World Chiropractic Alliance

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The World Chiropractic Alliance

A Proud Record of Action and Accomplishments

Since its inception in 1989, the World Chiropractic Alliance has dedicated itself to protecting and strengthening subluxation-based chiropractic around the world. Among its key accomplishments:

► Government service and public policy. WCA members have served on important health-related government committees and panels, including:

· Veronica Gutierrez, DC, a member of the WCA Board of Directors, the only chiropractor to serve on the White House Special Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine;

· Christopher Kent, DC, a member of the WCA Board of Directors, chairman of the NGO (Non‑Governmental Organization) Health Committee, affiliated with the United Nations;

· Kristina M. Collins, DC, a member of the WCA International Board of Governors, one of six members appointed by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine to its National Advisory Council on Complementary and Alternative Medicine;

· Leona Fischer, DC, a member of the WCA International Board of Governors, served on the Veterans Affairs Chiropractic Advisory Committee and was one of only two members to vote against a medical gatekeeper system;

· Terry A. Rondberg, DC, WCA President, member of the Department of Defense Chiropractic Advisory Committee.

► Lobbying and legislative efforts. The WCA was instrumental in having pro-chiropractic legislation introduced into Congress and passing bills such as House Concurrent Resolution 46 that states: “Chiropractic care includes diagnosis, correction, and management of either vertebral subluxations or neuromusculoskeletal conditions performed by a licensed doctor of chiropractic, and should not include the use of drugs or surgery.” We lobbied for: House Resolution 2560, The Medicare Freedom bill; HR 3476, the Tricare Bill that would provide chiropractic care to US military dependents and retirees through the “Tricare” program; and other bills to protect and promote chiropractic.

► Top lobbyist. We retain one of the capitol’s most influential professional lobbyists, a member of the Board of Directors of the American League of Lobbyists.

► Public and Media Relations. The WCA has consistently responded to negative depictions of chiropractic in the media, including newspapers, magazines, syndicated columnists, and television shows. We retained top attorney Carlos Negrete to evaluate all possible legal actions against organizations that use misinformation to defame chiropractic.

► Patient Education. More than two million copies of WCA patient education books have been printed and distributed under the titles "Chiropractic First," “Chiropractic Works,” "Chiropractic: Compassion and Expectation," and "Under the Influence of Modern Medicine."

A global outreach to protect chiropractic worldwide

The World Chiropractic Alliance is an organization of global reach and influence, with members in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan Republic of China, Thailand and the United States.

Among the WCA’s worldwide efforts and accomplishments:

► Accreditation as a non-governmental organization (NGO) by the Department of Public Information, affiliated with the United Nations, in December 1998.

► Sponsored the first NGO workshop on chiropractic, “The Role of Chiropractic Care in Global Wellness” at the International Conference of NGOs in Korea.

► Presented the first chiropractic program at UN headquarters in New York City titled, “Perspectives on Chiropractic Care in Women’s Health and Quality‑of‑Life.”

► Election of Christopher Kent, DC, a member of the WCA Board of Directors and the WCA’s NGO representative as the first chiropractor to chair the NGO Health Committee, an NGO in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.

► Regular involvement in briefings and conferences for the NGO community.

► Participated in the development of the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Chiropractic.

► Established a liaison to the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.

► Worked with the World Health Organization in developing the “WHO Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Chiropractic.”

► In a PowerPoint presentation developed and given by Dr. Kent, documented the laws relating to chiropractic that exist throughout the world. He was also called upon to research and present information on the licensing and legal status of all nations, and provide information on the number of DCs licensed and/or practicing in each country.

► WCA leaders traveled to Geneva to meet with WHO officials, including Dr. Xiaorui Zhang, Acting Coordinator, Traditional Medicine to discuss how chiropractic can play an important part in global health and wellness.

► Held International Summits in Australia, Great Britain, Canada and Austria.

In addition .....

The Chiropractic Journal -- Started in 1986, in response to the widespread demand for a professionally edited newspaper which would present accurate and timely reporting of chiropractic news, the publication quickly grew into the most widely read and respected chiropractic publication of its kind. It was the first chiropractic newspaper to openly serve as an advocate for subluxation-based chiropractic and continues to serve that vital purpose today. In its pages, the WCA has:

	alerted doctors to local and national attempts to introduce prescription drugs into the profession
	uncovered the detrimental practices of insurance companies and their illegal use of independent chiropractic examiners
	issued warnings about unethical chiropractic companies and managed health organizations
	raised awareness of the needs of chiropractic students, and
	spearheaded campaigns to counteract negative publicity in the mass media.

In addition, it presents interesting and informative columns by many of the top subluxation-based doctors in America.

Chiropractic Benefit Services -- CBS was the first -- and remains the only -- chiropractic malpractice program owned and operated by a chiropractor committed to lifetime, subluxation-based, family wellness care. It was specifically formed to offer subluxation-based chiropractors an alternative to medically oriented policies, while still providing the best professional liability coverage available. CBS offers more than an insurance program. Its purpose is to turn the need for insurance into a positive for the profession, by using revenues to support programs and develop tools which further the cause of subluxation-based chiropractic. Profits from CBS are used to fund subluxation-based research and related activities. For more information visit the CBS website or call 1-800-883-0412.

Subluxation-based guidelines -- The WCA was the only chiropractic organization to support, fund, and participate in the formation of the Council on Chiropractic Practice and the development of its highly regarded "Clinical Practice Guideline: Vertebral Subluxation in Chiropractic Practice." With this document, the profession finally had a viable alternative to the Mercy guidelines. WCA President Terry A. Rondberg, D.C., served as CCP Secretary and coordinated the printing and distribution of the Guideline document. WCA further supports the CCP efforts by providing office space and staff resources when needed for CCP operations.

Internet presence -- The WCA maintains an Internet presence through its website, www.worldchiropracticalliance.org. Here you can find information about WCA activities, as well as archives of articles published in The Chiropractic Journal.

Research and education -- The WCA strives to make a meaningful contribution to the advancement of science and education as it applies to chiropractic and the vertebral subluxation. The responsibility for guiding this vital effort rests primarily on the shoulders of William Ralph Boone, Ph.D., D.C., WCA director of research and education.