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"Protecting the public and serving our member boards by promoting excellence in chiropractic regulation." |
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NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 2002 PRESS RELEASE
FCLB Annual Conference Focuses on Leadership Issues Bylaws Revisions Expand Involvement by Board Administrators
A dynamic and emotional opening presentation by Dr. Terry Yochum set the tone for the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards’ 76th Annual Congress in Chicago May 1 - 5. "You will hear Dr. Janse speak to you before I am finished today," Dr. Yochum promised. His was the 12th annual presentation in the Federation’s prestigious lecture series designed to honor Dr. Joseph Janse, former president of National College of Chiropractic, for his powerful oratory and visionary abilities. Through Dr. Yochum’s use of varied media, the leadership qualities emulated by Dr. Janse not only came to life, but also presented a basis for the remaining educational sessions. The keynote address, "Leading the Leaders: The Art and Science of Board Service" was delivered by Paul Arntson, Ph.D., Founder and Director of the Undergraduate Leadership Program at Northwestern University. Arntson urged the audience of 150 leaders from chiropractic regulatory boards and colleges to balance their passions with their skills and where they spend their time. "Effective leadership also comes from understanding the important roles and participatory styles played by each member of the team," he explained. The Federation’s own team was expanded via bylaws amendments adopted by its members, as a new category of "Executive Fellow" was created to formalize the involvement of board administrators. Kevin B. Earle, executive director of the New Jersey State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, was elected to a new seat on the Federation’s board of directors in an historic step to add the voice and expertise of board executives. Further highlighting leadership, the FCLB’s highest individual honor, the George Arvidson Award, was presented to Dr. Joseph Brimhall of Ogden, Utah, recognizing his contributions to public protection through both licensing and accreditation. The Outstanding Board Award went to the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Chiropractors for their innovative and proactive licensee programs. In other annual meeting business, Dr. Wayne Wolfson of Orlando, Florida was re-elected president. Other officers winning re-election were vice president Dr. Richard Cole of Bartlett, Tennessee and treasurer Dr. N. Edwin Weathersby of Glendale, Arizona. "The Federation continues to move forward toward even greater inclusiveness and participation," Dr. Wolfson noted. "We invite candid discussion and have worked hard to establish a setting where all ideas are welcome and can be assured of thoughtful consideration. Our ultimate goal is excellence in the protection of the public, and this can be truly the most unifying concept for our profession." At the opening reception, noted attorney George McAndrews was honored for contributing to the well-being of the public. Despite having laryngitis, McAndrews captivated the attendees with his descriptions of several pivotal events in the evolution of patients’ rights seek chiropractic care. Preceding the conference, the Federation convened a summit meeting of leaders in education, accreditation, testing and regulation. The 34 participants discussed new aspects of the CCE Standards, international accreditation, varied licensing board requirements, and changes in education including alternative learning styles and resulting difficulties in complying with prescriptive language in board requirements. Also covered were pre-entrance requirements, interjurisdictional mobility, census and projected enrollment in chiropractic colleges, and use of the NBCE’s C-CAT exam. Finally, intense discussion focused on qualifications to perform spinal manipulation (on animals and on humans), defining chiropractic care as broader than spinal manipulation, and the growing use of spinal manipulation by other professions in light of public protection concerns. The 76th Annual Congress agenda included several presentations which touched on continued competence issues, including the role that continuing education can play in supporting ongoing development of doctors of chiropractic. "Neither the Federation nor the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners has ever advocated or supported retesting as a condition for relicensure," noted Donna Liewer, FCLB executive director during a panel presentation on continued competence. Moderated by FCLB’s Clinical Competence taskforce chair Dr. Kathleen Galligan of Oregon, panelists discussed self-designed CE programs, proactive educational intervention by boards, varied remedial options to redirect problem practitioners, and the role of chiropractic colleges in developing lifelong learners as well as providing postgraduate education. The Federation’s emerging model for centralized CE approval was also discussed in numerous sessions. Varied stakeholder input was solicited as a number of chiropractic college officials responsible for postgraduate education participated in refinements to the program design. "Approved CE programs should not only have a sound scientific basis but a strong philosophical one as well," urged Dr. David Koch of Palmer College of Chiropractic. The current FCLB model under consideration involves evaluating programs with the goal of granting recognition status to providers of CE for a three-year period. Boards will be encouraged to accept CE from recognized providers in areas of study approved by the board. Recognition will ensure that course design, development methods, scientific rigor and attendance verification aspects are appropriate and in order. Boards will retain the option of continuing to approve CE programs individually as well. Also under discussion is maintaining a roster of completed CE hours for practitioners on the Federation’s expanded CIN-BAD database, which now lists all licensed practitioners. Taskforce co-chair Dr. Richard Cole explained, "This would be a significant benefit to field chiropractors and regulatory boards alike. Using the power of technology we could develop a seamless benefit to all chiropractors by allowing doctors easy access to quality programs and by assisting them in maintaining records of their CE credentials." An interesting cross section of presenters also included Dr. James Winterstein, president of National University of Health Sciences, covering the role of diagnosis in public protection, and Michael Moné, R.Ph., J.D., of the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy discussing confidentiality in board processes. Dr. Vernon Temple of NBCE and Dale Atkinson of the Federation of Association of Regulatory Boards talked about tools for licensure reinstatement. A stimulating breakfast session involved a cross section of regulatory attorneys exploring emerging legal issues in regulation, including unlicensed practice, fraud, cost recovery for boards, multi-disciplinary practices, 1st Amendment rights vs. advertising regulation, chiropractic practice involving animals. Blair Packard, P.T., president of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy offered his thoughts on healthy relationships between boards and associations, and Drs. Robert Honigsfeld and Charles Herring discussed guidelines and resources for regulating chiropractic consultants. International issues included education, accreditation and regulation with participants including David Chapman-Smith, LLB, of the World Federation of Chiropractic, Dr. Reed Phillips of the Council on Chiropractic Education International, and Dr. Octavio Terrazas who outlined Mexico’s first DC program. Finally, the closing address by Dr. Louis Sportelli has become a tradition for conference attendees. This year’s presentation entitled "Leading in a Conflicted World" urged boards to assess candidly their current status and to develop leadership abilities to be more effective in protecting the public. A complete agenda and reference handouts from the program can be obtained from the Federation’s website, www.fclb.org.
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