Truths About Chiropractic

Dr. Daniel David Palmer discovered chiropractic in 1895, in Davenport, Iowa, while he was on a course of self-directed study and research.
The chiropractic profession was developed by Bartlett J. Palmer (B.J. Palmer), the son of the founder.
Doctors of chiropractic are considered primary health care providers by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Chiropractic is the second largest primary health care provider in the western world.
Chiropractic is practiced internationally and has membership of more than 50,000 doctors of chiropractic in the world today. There are approximately 36,000 chiropractors in the United States; 3,000 in Canada; 2,000 in Australia; 1,000 in Japan; 300 in France and 100-300 each in Belgium, Denmark, Great Britain, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, New Zealand and South Africa. The profession is established in a lesser extent in other European countries, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America.
Specific legislation licensing the practice of chiropractic exists in all U.S. states, the Canadian provinces, the Australian states, New Zealand, South Africa and Switzerland. Common features in all of these jurisdictions include (a) primary care (direct contact with the patient), (b) the right and duty to diagnose, and (c) the right to use diagnostic X-ray.
Federal programs such as Medicare, Mailhandlers Benefit Plan, Government Employees Hospital Association Benefit Plan, and Postmasters Benefit Plan all provide benefits for chiropractic care.
All modern government inquiries into chiropractic - the most thorough being in New Zealand (1979), Australia (1986) and Sweden (1987) - have recommended government funding for chiropractic services.
Workers are entitled to elect chiropractic care under Worker's Compensation board legislation in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Many HMC (Health Maintenance Organization) and PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans now cover chiropractic care.
Most private health insurance companies provide coverage for chiropractic services. In North America, large unions have negotiated unlimited coverage for their members. Generally speaking, there is full coverage for diagnosis and treatment to a maximum dollar amount
In North America, entrance to chiropractic universities requires two years of university study in qualifying sciences. Government inquiries and independent investigations by medical practitioner have affirmed that today's chiropractic undergraduate training is of an equivalent standard to medical training in all preclinical subjects.
There are presently more than 23 chiropractic colleges throughout the world. Major colleges exist in the United States, Australia, Canada and England, with newer colleges in France, Japan and South Africa.
More than half of the doctors of chiropractic practicing today graduated since 1977, and have therefore, fulfilled the most up-to-date professional requirements.
Chiropractors consistently attend postgraduate courses to ensure updating of technical advancement in order to be eligible for annual renewal of their licenses to practice.