Our review of the top 10 blog posts on ACA Blogs in 2019 provides plenty of evidence that readers are most interested in topics that will help them better care for their patients as well as information on new developments in health care policy. Thanks to all who engaged with ACA Blogs over the past year. If you missed any of our top 10 posts of the year, here we provide a list so you can catch up! 

Postdoctoral training programs are very common in the sciences and healthcare disciplines. They typically focus on developing skills and experience in areas outside the realm of patient care, such as research, health policy, health administration and teaching, among others. Expanding the number of early-career chiropractors engaging in various postdoctoral training programs is an important underpinning for the continued development of the profession. Meet five doctors of chiropractic who have completed or are currently in one of four different, but related postdoctoral programs conducted by a Yale School of Medicine/VA Connecticut partnership

As a resident at the VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System, students and new graduates alike frequently ask me about my experience as a resident and how it varied from my time as a student clerk at the St. Louis VA Medical Center. To help provide a better perspective on the two types of positions, I’ve invited three New York Chiropractic College (NYCC) students who are currently finishing their clerkships at the VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System to reflect on their experience. In addition, I have provided a brief description of the two positions.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has long been a partner in the fight against opioid misuse by promoting and encouraging the utilization of safe, effective and proven non-drug approaches to pain management, such as chiropractic care. Recently, ACA has joined with national coalitions to promote chiropractic care as a viable, widely available and effective tool to the millions of Americans who experience chronic and acute pain each year. 

Doctors of chiropractic have an opportunity to play a new, innovative role in the healthcare system.  This new role, the Primary Spine Practitioner, necessitates the establishment of a clear identity and an easily understood means of communicating chiropractic’s value to others in health care. Never has there been a greater need for an efficient, evidence-based clinical approach that enhances our credibility, maximizes our skills and allows us to apply the highest level of excellence in patient care.

Contemporary practice principles in hospitals and health systems have become much more comprehensive and incorporate population health management principles, coordination of care, collaborative care, application of standardized care pathways, and attention to the social determinants of health. According to Engage 2020 presenter David BenEliyahu, DC, chiropractors should adopt these principles in their practices, as they foster not only better outcomes but also integration and collaboration with our medical colleagues.

In the wake of the national opioid crisis in the United States, primary care clinics are beginning to recognize the importance of non-pharmacologic care for patients with common musculoskeletal conditions such as low back pain. Integrating chiropractic care into healthcare clinics is an important step toward offering these more holistic approaches to pain management. However, clinics in lower-income neighborhoods often face financial and other barriers to offering this type of care. ACA member Eric Roseen, DC, MSc, is embarking on a research study to find new approaches to creating patient access. 

When treating athletes, it's essential to work collaboratively with other members of the healthcare team and to understand their unique needs, according to Lisa Thomson, DC, CFMP, NRCME. She discusses the importance of knowing how to communicate effectively with other types of providers when treating athletes in her upcoming Engage 2020 talk, "Building a Better Athlete: A Team Approach." During the presentation, she will also review some of the most important movement patterns for optimal athletic performance.   

Engage 2020 education program presenter James Cox, DC, DACBR, the developer of Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction Manipulation discusses his upcoming talk, “Translational Research on Cervical Spine Treatment Using Cox® Distraction Protocols: Basic Science to Clinical Science,” which features important findings of a National Institutes of Health federally funded study.

Chiropractic educational research is a long-standing, important practice for improving the quality of education in our degree programs. Additionally, chiropractic research related to techniques and patient outcomes can have meaningful contributions. This has been demonstrated through the development of student research in many other healthcare professions.  However, not much is known about how much prospective and current students are aware of this body of research, including how it informs their choice of a career in chiropractic and a specific program, or how it impacts their education and influences their career paths.