and what to expect in the future.
Trends:
For the second year in a row kinesiology taping is the most sought after new supportive technique.
Everyone loves a convention. From coast to coast state association conventions brought much interest. Politically the gammet spanned from strong philosophical groups to advanced practice, and everything in between.
Doctors of Chiropractic have a sense of humor. Our Humor section ranked second in interest with non CE pages.
Which Chiropractic Continuing Education Providers garnered the most interest? What news stories spiked DCs interest? So we put together a list of the top interest throughout our website to share what we found and help provide the content that you crave for 2015.
Chiropractic Seminar Statistics
Top 10 Chiropractic Continuing Education Courses Viewed:
1. Connecticut Chiropractic Council Chiropractic Pure and Powerful Xtravagnza - September Ledyard CT
2. Florida Chiropractic Society Convention - June Orlando FL
3. Florida Chiropractic Society Convention - August West Palm FL
4. Florida Chiropractic Society Convention - November St. Petersburg FL
5. Life University Fall CE October - Marietta GA
6. NeuroDiagnostic Institute Neuro Diplomate - December Ponce Inlet FL
7. Logan Alumni Association Homecoming Midwest Conference - June St. Louis MO
8. International Board of Chiropractic Specialists Symposium - September Bloomington MN
9. Academy of Chiropractic Referral and Collections - January 2015 Boca Raton FL
10. Adjusting the Mind Dr. Schillinger - September Santa Cruz CA
Top 10 Chiropractic Continuing Education Providers Viewed:
Kinesio Taping Association
NeuroDiagnostic Institute
Florida Chiropractic Society
Target Coding
Adjusting the Mind – Dr. Schillinger
Connecticut Chiropractic Council
BodyZone
California Chiropractic Association
Florida Chiropractic Conferences
ChiroClasses
Most Popular City for a Chiropractic Seminar: Orlando Florida
Busiest Month for Chiropractic CEs: September
Most Searched State: Florida
Most Searched Chiropractic Continuing Ed Provider: BodyZone
CE Cruncher Statistics
Top Visited Sections - Non CE: Diplomates & Humor
Top News Story: Death of Dr. Dobbins
Most Viewed Chiropractic College Page: National University of Health Sciences - St. Petersburg Florida Campus
Chiropractor Statistics
Chiropractors that visited CE Cruncher live in:
US 84% Canada 4% Australia 1.5%
Most Popular State/Province:
1. Florida
2. California
3. Texas
4. New York
5. Georgia
6. Illinois
7. Pennsylvania
8. North Carolina
9. Ontario
10. New Jersey
How Chiropractors Viewed CE Cruncher:
Computer: 69% Mobile Device: 31%
Windows: 80% Mac: 20% IOS: 71% Android: 26% Windows: 3%
Chiropractors Elected this Week to Public Office
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Poster Profile:
Name: DrTirpak
Email: Amy@cecruncher.com
Age: ????
Location: Tampa, FL
Position: Owner
Sign: Gemini
Bio:Helping Chiropractors find some class is my job.
Experienced Chiroprctor and Internet lover, Amy Tirpak, DC, started CE Cruncher with the support of the Advertising Agency that she co-owns.
by: DrTirpak posted: November 06, 2014
As the mid term elections came to a close this week across the US a few chiropractors triumphed in their respected political campaigns.
Chiropractors elected or reelected to office include:
Dr. Terrence Murphy (R) State Senate NY 40th District
Chiropractor Terrence Murphy defeated Democrat Justin Wagner to fill the open seat held by two term Republican Sen. Greg Ball, who did not seek re-election. Until being sworn in Terrence Murphy DC can be found treating patients at Yorktown Health & Wellness Center
Dr. Craig Gagnon (R) State Rep SC District 11
District 11 re-elected Chiropractor Craig Gagnon to a second term in the South Carolina State House. The Sherman College of Chiropractic Grad and Abbeville Chiropractic Center Owner defeated his opponent by a 10% margin.
Dr. Ken Peluso District 4 School Board Pinellas County Florida
The retired chiropractor defeated former Tarpon Springs Mayor with less than 700 votes for the seat. A seasoned Chiropractic Physician, Dr. Ken Peluso retired last year from hisPeluso Chiropractic Center in Palm Harbor Florida. This race garnered some attention earlier in the campaigning when Dr. Peluso stated that creationism and evolution she be taught side by side in the science class during a public forum. He later retracted that statement.
Dr. Roger Jones Cold Springs Kentucky City Council
New to the political arena, Chiropractor Roger Jones of South Gate Chiropractic won one of 6 available seats in an 8 way election. The 1998 Life Chiropractic College Grad captured 12.3% of the vote as the fourth highest vote holder in the race.
Dr. Terry Tolle Hamilton Southeastern School Board Indiana
The President of Health 1st Wellness Centers, Chiropractor Terry Tolle obtained one of 2 seats available on the Indianapolis School Board by defeating 2 incumbents.
Do you know of a Chiropractor recently elected or running for office? Share their information with CE Cruncher and we will provide some free press and publicity to the Chiropractic Profession.