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August 18, Washington, DC – DCs
Rand Baird and Paul Dougherty met with Georges Benjamin, MD, executive Director
of the American Public Health Association (APHA), and Toby King, executive
Director of the US Bone and Joint Decade, to discuss how the chiropractic
profession may serve as a bridge between these two large multidisciplinary
organizations to address the burden of musculoskeletal disease on public health
in the United States.
Musculoskeletal disorders cost the United States
approximately $850 billion per year and are the most common causes of severe
long-term pain and physical disability. Joint efforts need to continue in
order to reduce this public health burden.
Drs Rand, Dougherty, Benjamin and King
discussed the possibility of the APHA endorsing the US Bone and Joint decade tenets and increasing awareness of musculoskeletal disease by
having dedicated multidisciplinary sessions that address musculoskeletal
diseases at the annual APHA meeting.
"With musculoskeletal disorders
clearly established as a significant public health problem, I am pleased by the
positive steps being made in regards to an interdisciplinary approach to the
issue," said George C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (E). "I look forward
to working with the leadership of APHA's Chiropractic Health Care section and
the U.S. Bone and Joint Decade as we continue to explore new ways to improve
prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders."
“It is my hope that we will see this
project be a success and that we will see the chiropractic profession rise to a
greater level of participation in the public health arena,” said Paul
Dougherty, incoming chair of the Chiropractic Health Care (CHC) section. “It is
my vision to see the CHC become the leader in addressing the public health
crisis of musculoskeletal disorders.”
The Chiropractic Health Care Section of
the APHA (APHA-CHC), founded in 1995, has maintained a critical
role in public health issues such as wellness, health promotion and
disease prevention in the context of chiropractic policies and practices. For
more information about the CHC, please visit http://www.apha.org/membergroups/sections/aphasections/chc/
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