envisions chiropractors being a part of more collaborative, inter-professional healthcare models that strive to pre-vent chronic musculoskeletal health is-sues and restore the overall health and vitality of patients. Establishing strong research, policy development and clini-cal education and protocols, and initiat-ing strong communications initiatives to raise awareness of the profession are cornerstones of the CCA’s vision moving forward. Increased utilization of chiropractic is a primary goal for the CCA and it will take effort from all stakeholders in the profession to get there. “Establishing strong tools for chiro-practors to use locally, developing a far-reaching national social media strategy to engage the public in the conversa-tion about the merits of back health and ger research program across the country. Strengthening the Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation by assisting with the development of fundraising campaigns; establishing a strong endowment for qualified chiropractors across the country to access research funds; and facilitating international research initiatives in mus-culoskeletal health is very important for the profession. With respect to healthcare policy and government relations, the CCA is build-ing its capacity to deliver a well-coordi-nated government relations strategy, in-cluding building consensus around the key messages to deliver to all levels of government about the potential and ef-ficacy of chiropractors and chiropractic care. The CCA is in a position to be the resource for its provincial partners on health policy. There are plans to build “We have to get the message to every Canadian that they should have a chiropractor on their health team.” preventing acute conditions, and con-tinuously improving clinical outcomes based on strong research and evidence – these are some of the ways the CCA will achieve increased utilization of chi-ropractic,” says Dantas. “We will contin-ue to examine demographics, utilization, income, etc., of chiropractors across the country and report these so that individ-ual DCs can compare their own progress against the national averages. From here, DCs can see where they need to grow and improve.” Ms. Dantas emphasizes team-based inter-professional care as an important development in health care across the country. “The CCA’s role in this,” she notes, “is to ensure that DCs are recognized as part of that team, especially in the area of musculoskeletal health. A model of this can be seen at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto where seamless team-based care that includes chiropractic is avail-able to patients.” In the area of research, Ms. Dantas, like Dr. Warren, is committed to continu-ing to work with research chairs in each province and to building an even stron-14 • CANADiAN CHiROPRACTOR | FEBRUARY 2013 an easily accessible health policy and re-search resource library that will include key documents to assist the profession in promoting the role of chiropractors as central to the healthcare system and the health of Canadians. HOW CAN DCs SUPPORT THE CCA? Dantas feels that chiropractors are trained to be leaders and have real capacity to en-gage in change. She notes that many chi-ropractors are involved in key initiatives at all levels – provincially, nationally and internationally – in the areas of inter-pro-fessional relations, regulation, education, research, and patient-centred care. The CCA is currently rebuilding its infrastruc-ture to improve opportunities for more chiropractors to be involved in national initiatives. She calls upon all chiroprac-tors to support the CCA’s efforts, to stay informed about the national initiatives currently underway, and to get involved as opportunities arise. “We need more involvement,” she says, “particularly when new strategies are being executed, our members are our best advocates. This is especially so for social media and awareness campaigns -the more the DC is engaged, the greater chance that these strategies will succeed! “I am looking forward to our strategic planning process that will take place at the end of January – my job, as CEO, will be to ask strategic questions and to di-rect resources toward the success of any established plans as they unfold in the coming years.” Once this is complete, Ms. Dantas shares, the CCA will have clear opportunities for chiropractors to be involved in planning and developing key initiatives to achieve the vision of the CCA and thereby the profession. Dr. Warren adds, “Individual chiro-practors are at the heart of the profession and the CCA. Don’t be happy with sta-tus quo – this just means you’re standing still. Get involved locally and nationally in whichever way you can.” Ms. Dantas and Dr. Warren are com-mitted to working through the CCA to ensure that chiropractors in Canada suc-ceed in becoming key players in health care, providing optimal and accessible chiropractic care to all Canadians. As Dr. Warren notes, “The CCA is a national body with a national perspec-tive. We can try to unify this perspective in a way that encompasses everybody and helps us all to see the big picture. We can help the provinces more, assisting them to move forward with their strate-gies. And we can support our members, helping them to see more outcomes from the association and increased utilization. This is good for the profession and will also benefit the health of all Canadians.” “We have to get the message to every Canadian that they should have a chi-ropractor on their health team,” adds Ms. Dantas. “Creating a high-perfor-mance national association with a well-resourced policy, marketing and com-munications program will be essential to achieving this. I am very excited about the future of chiropractic in Canada and around the world as I learn more about the incredible work that has been done and is underway now and into the future to address the needs of patients with back health issues.” Ms. Dantas concludes, “The CCA will continue to be a leader on behalf of Canadian chiropractors both nationally and internationally.” For more information about the CCA or how you can support your national asso-ciation, visit www.chiropracticcanada.ca. • www.canadianchiropractor.ca
Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor February 2013: Page 14
