October 2004

CCP guidelines again approved for national database

The updated clinical practice guidelines developed by the Council on Chiropractic Practice (CCP) ‑‑ the "Vertebral Subluxation in Chiropractic Practice" ‑‑ has been accepted for inclusion in the National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC). The document is available at www.ngc.gov.

The NGC is a comprehensive electronic database administered by the AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) which allows access to accepted guidelines from various health care disciplines.

The Clearinghouse was developed in partnership with the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Association of Health Plans (AAHP) to promote widespread access to guidelines.

To be accepted into the NGC, the CCP guidelines had to meet a set of stringent inclusion criteria. Among these was the requirement that a systematic literature search and review of existing scientific evidence published in peer reviewed journals was performed.

In Feb. 2004, the CCP released its first revision, completing a process that took nearly two years and involved more than 250 chiropractors, scientists, researchers, technique experts, lay people and others around the world.

One of the first steps in the update process was a meeting of technique developers and experts. Representatives of several technique systems that were not involved in the development of the original document participated in these early meetings and those previously involved were invited to submit additional material. At the initial revision meeting, more than 40 named technique systems were represented and a technique panel was formed that now has approximately 125 members representing the widest possible range of techniques.

The revised guidelines include new recommendations dealing with maternity care, peer review, open adjusting rooms, heart rate variability, radiographic digitizing, record keeping, and patient privacy. In addition, commentary was added to many of the previous recommendations to bring them up to date with the current literature.

"We are pleased that CCP's newly revised guidelines again qualified for inclusion in the National Guidelines Clearinghouse," stated CCP President Christopher Kent, DC. "These guidelines are based on evidence ‑‑ not merely consensus opinion. The doctors who participated in this effort may be justly proud. CCP is here to stay, and will continue to empower subluxation‑centered chiropractors with the best available evidence."

CCP Vice‑President Matthew McCoy, DC, who also serves as the editor of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, emphasized the importance of inclusion in the NGC. "While the CCP Guidelines certainly stand on their own merit considering the widespread involvement and peer review, the importance of inclusion in the NGC cannot be overstated," he noted. "Those chiropractors who have relied on this fact in malpractice cases, board and regulatory actions understand this firsthand."

The Council on Chiropractic Practice was established in 1995 with the mission of "developing evidence‑based guidelines, conducting research and performing other functions that will enhance the practice of chiropractic for the benefit of the consumer." It is an apolitical, non‑profit organization comprised of an international, multi‑disciplinary team of chiropractic experts with experience in research, techniques, academics, and clinical practice. For more information on the CCP or the "Vertebral Subluxation in Chiropractic Practice" guideline, visit www.ccp‑guidelines.org.

*************