June 2003

What's in it for me?

by Dr. Tony Palermo

Recently, I spoke with a doctor who asked me what joining the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) would do for his practice. I lamented that, until recently, most organizations had little to offer the individual practitioner in terms of personal success in practice. The doctor shook his head in agreement.

Then, I proceeded to discuss with him the vision and strategies offered to "the elite corps" of members in the WCA.

I first shared the many accomplishments that the WCA has made nationally and internationally:

*** The WCA is responsible for passing the Veterans Administration (VA) bill so it included subluxation language. WCA board member Dr. Leona Fisher serves heroically on the Veterans Affairs Chiropractic Advisory Committee.

*** One of our seven WCA executive board members, Veronica Gutierrez, was the only chiropractor chosen to serve on the White House Commission on CAM (White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine).

*** WCA board member Dr. Kristina Collins now serves on the National Advisory Council on Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

*** The WCA is the only chiropractic organization to be accredited as an NGO (non‑governmental organization) by the U.N. Department of Public Information.

*** Dr. Christopher Kent, WCA Director of International Affairs, represents the profession at the United Nations.

*** The WCA sent Drs. Ralph Boone and Graham Dobson to represent the WCA when we sponsored a chiropractic presentation to world health care leaders at the NGO Conference in Seoul, Korea on chiropractic and wellness. We also sponsored a workshop on women's health held at the U.N. headquarters in New York.

*** The WCA established working relations with the WHO (World Health Organization) in Geneva, Switzerland.

*** The WCA was instrumental in developing the only Clinical Practice Guidelines (CCP Guidelines) peer‑reviewed by an international panel, and designed to be used worldwide.

*** The WCA is blazing the trail to a new era of chiropractic cooperation. As a founding member of the Chiropractic Coalition, we are working closely with the ICA, FSCO and other chiropractic organizations to monitor and prevent abuse by certain chiropractic regulatory agencies.

*** The WCA endorses and promotes JVSR (The Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research) ‑‑ the only scientific journal with this unique focus.

*** The WCA has used its resources to help subluxation‑based doctors fight board harassment and unjustified litigation.

*** Thanks to the work of the WCA, U.S. senators and representatives are beginning to understand that chiropractic has a unique role in the American health care system and will help us achieve complete parity with other health care disciplines.

*** The WCA has worked diligently with D.C.s in other countries (most recently Italy, Israel, and Ireland) to address principled chiropractic licensure issues. The WCA is involved in the ongoing development of a model International Chiropractic Law.

This is an abbreviated list. Be sure to log on to www.worldchiropracticalliance.org to take advantage of the benefits afforded you by the efforts of our dedicated members.

What's in it for YOU?

One of my primary goals as WCA Chief Executive Officer is to ensure that the members of our community are the most successful doctors of chiropractic on the planet.

The WCA can proudly answer the question, "What will joining the WCA do for my practice?" by offering our members the following response:

1. One‑hour Community Prosperity Teleconferences. During these monthly FREE TO WCA MEMBERS seminars by phone, successful doctors from around the world will share their best kept secret strategies and systems for practice growth, increased income and clinical certainty.

Information and insights gleaned from these teleconferences will provide participants with ideas they can implement instantly and easily into their practices ‑‑ strategies and systems that will allow them to prosper as a direct result of their membership in our community!

2. Referral Reward Program. In my chiropractic practice, I go out of my way to thank a practice member for his or her referral to my office. The WCA has asked the leaders in our profession to generously donate products and services FREE OF CHARGE to the doctor who refers the most new WCA members to our community each month!

In addition, the doctor responsible for referring the most members to the WCA in a given month will be highlighted and featured in The Chiropractic Journal for his or her efforts!

3. A community of like‑minded practitioners. The WCA is united under a very powerful banner "...to promote and protect the principles of chiropractic."

Members of the WCA community will be intimately connected through teleclasses, Internet technology AND teleconferencing to exchange ideas and strengthen the bonds of camaraderie as chiropractic takes its rightful place as the leader of modern health care.

4. Unparalleled support. As a member of the WCA community you will receive clinical, professional and personal support in your quest to attract lifetime, wellness‑oriented individuals and their families to your offices and to our profession.

The WCA team of research and legal leaders are dedicated to ensuring your right to practice chiropractic without fear or uncertainty.

5. Online support. I urge you to visit the WCA website immediately. While you're there, do two things.

First, review the wealth of information available for you and your practice success.

Second, fill out your application for membership and invest in both your future and the future of principled chiropractic. The time is now ‑‑ and the time is right!

Visit www.worldchiropracticalliance.org to learn about our incredible community and to take advantage of the opportunities provided for you.

(Dr. Tony Palermo practices in Bethlehem, Pa. His 100% cash, no insurance accepted, 100% referral‑only practice requires fewer than 10 hours per week of his time. He balances his time with family and a limited clientele of coaching clients. NOTE TO CHIROPRACTIC JOURNAL READERS: If you're interested in joining Dr. Palermo for free "Chiropractic Mastermind" teleconferences to discuss topics from his columns, e‑mail him at drtonyp@aol.com and type "Chiropractic Journal Reader" in the subject line. He'll let you know when his next session is scheduled.)