InTouch: Association news January 2021 Chair's message
Dear Colleagues,
I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year.
I am proud of the dedicated efforts of all chiropractors—and their staff—in providing a safe and welcoming space for Albertans to relieve their pain and keep healthy during these trying times. You too, should be proud of the great work you have done to keep Albertans safe in the face of this pandemic. Before the holiday break, the government passed Bill 46, which amended provisions of the Health Professions Act, including the separation of professional health regulatory colleges and their associations.
Council is beginning the work to establish the parameters for an orderly transition and separation of the association function and the college functions, as is required under this new legislation. I commit that the ACAC will keep all members informed of the progress as we go along this journey.
We continue to review all public health guidelines and measures and how they relate to your practices. Additionally, we remain engaged with government on moving forward our desire to reinstate diagnostic imaging, to further our scope expansion proposals, and to prepare for four new public members to our Council.
I want to thank Todd and the regulatory team for their continuing work to ensure that we have the best practices and information to use in our clinics. And I want to thank Sheila and her team for their advocacy work on these files with the Minister and the department. While they may not move as quickly as we would like, they are aware of our efforts and offers to assist.
With the initial rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, and some lowering of the infection levels in our province, I have hope that 2021 will be a year where good health for all will become a full reality.
Yours in health, Dr. Brad Kane ACAC Chair
Join us for our next virtual member meeting on February 9 at 2 p.m. Watch the recording of the January member meeting above. The ACAC's last virtual member meeting took place on January 12. Just under 40 members joined Council Chair Dr. Brad Kane, CEO Sheila Steger, and Registrar Dr. Todd Halowski on the one-hour information sharing and Q&A session.
Dr. Kane provided a brief update on Bill 46, including that members of Council will meet January 13 to begin planning the migration of association and college into stand-alone organizations.
Sheila provided an overview of recent association activities, including the launch of the member mental health initiative, our hockey sponsorship, and new MVA patient resources. Advocacy efforts continue on pushing for reinstatement of publicly-funded diagnostic imaging for chiropractors.
Dr. Halowski reminded members to refer to the newsletter archive and other website resources for answers to commonly asked questions. He also urged members to complete CC credits early as the renewal deadline of June 20 approaches.
The Q&A portion of the meeting included questions about updates to the COVID-19 Pandemic Practice Directive, vaccinations for regulated health professionals, and more.
Hockey fans to hear ads on the benefits of chiropractic with the start of the NHL season Starting January 13, 2021, hockey fans tuning into radio broadcasts of Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers games will hear our ads about the benefits of chiropractic care. The ACAC, in partnership with the Oilers Entertainment Group and 630CHED in Edmonton, and Sportsnet960 in Calgary, will run ads during games over the radio and digital media to help build public awareness and recognition of chiropractic care. The ads direct listeners to a dedicated ACAC webpage with more information about chiropractic and how to find a chiropractor near them.
Promotion on this scale is possible due to the ACAC’s Marketing and Promotion Program (MAPP). You can learn more about the program and how it enhances the credibility and effectiveness of chiropractic on our website.
New patient resource for motor vehicle accidents (MVA) In December, the association launched new resources for patients that experience a motor vehicle accident.
We encourage you to share these resources with your patients and suggest they keep a copy of the brochure in their vehicle’s glove box for reference.
To help your patients avoid common misconceptions about receiving care after an MVA, include these pieces as part of your new patient welcome package, share them in newsletters, and provide them in your waiting room. These resources will help patients understand what they are entitled to, their right to choose where they receive care, and more.
Focus, breathe, and recharge with ACAC's weekly mental health messages The ACAC launched weekly mental health-themed communications with the new year. These communications, delivered on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, offer a range of helpful and uplifting resources and information to support your mental wellbeing.
You are welcome to share this information with your staff, patients, or others in your circle. If you have resources you want to share with your colleagues, please email us and we will add them to our inventory.
Emergency supports
Supplementary health insurance explained for health-care providers The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) and Extended Healthcare Professionals Coalition (EHPC) have put together a resource that explains supplementary health insurance for health-care providers. You can find more information on our website.
Congratulations to the 2020 Investing in our Future scholarship winner! On behalf of the ACAC, we are happy to award Ms. Sefrah Daviduck the 2020 Investing in our Future scholarship.
Daviduck is a brilliant fourth-year chiropractic student who is heavily involved in community initiatives, such as the CMCC's 2019 "Unleash Your Potential" bike tour, which encouraged Canadian youth to take control of their health. Having grown up in a health-oriented household in Red Deer, Daviduck had a strong introduction to the medical field from a young age, and before pursuing chiropractic, Daviduck completed her undergraduate in nursing and worked as a registered nurse in Red Deer.
While she enjoyed nursing, she craved a different approach to patient care—one that allowed for a slower pace, more active listening, and increased one-on-one time with the patient.
Having spent her youth competing in a variety of sports, including running, swimming, and cycling, Daviduck knows first-hand the impact that injuries can have on our health, both mentally and physically. Bearing this impact in mind, Daviduck says, “I wanted to have a career where my focus was on keeping people mobile throughout their lifetime and getting them back to being active as quickly and safely as possible… I didn’t want people to feel the same way I had so many times when I had been injured.”
Dr. Dianna Martens, a volunteer on the ACAC Awards Committee, says, "Sefrah Daviduck is a fine example of the type of quality applicant deserving of this award. Her educational and community achievements show that she will be a great addition to our body of chiropractic professionals.”
Congratulations Sefrah!
Every year, the ACAC awards an Alberta resident studying chiropractic at an accredited chiropractic college a $2,000 Investing in our Future scholarship. If you know a student who would be interested in this opportunity, please have them visit our student page.
A pilot study on the effects of chiropractic adjustments on stress levels Researchers Silva, Oliveira, Costs, Guimarães, Vieira, and Pernambuco examine the effect that chiropractic adjustments have on workers with high stress levels, such as those in the clothing industry.
The research evaluated if suboccipital fascial release (SFR) is associated with reduced salivary cortisol levels. In a randomized controlled trial of an untreated and treated group, the untreated group laid down for five minutes. The treated group received the SFR technique for five minutes. The treated group showed lower cortisol levels.
On the blog: How chiropractors can help prevent common hockey injuries In this month's blog, Dr. Jason Dick, long-time chiropractor for the Calgary Hitmen, discusses the most common types of hockey injuries he sees and how they can be prevented with regular adjustments.
Having grown up playing football, Dr. Dick became interested in chiropractic after a chiropractor came to the field to perform adjustments on the players. He was amazed by the difference someone could make on a player's pain and performance by using only his hands. He carries this passion forward into his work today.
Dr. Dick sees first-hand the benefit that regular chiropractic adjustments have on keeping injuries at bay and keeping players in the game.
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First aid & safety training services inc.
Need to get your standard first aid and CPR-C to renew your license? We offer regularly scheduled classes.
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