Community
ON Chiropractic
B REA KIN G DO W N BAR RIE RS T O CHI ROPRACT I C CARE
A
hallmark of this profession is the desire of chiropractors to deliver the value and
benefits of chiropractic care to an ever wider circle of patients. Reaching some
communities, though, is more challenging than simply “getting the word out”. The
chiropractors featured in this story represent a growing segment of the profession that
is breaking down barriers to chiropractic care.
Health care practitioners across
Ontario and around the world are
coming to understand how best to treat
patients who are at risk of developing or
experiencing comorbid conditions. This
has led to an increased effort to provide
chronic disease prevention and treatment
programs in at-risk communities.
Communities that include under housed,
low income, aboriginal, LGBT (lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender) and newcomer
populations are believed to have the most
to gain from such programs.
Chiropractors are joining efforts
to serve these communities across the
province and the results are stunning.
They are reaching a diverse array of new
patients, contributing to the success of
multidisciplinary teams and presenting the
chiropractic profession in a very positive
light to new audiences. What follows are
the stories of three chiropractors who, with
their sleeves rolled up, are contributing to
those results.
D
r. Zeinin Haji has found a
number of ways to give back to
the community that she loves,
but her work with London’s Salvation
Army Centre of Hope Chiropractic Clinic
is closest to her heart. “I was privileged to
be asked by the chiropractor that began
this program to be part of the initial pilot
group to launch this project,” Dr. Haji
Left: A patient gives the thumbs up after receiving treatment at the Salvation Army Centre
of Hope Chiropractic Clinic in London. Right: Dr. Jacobs confers with a staff member at the
CMCC Clinic at Sherbourne Health Centre.
24
WINTER 2014
said. “It has been a tremendous success
and I am so pleased to be part of that
continued success.”
The Salvation Army clinic’s doors
are open for just two hours on Friday
afternoons. Despite such a limited window
of time, the team works efficiently to
provide chiropractic care to approximately
80 patients each week. “We are all working
together to aid in the individual’s progress,”
Dr. Haji reports, referring to the team of
around 20 chiropractors who build upon
each other’s treatments from week to week
to generate positive outcomes for patients.
“The education we provide allows them
to make more informed decisions about
their health care needs and incorporate
the benefits of chiropractic care into their
health regimes.”
A key to this clinic’s success is its
accessibility. Chiropractors see low income
patients free of charge. This practice
removes a major barrier to care, particularly
long term care. In addition to removing the
cost barrier, the clinic is highly physically
accessible as it is situated in a central
location on the local bus route. When the
chiropractic team arrives each Friday, they
often find a lineup around the block.
I
n Ottawa, the Wabano Centre
for Aboriginal Health is making
similar progress. Dr. Paul Taillefer,
who practices at Wabano as part of a
Dr. Zeinin Haji
Dr. Paul Taillefer
Dr. Craig Jacobs
COLLEGE:
Canadian Memorial Chiropractic
College (CMCC) 1999
COLLEGE:
Canadian Memorial Chiropractic
College (CMCC) 2004
COLLEGE:
Canadian Memorial Chiropractic
College (CMCC) 2005
PRACTICE location:
Lambeth
PRACTICE location:
Ottawa
PRACTICE location:
Toronto
multidisciplinary team of health care
practitioners, believes that his work is
making a significant difference in the lives
of his patients.
“There are unique health and
socio-economic concerns that affect
this community,” Dr. Taillefer said. The
challenges the clinic’s patients face are
often the result of limited educational
and employment opportunities, addiction
and chronic illness. “Many of the cases
I manage are chronic in nature, most
likely due to delayed treatment of
musculoskeletal conditions, in favour of
more life-threatening health concerns.”
One component of Dr. Taillefer’s
work is to educate his colleagues on
musculoskeletal health and chiropractic
care. One of the ways this is accomplished
is by maintaining a binder containing
information on chiropractic education, the
chiropractic scope of practice, chiropractic
techniques, media reports and the current
research published in peer-reviewed
journals. “My goal is to contribute to
reducing barriers to chiropractic care for
the Aboriginal community and to all those
in need,” Dr. Taillefer said.
A
t the Sherbourne Health Centre
in Toronto, chiropractors are an
integral part of the team working
to improve the health of a community
that contains significant LGBT, under
housed and newcomer populations. This
is complex and rewarding work according
to Dr. Craig Jacobs, Primary Clinician at
CMCC’s clinic within Sherbourne. “We
specifically train our interns to be aware of the
issues that members of these communities
deal with both from a healthcare and
musculoskeletal point of view and an
emotional and psychological standpoint,”
he said.
Many of the patients who visit the
Sherbourne clinic have not had previous
access to chiropractic care. This is due
to cost, a lack of awareness and, often,
discomfort in a traditional health care
setting. Along with these barriers, many
are coping with multiple health issues such
as HIV, hepatitis B and C, diabetes and
mental health conditions. “Often times
we have patients who have felt they were
unable to trust their healthcare providers,”
Dr. Jacobs said. “It can take time to get
someone who has faced discrimination or
flat out rejection from a healthcare provider
in the past to come to trust you. I’m
pleased to say we succeed.”
Co-managing challenging cases with
other practitioners is an essential part
of provi [