NEW LATEST HEADLINES Chiropractic Online Continuing Education Online CE: Cost Effective, Convenient and Clinically Relevent. Try it FREE 2007 Research Summaries Assessment and risk reduction of infectious pathogens on chiropractic treatment tables Documentation Solution Outsource Transcription for excellent documentation - fast turnaround and save money Important News A Call To Action: CMS Proposes Changes to Chiropractic X-Ray Reimbursement Online CE: Cost Effective, Convenient and Clinically Relevent. Try it FREE (Rocky Hill, CT) www.ChiroCredit.com, the leading provider of Online Chiropractic Continuing Education Courses is pleased to announce a FREE one hour introductory course for all new registered users. The vast majority of states allow Chiropratic continuing education online. Please Click Here to check your state. 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TOP 2007 Research Summaries Assessment and risk reduction of infectious pathogens on chiropractic treatment tables Marion Willard Evans Jr, Jennell Breshears, Alan Campbell, Chris Husbands and Ronald Rupert Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2007, 15:8, doi:10.1186/1746-1340-15-8 Published 7 June 2007 Abstract Background To investigate the presence of pathogenic microbes on chiropractic treatment tables in one outpatient teaching clinic. Additional aims were to test inexpensive disinfectants on tables that may kill microbes and suggest infection control measures for chiropractic offices, clinics and classrooms. The aim of the study was to assess the presence of pathogenic microbes on treatment tables in one outpatient teaching clinic and determine a simple behavioral model for infection control including table disinfection and accepted hand washing and sanitizing protocols. Methods 10 treatment tables were selected and sampled for possible microbial flora on face and hand pieces. Samples were cultured on MacConky's agar and mannitol salt agar, labeled and incubated for up to 48 hours. Confirmatory testing of microbes to determine if drug resistant flora were present was performed. Among tables tested, 5 were selected to test disinfectants. One-half of the face piece and 1 hand piece were treated with two different wipes and then post-tested for microbes. Results Pathogenic microbes were present on chiropractic treatment tables including methicillin-resistant Staph aureus. Simple disinfectants neutralized the pathogens. A rudimentary disinfection procedure and infection control measures are suggested based on the findings. Conclusion Pathogenic microbes may be present on chiropractic treatment tables and can be effectively killed with proper disinfecting. Hand washing/sanitizing is an important measure in infection control as is table disinfecting. Rudimentary behavioral changes to improve chiropractic clinic infection control are needed. More comprehensive behavioral models are needed. All teaching clinics and private chiropractic offices should adopt infection control practices including routine table disinfecting and hand sanitizing. Effective measures can be put in place at minimal costs. Accrediting bodies of chiropractic institutions should mandate an infection control plan for member institutions immediately. To view the full article, please visit www.chiroandosteo.com TOP Outsource Transcription for excellent documentation - fast turnaround and save money (Valrico, FL) Dictation is the gold standard in documentation and is the quickest and easiest way to document your patient’s condition. Transam Associates, Inc. is pleased to announce a low-cost solution to transcription - outsource your digital voice files. Simply dictate your files into a digital voice recorder and upload them to our server. Transam will transcribe your files and have them available to you in 24 hours on your own encrypted website which is HIPAA compliant! Cost is based on work performed, not on an hourly basis like an in-office transcriptionist. You avoid payroll taxes and the cost of employee benefits and . . . we never call in sick! Take a moment and compare our costs - we will show you how to save money! For a brochure, call the number on the banner above so we may send you one. For more information, please click on our banner or go to www.transamassociates.com/TranscriptionServices.asp TOP A Call To Action: CMS Proposes Changes to Chiropractic X-Ray Reimbursement The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), on July 12, published a proposed rule in the Federal Register that would eliminate patient reimbursement for X-rays taken by a radiologist or other non-treating physician and then used by a doctor of chiropractic. If approved, this proposal would reverse a long-standing policy originally obtained by ACA and could severely hamper the chiropractic profession's ability to care for many Medicare patients. “X-rays, when needed, are integral to the overall chiropractic treatment plan of Medicare patients, and unfortunately in the end, it is the beneficiary who will be negatively affected by this proposed change in coverage. The current X-ray Medicare protocol has served patients well, and there is no clinical reason for this proposed change,” said ACA President Richard Brassard, DC. “If doctors of chiropractic are unable to refer patients directly to a radiologist, patients may be required to make additional and unnecessary visits to their primary care providers, significantly driving up the costs of patient care.” The proposed change would specifically eliminate Medicare reimbursement in connection with the referral of a patient by a doctor of chiropractic to a radiologist or other non-treating physician for X-rays; however, doctors of chiropractic will still be able to refer patients back to any treating physician, such as a primary care provider, for needed X-rays. ACA plans to submit comments on this proposal to CMS prior to the Aug. 31 deadline. While subluxation need not always be detected by X-ray, it is very often the case that a patient requires an X-ray to rule out any contraindications to chiropractic care or to determine appropriate treatment options. X-rays may also be required to help determine the need for further diagnostic testing, such as an MRI, or for a referral to an appropriate health care specialist. How Can Doctors of Chiropractic Help? Individual doctors of chiropractic and chiropractic patients are strongly advised to contact CMS and urge them to abolish the recommendation. CMS must receive comments on this proposal no later than 5 p.m. EDT on Aug. 31. It is suggested that comments be sent electronically, and any attachments should be in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, or WordPerfect. When commenting, refer to file code CMS-1385-P. Also, include the caption “Technical Corrections” at the beginning of your comments. To submit electronic comments, click here or cut and paste the following into your web browser: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/oc/dockets/comments/getDocketInfo.cfm?EC_DOCUMENT_ID=143&SORT=&MAXROWS=15&START=1&CID=&AGENCY=CMS To view a sample patient letter to CMS, click here or cut and paste the following into your web browser: http://www.acatoday.org/userImages/File/SampleLetter_CMS(2).doc For more information, please contact ACA’s Office of Government Relations at (703) 812-0224. TOP SUBSCRIBE NOW! SUBSCRIBE NOW! Sign up below for our FREE Chiropractic Headline Newsletter! Enter email address: Email address: Click here to view archive of prior issues HOME | SUBMIT NEWS | CONTACT US ©2003, ChiroWire.com All rights reserved.