Position Statements
OCA’s position on Oklahoma’s current scope of practice
The OCA believes, as it has been proclaimed since its inception, that Chiropractic provides the highest form of health care without the use of drugs or surgery. We recognize and will fight to protect Oklahoma’s existing Chiropractic scope of practice stated in the rules of the Oklahoma Board of Chiropractic Examiners:
“Chiropractic physicians may examine, analyze and diagnose the human body to correct, relieve or prevent diseases and abnormalities by the use of any physical, chemical, electrical, or thermal method; use or order diagnostic radiological imaging; use or order laboratory testing; and use any other method of examination for diagnosis and analysis taught by an accredited chiropractic college and approved by the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. In addition, Chiropractic physicians may adjust, manipulate and treat the human body by manual, mechanical, chemical, electrical, or natural methods; by the use of physiotherapy; meridian therapy; by utilizing hygienic, sanitary and therapeutic measures; by the administration of naturopathic and homeopathic remedies, by the application of first aid or by performing any other treatment taught by an accredited chiropractic college and approved by the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Nothing in this rule shall permit a Chiropractic Physician to prescribe legend drugs, beyond injectable nutrients, as is currently the law in Title 59 Section 161.12 of the Oklahoma Statutes.”
OCA’s position on prescriptive rights
The OCA believes, as it has been proclaimed since its inception, that Chiropractic provides the highest form of health care without the use of drugs or surgery. We recognize and will fight to protect Oklahoma’s existing chiropractic scope of practice which specifically states:
“Nothing in this rule shall permit a Chiropractic Physician to prescribe legend drugs, beyond injectable nutrients, as is currently the law in Title 59 Section 161.12 of the Oklahoma Statutes.”
As an association we do not want to restrict or expand the current scope of practice.
OCA’s position on continuing education seminars
As an association we will bring in high caliber, engaging chiropractic speakers to teach at OCA continuing education seminars. We will make every effort to host seminars that give our attendees an increased understanding of the full range of pertinent issues in Chiropractic and an increased ability to be change agents in our profession. The OCA strives to put on professional, timely and organized continuing education seminars that provide our attendees the highest quality of education.
OCA’s position on association finances and expenses
As an association we will always maintain an open door and open book policy. All financial transactions are available for members to review and if any questions ever arise regarding expenses, OCA’s Treasurer & Accountant are available to address any concerns.
OCA Board Members are unpaid for their time and efforts dedicated to OCA.
OCA’s position on practice management groups
As an association the OCA does not endorse any practice management group. OCA’s Board Members and our membership is a diverse group including doctors who belong to various practice management groups and doctors who don’t belong to any. OCA has not and will not make any practice management group recommendations or referrals. We encourage doctors to explore their options regarding practice management groups, office procedures, etc. and pursue the options that best meet the needs of the doctor.
OCA’s position on professionalism and integrity:
As an association we believe collegiality should be an expression of our ethical commitment to our profession and to each other. Collegiality requires respect for the opinions and rights of others, a refusal to spread unfounded accusations and rumors about colleagues, and a commitment to discussing differences openly and honestly.
We will avoid discrimination and harassment at any cost as these are extraordinarily destructive. We will also strive to create and maintain a diverse, pluralistic and inclusive professional community. While civility does not guarantee the absence of conflict, it does require that differences of philosophy, politics, or social position not be allowed to transcend or obscure what Chiropractors share as professionals and as persons.
OCA’s Stand on the Safety of Chiropractic Care
Medical Studies Demonstrate Chiropractic Safety For Neck Adjustments
A study in the scientific medical journal “Spine” notes the safety of Chiropractic. The article published in the October 2007 issue of the journal was titled, “Safety of Chiropractic Manipulation of the Cervical Spine: A Prospective National Survey”.
The authors admitted that the risk of any serious side effects to chiropractic care was relatively unknown to them and the medical community.
This study looked at the outcome from 19,722 chiropractic patients who received some form of neck adjustments. the researchers reveiwed a total of 50,276 neck adjustments and looked to see if there were any serious side effects from chiropractic care.
The results quoted in the study were that, “There were no reports of serious adverse events.” Researchers did not find any serious adverse events in any of the subjects they studied.
A research articled published on August 3, 2010 in the journal, Chiropractic & Osteopathy, further shows the safety of chiropractic adjustments. The article itself was a review of numerous other studies done recently that looked at the chances of adverse events from chiropractic care. One of the studies reviewed looked at the effectiveness of chiropractic for neck pain. In this additional study, published on July 9, 2010 in the journal Chiropractic & Osteopathy, authors noted that there were no serious adverse events.
Detractors of chiropractic have recently mounted a well funded campaign to try to scare the general public into believing the chiropractic carries a serious risk to arterial problems. This study, reporting on several others show that in fact chiropractic, as is, or safer than visits to general practitioners.
Annuls of Internal Medicine from the American College of Physicians, January 3, 2012, showed that patients suffering from acute neck pain did better with chiropractic adjustments and showed statistically significant advantage of medication.
Opponents of chiropractic have attempted a smear campaign over the last several years by suggesting that chiropractic adjustments to the neck increased certain types of stoke. A study published in the medical scientific journal “Spine” puts those false accusations to rest and clearly shows that chiropractic does not increase the risk of these types of problems. “The association occurs because patients tend to seek care when they’re having neck pain or headaches, and sometimes they go to a chiropractor, sometimes they go to a physician. But we didn’t see an increased likelihood of them having this type of stoke after seeing a chiropractor.”