InTouch: Association news February 2021 Chair's message
Dear Colleagues,
I trust you all spent time with your family and stayed warm during the cold snap. It's hard to believe we are already into the final weeks of February.
Last week, I was pleased to share that Council has appointed Dr. Natalie Carrington and Dr. Kelly Fleck as the co-chairs for the Inaugural Board Committee, to lead the efforts toward a separate professional association of chiropractors in Alberta. Dr. Carrington and Dr. Fleck both have significant experience serving the profession, including time on ACAC Council. This is an important early step in meeting the requirements of Bill 46 related to the separation of college and association functions.
The ACAC is now coordinating an Expression of Interest process for additional members of the Inaugural Board Committee for a term to last until April 2023. This committee will be tasked with creating the foundational aspects and standing up the association as a separate entity from the regulatory college. The requirements for submitting an expression of interest are available on the ACAC website.
In keeping with the requirements of Bill 30, we are prepared to welcome new public board members later this spring, appointed by the Minister of Health. Council looks forward to these public members assisting us in carrying out our governance responsibilities in a manner that protects and serves the public interest. I am looking forward to introducing them to you.
The rapid pace of change from the last few years is continuing into 2021. Council will continue to keep members informed of the changes required and the impact expected. While there is much to absorb through these changes, I am confident that by working together we will become stronger as a profession. Yours in health, Dr. Brad Kane ACAC Chair
Join us for our next virtual member meeting on March 9 at 12:30 p.m. Watch the recording of the February member meeting above. The ACAC's last virtual members meeting took place on February 9. 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 an update on recent Council activity. This included that Council meeting minutes are now shared with the membership on the members' homepage, that work around Bill 46 continues, and that one public member has been appointed to join the Council board on April 1.
Sheila gave a brief update on the association's ongoing advocacy efforts, including ensuring chiropractors remain able to treat patients during a pandemic, reinstatement of publicly-funded diagnostic imaging, and upcoming campaigns.
Dr. Halowski encouraged members to check their renewal requirements and complete renewal early. Completing this early will help minimize strain on the ACAC operations come June.
In response to input from members, the March 9 virtual members meeting will be held at 12:30 p.m. to allow for more member participation than in the middle of the afternoon.
Participate in our February ThoughtExchange The ACAC is directing more energy into engaging with our membership. We are using the ThoughtExchange platform to manage this work, to host conversations, and provide for idea generation and ranking from you about key topic areas. Participation is anonymous and private, allowing you to share your feedback confidently.
This ThoughtExchange will be open to members until 4 p.m. on March 4, 2021. The ACAC will share a summary of what we have learned from you in the March InTouch.
Chiropractic profession represented at AMSCAR The ACAC was again a sponsor for the Alberta Medical Students Conference and Retreat (AMSCAR). This sponsorship is part of our ongoing efforts to build a positive understanding of chiropractic with medical students and set the foundation for building interprofessional relationships and integrated health care in their future practice. This conference, held virtually this year because of the pandemic, brought together about 200 medical students from the University of Alberta and University of Calgary.
For the medical students, there were three key chiropractic touchpoints during the conference. The first was a presentation to all conference attendees on the value of chiropractic care in the provision of patient-centred, integrated health care, from Dr. Greg Kawchuk of the University of Alberta. The second was Dr. Natalie Carrington reprising her popular presentation from last year’s conference on Tech Neck and Other Postural Mishaps. Dr. Tamara McDonald represented chiropractors during the Sponsor and Vendor fair over lunch, where students were able to learn facts about the profession and ways chiropractic treatment benefits patients.
ACAC to attend CMCC Practice OpportUnity This week, the ACAC is virtually attending the CMCC’s Practice OpportUnity (the photo above is our virtual booth). With nearly 500 students, faculty, and chiropractors registered, this networking, information-sharing, and trade show experience introduces students and other participants to industry product and services suppliers, chiropractors who may be looking to hire new graduates or sell their practice, and some provincial regulatory colleges and associations.
In preparation, updated and enhanced information for students and recent graduates has been posted on the ACAC website. Here, they can learn more about chiropractic in Alberta, locate documents relevant to preceptorship applications, and get information on the ACAC’s Investing in Our Future Scholarship. A chiropractic student that is from Alberta can apply for the $2000 award, given annually to a chiropractic student in recognition of academic excellence, clinical competency, and service at their college and within the community. The 2020 recipient was Sefrah Daviduck from Red Deer.
The ACAC’s engagement in this and similar events is part of our strategy to help grow and sustain the chiropractic profession in Alberta.
A case series on concussion management Drs. Germann, Marshall, and Kazemi present a series of case studies that investigate multi-modal treatment plans for the management of sport and non-sport related concussions by chiropractic sports specialists.
The case studies highlight important observations such as the efficacy of individualized, multi-modal treatment plans, that delineation of sport/non-sport injuries may be unnecessary in treatment, and that including chiropractic in concussion management plans is helpful for recovery.
On the blog: What to look for in an everyday shoe and how your chiropractor can help In previous blog postings, Sherwood Park chiropractor Dr. Taylor Cooksley has covered how to choose work shoes and winter boots, and now explains what to look for when it comes to everyday wear.
larger problems that arise when left untreated.
While it’s tempting to grab whatever’s closest when we run out for a quick errand, choosing a properly fitted shoe will minimize strains, sprains, and pains.
Council contact
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Need to get your standard first aid and CPR-C to renew your license? We offer regularly scheduled classes.
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[advertisement] Reminder: media calls
Occasionally journalists reach out to members to request an interview or response to a story. The ACAC is prepared to support members through interviews and advise on how best to handle media inquiries.
If you receive a request, please contact Mikiko Van Horn, Senior Public Relations Coordinator, or call 780.420.0932. |