Title: Connecting Chiropractors for Disaster Preparedness
Author:
Section/SPIG: Chiropractic Health Care
Issue Date:
WHEREAS, the House of Delegates approved the following: “Resolved that the ACA seek to gain national and state recognition for doctors of chiropractic to serve in disasters and seek to establish a protocol for doctors of chiropractic serving as primary care providers at the scene of disasters.”
So begins a resolution that has been approved by the American Chiropractic Association’s Board of Governors. The resolution spells out details requisite of disaster preparedness in today’s turbulent social and political climates. Of significant importance is the included algorithm that sequences proper responses and the many elements involved in association with disaster events. Within the resolution, skills or training required for DCs, proper use of communications and chain of command through various local and national agencies, necessary preparations, and procedures for DCs to follow in such emergencies are outlined and described.
What must be remembered is that certain core emergency preparedness competencies are required of all public health workers and are based on essential services of public health. They also provide for personal and agency development. The competencies additionally provide a foundation for improving preparedness for any public health emergency including bioterrorism. Recent history has shown that chiropractors do play a role in responding to these events.
Some competencies are applicable to all health care workers. Others may apply only to administrative, professional, and technical or support personnel. Competencies must be tailored for each individual public health agency, with training and assessment issues developed accordingly. Obviously a document of this nature requires careful crafting as well as continued follow-up as the environment changes.
The profession and the CHC section owe Karen Konarski-Hart, DC, (Section Councilor for the CHC section) and the team she put together a debt of gratitude for the herculean efforts put forth in formulating and promoting this resolution through to its approval and adoption.