Well-known newspaper, The Toronto
Star, recently featured an article showcasing the growing involvement
of chiropractic in clinical health care and research.
Titled "Back To the Future", the article begins by saying, "Evolution
of chiropractic care and its acceptance as a viable alternative is
evident at hospitals and universities" and features the stories and
comments of Drs. Greg Kawchuk (University of Alberta), Mark Erwin
(University of Toronto - Toronto Western Hospital) and Deborah
Kopanski-Giles (St. Michael's Hospital).
The article was written by journalist Judy Gerstel who has also included such interesting statistics as the number of registered chiropractors in Ontario - under which is mentioned that chiropractic is a regulated health profession - the number of years since the profession was delisted - leading to a discussion regarding how funding chiropractic would "save money and reduce wait times...." - and the number of years required for a chiropractor's training - followed by a brief description of this training.
In the article, Dr. Greg Kawchuk's research at the University of Alberta is described. He notes, "...when you look at back pain, no one has better science than anyone else. We're all in this together."
Kawchuk goes on to say that "...acedemia, where interdisciplinary research and collaboration is well established, has been more welcoming to chiropractors than clinical settings at hospitals, where, historically, turf is often jealously guarded."
Connie Camilleri, an RN at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, and a patient of Kopanski-Giles, is quoted, in this article, as saying, "It's actually a shame that more people don't use it, especially in conjunction with massage therapy."
Dr. Karen Weyman, who is a physician in the family medicine department at St. Mike's, says (of the availability of DCs to the hospitals' staff and patients), "It's been absolutely wonderful. The access is excellent, so patients can be seen quickly, and the care is excellent and very knowledgable. I trust them because I see the results, they've never caused patients harm and most patients come back feeling much better."
In the article, Dr. Mark Erwin, who assists neurosurgeons with intake assessment of patients notes, "Many patients referred to the clinic do not need surgery. They're referred there by someone who is not up to speed on who needs surgery and who doesn't. And it's a big waste of the neurosurgeon's time to see patients with mechanical back pain."
Erwin points out that his work, at the hospital, reduces wait times, and assists the hospital, and the province, in the face of declining numbers (and advancing ages) of neurosurgeons.
"Absolutely," nurse Camilleri adds at the end of the article, "I recommend chiropractic to other people."
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