Utilization of chiropractic care within the Veterans Administration (VA) healthcare system takes place at both “on-station” clinics and through a network of providers in the community. As the need for more community-based providers increases, “[t]his makes shared understanding of the requirements and nuances of both community care and the VA system so crucial,” says David Paris, DC, MS, DACRB, who is the chiropractic section chief for the Northern California VA Healthcare System and the VISN 21 Whole Health Network Education Coordinator.
During ACA Engage, which take place Jan. 22-25 in Washington, D.C., Dr. Paris will present “Update on the VA Community Care Network: What Practicing DCs Need to Know” to help bridge the gaps for DCs who are interested in potentially working with the VA. Register for Engage 2025 here.
Below, Dr. Paris shares additional information about his ACA Engage 2025 education program with the ACA blog:
Q: How is the topic you are presenting at Engage 2025 relevant to today’s chiropractor?
Chiropractic utilization at the Veterans Administration (VA) continues to grow at a rapid pace. The Community Care network outpaces the on-station (within VA) growth by a large margin. DCs everywhere have a great opportunity to assist in the primary mission of the VA — “To care for him/her who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.” — by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s veterans. This crucial mission requires knowledge and understanding of the Community Care system and also of the VA Healthcare System as a whole. We hope to bridge some gaps to improve our ability to provide chiropractic care to our veterans.
Q: What makes you an expert in this area?
Mainly the experience of working for almost 20 years in the VA. Having the opportunity not only to serve veterans at the VA but also to engage in multiple areas of leadership within the VA has given me a well-rounded perspective of the VA, community care and chiropractic care within this system.
Q: Why did you decide to become more engaged in this area?
I grew into this as on-station care at the VA continues to expand and, accordingly, the need for community care. Many people do not realize that the majority of veterans care is provided in the community and not on-station at VA clinics. This makes shared understanding of the requirements and nuances of both community care and the VA system so crucial. There is a tremendous opportunity to continue to improve both the processes and care given to our veterans.
Q: Can you share one or two takeaways from your presentation?
Attendees will leave with an understanding of the practice parameters both from approvals via standard episodes of care (SEOCs) and how to align those with what constitutes general best practices for condition-based care more globally. They will also gain an awareness of, and knowledge regarding, how to align with VA expectations for chiropractic care.
Q: How will this knowledge make them better doctors?
I hope we have new doctors, old doctors and those familiar and unfamiliar with VA community care in the room. The “better doctor” may come from the ability to take existing knowledge, skills and abilities and coordinate them with veteran care, i.e., community care requirements and best practices, etc. Also, discussion and considerations around team-based care may further influence treatment or referral patterns for DCs participating in VA’s Community Care Networks. My hope is that improved care coordination from our VA clinics to community care DCs, and vice versa, becomes a major takeaway.
Q: What inspired you to start and/or continue sharing knowledge with your colleagues as an Engage presenter?
I have been “engaged” in the profession this way for over two decades in various formats, various topics etc. The main point here for me is simply to lead with a servant-leader mindset and all those paths and opportunities undoubtedly eventually put you in a position to share some knowledge or expertise. It’s our duty to help each other, the best we can, and learn ourselves while we are in that process. Watching the chiropractic family grow and prosper in many areas…that inspires me. I am proud to be a small part of it.
Learn more about ACA Engage 2025.
