WCA Position Paper on
Open/Community Adjusting Areas
The concept of “open” or
“community” areas where health care is provided is not unique to
chiropractic. This style of practice is found in such diverse areas as
physical therapy, orthopedics, emergency rooms and psychotherapy.
The concept of open areas for
the provision of care is not simply an efficiency issue. The role of
community in healing and the empowerment that it brings may be central
features in a practice member’s recovery and the ability of the doctor to
facilitate healing.
Any attempts by regulatory
boards to encourage or impose sanctions upon chiropractors merely for
offering and making available such opportunities to patients must be
vigorously opposed.
In consideration of the above,
the World Chiropractic Alliance affirms that open/community adjusting
areas are an acceptable standard of care for the practice of chiropractic.
The WCA hereby adopts the Recommendation of the Council on Chiropractic
Practice on this issue as contained in the 2003 Clinical Practice
Guideline Number 1: Vertebral Subluxation in Chiropractic Practice.
The wording is reproduced here in its entirety:
Open/Community Adjusting
Areas
It is acceptable for
chiropractic care to be provided in a setting where more than one
patient receives care in the same room. In such a case, the patients
involved must consent to this arrangement. The chiropractor should have
procedures where a patient who wishes to be examined or adjusted
privately may do so.
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