The concept of “open” or “community” areas where health care is provided is not unique to chiropractic. This style of practice is found in such diverse areas as physical therapy, orthopedics, emergency rooms and psychotherapy.
The concept of open areas for the provision of care is not simply an efficiency issue. The role of community in healing and the empowerment that it brings may be central features in a practice member’s recovery and the ability of the doctor to facilitate healing.
Any attempts by regulatory boards to encourage or impose sanctions upon chiropractors merely for offering and making available such opportunities to patients must be vigorously opposed.
In consideration of the above, the World Chiropractic Alliance affirms that open/community adjusting areas are an acceptable standard of care for the practice of chiropractic. The WCA hereby adopts the Recommendation of the Council on Chiropractic Practice on this issue as contained in the 2003 Clinical Practice Guideline Number 1:Vertebral Subluxation in Chiropractic Practice. The wording is reproduced here in its entirety:
Open/Community Adjusting Areas
It is acceptable for chiropractic care to be provided in a setting where more than one patient receives care in the same room. In such a case, the patients involved must consent to this arrangement. The chiropractor should have procedures where a patient who wishes to be examined or adjusted privately may do so.
