ACA Implements Online Action Center to Assist Hurricane Katrina Victims The American Chiropractic Association has established an online action center in its efforts to assist doctors of chiropractic devastated by Hurricane Katrina and is encouraging its members, chiropractic state associations, colleges and other organizations to spread the word throughout the profession. The Hurricane Katrina Action Center contains resources for doctors wishing to offer their services to those in need. It also provides an outlet for doctors affected by the hurricane to share their stories or let others in the profession know of their needs. The website is open to all doctors of chiropractic, regardless of ACA membership status. The ACA has just bctiun to receive information to post on the site, but more will be added as word gets out regarding this resource. In addition, because of the changing nature of the situation in the Gulf Coast states, the action center will be updated frequently with new information, so please check back often. Included in the action center Ways to Donate: The website contains contact information for a matchinu fund cstab- lished by Foot Levelers to benefit the Red Cross (contributions must be received by Sept. 12). Other donation opportunities include separate funds set up by state associations to specifically benefit Mississippi and Louisiana doctors affected by the hurricane. Employment Opportunities: The action center includes a web page where other doctors can post employment opportunities available in their clinics—for those DCs who have lost their practices. (Before accepting employment opportunities in new areas, doctors of chiropractic should first check with the appropriate state board to determine licensing regulations.) Offers of Assistance and Requests for Assistance: The ACA's action center provides a forum for DCs who were affected to request assistance. It also allows doctors to post information notifying their colleagues affected by the hurricane of office equipment or other assistance that is available to them. Volunteer Opportunities: The action center provides a list of organized volunteer opportunities for doctors of chiropractic. Also included is a list of recommended equipment that volunteers will need to best treat patients in disaster relief settings. Hurricane Katrina Survivor Stories: Doctors of chiropractic affected by the hurricane can share their personal stories and photos with colleagues. The ACA encourages members and non-members to help those affected in any way they can. Please visit the ACA's Hurricane Katrina Action Center. ICA Hurricane Relief Efforts Continue in the Face of Urgent and Ongoing Needs Working through a growing circle of ICA volunteer members, affiliated chiropractic college presidents and representatives, chiropractic state associations and relief organizations, ICA's Hurricane Relief Working Group has coordinated the activities of its membership, as well as those of hundreds of other volunteer doctors from across the nation in the hurricane relief effort. "Our top priority is to identify the most immediate needs and then seek practical solutions, using the resources and personal energies of the ICA community," says ICA President Dr. John K. Maltby. ICA has made contact with the lead relief agencies in the impacted states and is building productive cooperative relationships with a growing number of active doctors of chiropractic and state chiropractic associations in the storm-damaged regions. Through those links, ICA is seeking to channel the outpouring of offers of help coming into the ICA headquarters to the areas of most urgent need. How You Can Help In addition to helping organize the provision of emergency chiropractic care to the population of the devastated areas, and relief and security personnel, ICA's is placing a special emphasis on assisting the chiropractic profession and chiropractic families impacted by the disaster. "Based on detailed reports from our representatives in the storm-damaged states, it is clear that large numbers of chiropractic practices and chiropractic families have suffered devastating losses, with clinics, homes and personal possessions destroyed and the opportunity to resume practice anytime soon simply not a possibility," Dr. Maltby says. "ICA is asking doctors of chiropractic with employment offers, donations of equipment and other offers of assistance to our professional colleagues to contact ICA via e-mail at [email protected], and also to utilize the emergency action website of the Chiropractic Association of Louisiana as an additional means of direct communication with DCs in urgent need in that state, at http://www.3cdf.com/calinfo/ka-trinainfo.htm." ICA has also been in direct discussions with Kathy Chittom, Executive Director of the Chiropractic Association of Louisiana and has learned that this hard-pressed organization has now set up a direct relief fund for victims of the disaster in that state. ICA is urging all concerned individuals and organizations to include this fund in their giving. One-hundred percent of all tax-deductible donations will go directly to storm relief. You may send your donation to CAL Relief Fund, Chiropractic Association of Louisiana, 3070 Teddy Drive, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 The chiropractic community in Mississippi has also established a relief fund. Information on that effort can be obtained by contacting Dr. Vicki Webb via e-mail at [email protected]. ICA will immediately disseminate information and post updates on the activities of other state organizations as soon as they become available via the Association's website at www.chiropractic.org. US Government Health Professionals Volunteer Process The federal government, through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of The Surgeon General and the Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness, is seeking health professionals to volunteer to serve in the current emergency. The link to the government site through which doctors of chiropractic can apply for this status is listed below. You will note that there is currently no specific category for "Doctor of Chiropractic". ICA has contacted the agency as well as a number of senior Members of Congress requesting the immediate amendment of this site, as well as the government's volunteer protocols. to include "Doctor of Chiropractic" in this and in all future emergency calls for volunteers. ICA is urging all doctors of chiropractic in the United States to apply through this website using, for the time being, the "clinical physician" designation under the "DISCIPLINE" category, and listing "doctor of chiropractic" under the "specialty" category. ICA believes that it would be a strong message to federal officials to see a massive outpouring of the chiropractic profession's willingness to serve in this disaster, and would significantly strengthen ICA's campaign to secure parity status for the chiropractic profession in this process. To register for this important federal volunteer database, go to https://volunteer. ccrf.hhs.gov/. ICA is deeply grateful for the massive outpouring of offers of assistance and support it has received, and has also been asked to forward a message of thanks from Kathy Chittom and the Chiropractic Association of Louisiana for the nationwide response to their urgent needs. ICA will continue to serve and assist in every possible way, and looks forward to a growing nationwide mobilization of the chiropractic profession in this difficult time. Chiropractic Rehab Unit Zonsite, in partnership with One Health, is operating a Chiro Rehab Unit in support of the medical command center at the Dallas Convention Center. This effort is to support victims and emergency service workers. The hours are from 8 am to 8 pm, 7 days a week. Zonsite has organized and mobilized more than 60 volunteer chiropractors. The Chiro Rehab Unit has become a combined effort of health care and emergency service personnel working together in an unprecedented effort at The Medical Command Center of Dallas (MCC). One Health doctors have been assigned the responsibility of supporting the healthcare personnel of doctors, emergency service workers and commanders of the MCC, in many cases seeing many emergency service workers from 8 pm to 11 pm each night. This effort will be ongoing for a minimum time frame of three weeks, possibly up to six weeks. One Health is also looking for doctors to help in Houston, Lubbock, and San Antonio. Volunteers: The Chiropractic Rehab Unit is still requesting continued sup- port from the chiropractic community by volunteering time. We are scheduling doctors and chiropractic assistants in 2,3, or 4-hour increments (more if you want) for one or more days over the next three weeks, for now. In addition, it is asking local Dallas/Ft. Worth-based chiropractors to provide housing to chiropractors that arc volunteering from out of town. According to Dr. Rebecca Burton, of One Health, "the initial response for volunteers has been amazing, but we still need to have chiropractors volunteer to help in the coming weeks." To volunteer your time, call Zonsite's Call Center at 866-966-2778, email your availability to [email protected], or go online at www.zonsite.com then click on Katrina Relief. Suppliers: According to Dr. Daniel Gonzalez, President of Zonsitc, "The Chiropractic Rehab Unit is in desperate need of Flexion-Distraction and Ergobasic Stationary tables (we arc currently using portable tables), supplements (individual daily packs preferred), meal replacements, cervical, lumbar, and knee supports, heating pads, a hydrocolatcr, reusable ice packs, and kinesis tape. In addition, ultrasound or either Erchonia or Micro-light Laser, 2-channel musclc-stim, and TENS units are in demand. We foresee a fully functional chiropractic rehab unit needed for at least two months. Please contact us one of the following ways: by phone at 866-966-2778, email at [email protected], or go online and visit www.zonsite.com then click on Katrina Relief for a complete list of items needed." Donations: You can make a donation to support acquiring products and supplies for the Katrina Relief at www. zonsite.com. EZS Dr. Daniel Gonzalez, D.C. (President, Zonsite L.L.C.) Adjusting a National Guard Member
