February 2008

Life West graduate serves Native Americans submitted by Life Chiropractic College West

A graduate of Life Chiropractic College West is pioneering chiropractic care to a community of people who aren't too familiar with this form of health care. Dr. Adrian Emm, who graduated from Life West in 2006, has been a contract employee of the Walker River Tribal Health (WRTH) clinic in Schurz, Nev., since May 2006 and the Fallon Paiute‑Shoshone Tribal Health (FPSTH) clinic in Fallon, Nev. since Feb. 2007. Emm is a member of the Yerrington Paiute Tribe and grew up on the Walker River Indian Reservation.

Emm's basic day is similar to any DC in private practice. He sets up a portable table and also has a drop table at each clinic. The receptionist at the clinic provides him with his schedule for the day and the charts for the patients which contain the patients' medical history, referrals to specialists, labs, and x‑rays. The scheduling and the billing are fulfilled by the clinic, which are a part of the Indian Health Service (IHS), so the business operations are not Emm's responsibility. Emm spends Tuesdays and Thursdays at the WRTH clinic, and Mondays and Fridays at the FPSTH clinic.

While Emm was attending Life West, he stayed in contact with the director of the WRTH clinic. Through him, Emm heard of a Milan Anderson, D.C., who was practicing at the Washoe Tribe Health Clinic in Dresslerville, NV. Through communications with Dr. Anderson and the director of the WRTH clinic, a contract was arranged for Emm. While applying for his Nevada license he was able to practice under his Idaho license, which he applied for and received while waiting for the Nevada state test. Since the clinics are under federal law any state license is required, not just a license for the state in which a doctor practices in.

At the clinics Emm works closely with the MDs and Family Nurse Practitioners on staff and has developed a strong relationship with them. The MDs and FNPs are open to the various recommendations Emm makes for the patients. In addition to addressing the health concern through adjusting, Emm also provides the patient with education and various lifestyle modifications. And the MDs and FNPs appreciate it when they can see their patients achieving the positive lifestyle modifications recommended by Emm. There is a great focus on the patient care, and the all of the health care providers are able to discuss and agree on the best course for the patient. One advantage Emm has as a chiropractor is that he is able to see the patients more frequently, enabling him to provide more consistent health care than the MDs.

The education of the patient is important in Emm's care. Education is done mostly one on one, though if the clinics conduct a health fair, Emm will participate. The education begins with discussing a patient's perceptions of chiropractic care and chiropractors in the first meeting. Emm then explains the nervous system and the various causes of subluxation, addressing the various stresses: physical, chemical, mental, and emotional, and educating on how that is affecting the problem. Then, in order to "reeducate" the body, Emm provides the patient with various stretches and exercises, a process that is done over several weeks with a new tip and/or exercise at each visit.

Working for both of these clinics has special meaning for Emm, a Native American himself who was raised in the community. "I understand the Native people, I understand the way of life, the thoughts, actions and reasoning behind some of those actions. Some of this can't be taught or learned, it has to be experienced." Emm says. "My purpose is to help the Native community, to incorporate some of the beneficial aspects of the culture, and to incorporate the chiropractic philosophy into the lives of my community."

One great accomplishment is that the WRTH clinic recently received a digital x‑ray unit. The clinic was previously a hospital that had an x‑ray unit, but the unit had not been used since 1986. With the help of Emm as primary provider, a new digital x‑ray system, one similar to the digital x‑ray on the Life West campus, was installed and is now in use.

The actual number of chiropractors serving on Native American Reservations is not known. The number is small and many chiropractors are beginning to venture into this service area along with Dr. Emm.