Title: Collins Foundation Awards WSCC Funding For Community Service Project

Author:

Section/SPIG: Chiropractic Health Care

Issue Date:

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In 2002, Western States Chiropractic College (WSCC) received a one-year grant from the United Way to provide chiropractic care for residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation patients in Portland, Ore. The community service project was intended to improve access to and utilization of chiropractic care for this under-served population that typically suffers from chronic pain, psychiatric illness and fear-avoidance. The chiropractic care would provide a drug-free approach to address these and other health concerns.

The project was well received and, during its initial stages, the patients were treated at a WSCC satellite clinic located in downtown Portland where care is provided for the uninsured and under-served. The care primarily included manipulation and self-care education, the goal being to improve health outcomes in addition to expanding the therapeutic alliance of health care providers for this population.

In late 2004, WSCC received a generous three-year grant from the Collins Foundation to continue and enhance the project. Using this funding, WSCC will soon continue the project. However, an innovative care provision model will be implemented such that chiropractic care will be provided directly within each of the participating rehabilitation centers rather than at a distant location. This model was chosen to improve access to and utilization of chiropractic care in response to the heavy scheduling demands placed on the patients within a rehabilitation program.