BEST PRACTICES & PRACTICE GUIDELINES
(Draft Document in Review by the Profession)
Preface
These Best Practices and Practice Guidelines, written for and by
International Chiropractors Association members, contained herein, are
evidence-based suggestions for appropriate care of patients seeking
chiropractic care.
While no guideline
can replace the clinical decisions made by a chiropractic practitioner
in the course of caring for an individual patient’s health problem, the
suggestions contain herein, are based on the best available published
evidence. Any approach, by a
practitioner, that is different from these ICA-BPPG Guidelines, does not
necessarily mean that the approach in question was below the standard of
care. However, any chiropractic
practitioner, who adopts a course of action different from these
ICA-BPPG Guidelines, is advised to keep sufficient patient records to
explain why such an action was undertaken.
Chiropractic is a philosophy, a science, and an art.
The nature of a science is that
it is constantly evolving.
Due to the variety, complexity, severity, and intricacy of human health
conditions it is impossible to always determine the appropriate
examination, appropriate diagnostic analyses, and to predict with
absolute certainty the patient’s response to chiropractic spinal care.
Therefore, adherence to these
ICA-BPPG Guidelines will not always ensure that an accurate assessment
and care of the patient’s spinal health has occurred, but adherence to
these ICA-BPPG Guidelines will assist the practitioner by allowing him
to practice based on the most current scientific data available.
However, to do so without also
combining it with all the knowledge and skills of a doctor of
chiropractic may result in an inaccurate assessment and care of the
patient. By following the
ICA-BPPG Guidelines, it is expected that the chiropractic practitioner
will follow a reasonable course of action based on the best available
knowledge. It is expected that
with the assistance of the ICA-BPPG Guidelines, the chiropractic
practitioner will use the assessment and care of spinal subluxation
suggested herein to deliver safe and effective chiropractic care.
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