Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College & The Canadian Chiropractic Association

January 24, 2002

Hon. Roy Romanow
Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada
P.O. Box 160, Station Main
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7K 3K4

Dear Mr. Romanow:

On behalf of the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) and the Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA), we are pleased to enclose our submission to the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada.

As primary contact health care practitioners, Canada’s chiropractors have seen the impact on patients of changes in the health care system in terms of their access to quality health care services. Our submission makes recommendations which, if implemented, will improve patient care, alleviate system pressures, and demonstrate cost effectiveness.

Canada’s health care system has adequately met the needs of Canadians since the inception of the Canada Health Act. However, the sustainability of the system based on traditional Canadian values of fairness, equity, and commonality has been compromised. This has resulted in a system which has moved from being patient centred to one which is now provider and institutionally centred. The national debate on health care sees Canadians demanding the protection of their health care system while recognizing that change, both organizational and fiscal, is required to ensure its sustainability.

Major technological breakthroughs and new research based knowledge, with its promise of improved patient outcomes, combine with an increasingly sophisticated health care consumer to exert ever-increasing pressure on the health care system. Inequity and inadequacy in funding services from province to province, the lack of primary health care integrative models of patient care, the traditional and restrictive results of silo funding, and the lack of recognition by health care planners of the proven benefits of non-medical regulated health care need redressing.

The chiropractic profession supports the establishment of a framework for improving the delivery of health care services which is integrative, patient centred and reflective of outcomes. Concepts of equity and fairness demand that the delivery of “medically necessary” services be extended to non-medical regulated health professions based on quality outcome and patient satisfaction measures supported by both clinical and fiscal research.

We are confident that our recommendations will provide you with further insight into searching for comprehensive measures to protect and maintain Canada’s health care system. We request participation in the public consultation and dialogue taking place in Toronto on April 2nd and look forward to working with you in seeking solutions for a sustainable and cost-effective health care system.

Yours sincerely,

Jean A. Moss, D.C., M.B.A.
President
Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College

H. James Duncan, BFA, CHRP, CAE
Executive Director
The Canadian Chiropractic Association

What Results Can I Expect From Treatment?

CCAChiro.org – That depends on your condition. The length of time you have had the problem, your age and the degree of your disability all affect the length of your treatment. Your chiropractic doctor should tell you the extent of treatment recommended, and how long you can expect it to last.

One of the main reasons people choose chiropractic is that they often get quick results. Individual cases vary and chronic conditions obviously need more treatment, but Workers’ Compensation Board studies show, for example, that people with low back pain get back to work much faster with chiropractic care.

You might also consider the benefits of regular chiropractic adjustments even when you feel healthy. Sometimes you won’t know you have a disorder of the neuro-musculo-skeletal system until it becomes acute and painful. So, just as you see your dentist to have your teeth checked and your optometrist for eye exams, regular visits to your chiropractor can catch related health conditions early, often preventing them from developing into major problems. Remember, your spine is every bit as susceptible to wear and tear as your teeth and your eyes so you should look after it.

How Do I Find A Chiropractor?

Chiropractors are “primary contact” health care providers, which means you don’t have to be referred to them by a physician or anyone else. You can select your own chiropractor. As with any other professional, referrals from friends and acquaintances are an excellent way to find a good chiropractor. The Yellow Pages can also come in handy to help you find one in your area. There are over 6,000 chiropractors in Canada. Another way is to use the CCA’s own Chiropractic Locator found on the upper right-hand corner of the home page.