December 2008

CCP releases 3rd edition of Guidelines

Dr. Hardee elected president

The Council on Chiropractic Practice (CCP) has released the third edition of its "Clinical Practice Guideline, Vertebral Subluxation in Chiropractic Practice," after two years of intense effort by a large group of chiropractors, researchers and other experts from around the world.

The first edition of the CCP Guidelines was published in 1998 and distributed to all doctors of chiropractic in the United States and Canada, as well as the health ministers in nearly 200 countries. Print versions of the document were quickly "sold out" and replaced by an electronic version available for free online.

For the third edition, some than 1,800 research papers were gathered and reviewed. CCP Guidelines and Research Committees worked closely with a 76-member technique panel representing nearly every known chiropractic technique.

The final draft document as prepared by the CCP Guidelines panel was sent to outside reviewers, chiropractors, representatives of the colleges, state boards, and other community stakeholders for their critical review and comments.

The CCP had earlier announced that the third edition was a significant update of the evidence-based literature underlying subluxation-centered chiropractic. It responds to the changing scientific, clinical practice, legal and reimbursement environments and has added new sections such as client satisfaction, women's health, etc., and a systematic review and update.

The revision was deemed essential not only to update critical outcomes evidence, but also to meet the requirements of the National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC). The NGC is a comprehensive electronic database administered by the Agency for Policy and Health Care Research (AHCPR) which provides access to accepted guidelines from various health care disciplines. The CCP Guidelines are the only major chiropractic guidelines listed by the NGC.

The new Guidelines are available at the CCP website, www.ccp-guidelines.org .

In October, the CCP held a Board of Directors meeting to elect new officers and accept the resignations of out-going Secretary Veronica Gutierrez, DC, and Board member Stephen Renner, DC. Earlier that month, Christopher Kent, DC, tendered his resignation as President.

During the Board meeting, Jerry Hardee, EdD, a member of the CCP Guidelines Committee was unanimously elected CCP President. Dr. Hardee is currently the Dean of Life University College of Arts and Sciences and previously served as president of Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic.

A lifelong educator, Hardee began his career as a teacher in 1960. His administrative career included stints as an executive administrator at five different institutions of higher education in the Georgia State Educational System. He holds a doctorate degree in education and a certificate of advanced study in educational administration from Northern Illinois University, a master's degree in science education from Fisk University and a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Clark College.

In 2004 he was named Humanitarian of the Year by the American Black Chiropractic Association, and the World Chiropractic Alliance presented him with an Outstanding Service Award. The South Carolina Chiropractic Association named him Chiropractic Friend of the Year in 2005.

Elected as Vice-President of the CCP was William Sloane, LLM, PhD, an attorney who chairs the Academy for Research in the Chiropractic Sciences and the World Chiropractic Alliance Council on International Chiropractic Law. He also served as legal co-counsel to the 1992 Wyndham Conference, a precursor to the CCP.

Dr. Sloane is a member of the Maryland and Pennsylvania bars. He serves as Pro-Chancellor of the International University for Graduate Studies, chairs the American College of Counselors, and is past chair of the American Board of Forensic Counselors.

In addition to his legal credentials, Sloane is an Anglican priest with a PhD in religion and a lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force Auxiliary (Civil Air Patrol). He has taught at Elizabethtown College, Millersville University, Saint Francis University, Shippensburg University, Temple University, Widener University, and Wilson College.

Re-elected as Treasurer was Terry A. Rondberg, DC, president of the World Chiropractic Alliance and publisher of The Chiropractic Journal and Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. Dr. Rondberg was one of the founders of the CCP and has served as an officer on its Board since its inception.

Voted in as Secretary was Barbara J. Bigham, who has served as one of the editors of The Chiropractic Journal for more than 20 years. She is co-owner of BARD Enterprises, a writing and editing firm that works extensively with clients in the chiropractic field. Bigham had previously served as CCP Secretary.

"We are very proud of the work we have accomplished in the CCP," Rondberg stated. "Thanks to the dedication of the members of the CCP and its committees, as well as the generous support of doctors around the world, we were able to finish this important work on a relatively small amount of money. While other organizations raise and spend millions of dollars on questionable efforts, the CCP has made a huge contribution to the chiropractic profession."