The CTA Experience: Standards Advancing a Profession

The Need for Standardization

Re-active vs. Pro-active

• Our experience – BC/BS Policy Change

• Some steps are the same

• Pro-active – determine own timelines, etc.

Building the Case for Standardization

Strategy to Delay Payer and Assess Needs of the Profession

• Research available CA training resources

• Survey physicians and staff as to current training methods

• Survey patients - perception

Choice to Ensure Chiropractic Guides Chiropractic

Taking the Legislative Course

SAMPLE LEGISLATIONSOURCE: Tennessee Code/TITLE 63 PROFESSIONS OF THE HEALING ARTS/CHAPTER 4 CHIROPRACTORS

63-4-123. Minimum educational standards and criteria.

a) (1) The board shall adopt rules and regulations that shall establish minimum educational standards and criteria for persons performing physical agent modalities and physical treatment in a chiropractic physician's office.(2) These regulations shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for grandfathering, waiver, reciprocity, renewal, continuing education, fees, examination and hardship cases.

(b) No person shall perform therapeutic procedures in a chiropractic physician's office who does not meet these standards and who has not received a certificate of proficiency from the board.

[Acts 1999, ch. 306, § 1.]

Board of Chiropractic Examiners Rules and Regulations

General Rules Governing Chiropractic Therapy Assistants (key sections):A person must comply with the following procedures and requirements prior to submitting an application:

• be at least eighteen (18) years of age;

• be of good moral character;

• and be a high school graduate or equivalent.

Also requires that individuals seeking licensure as a CTA complete three key components of education. These three components in order of required completion are:

• CTA 50 Hour Distance Learning Program

• CTA State Examination

• CTA 1200 Hour Clinical Internship

Post-Course Completion Hours –

• Six (6) hours of continuing education (CE) credits each calendar year for all licensed CTAs (not in the year they are licensed)

• One-time, two (2) hour course covering sexual boundaries, risk management, and jurisprudence is mandated in addition to the six hours of CE the first year that continuing education is required.

Standardization in CA TrainingBe Proactive - Things to Consider

Commitment from the profession• Dedicated Staff to Oversee• Start up cost• Committee to Create/Update• Exam Proctors and Testing Locations• Speakers for Continuing Education

Distance Learning Issues• Licensed to Individuals, Not Clinic• Affidavit Policy • Transfer Policy

CTA Program Curriculum

• The Professional CTA

• Principles of Chiropractic

Healthcare

• Terminology for Healthcare

Professionals

• Documentation &

Recordkeeping

• Common Duties of the CTA

• Anatomy & Physiology

• Treatment Principles and

Procedures

• Spinal Rehabilitation

Fundamentals

• Professional Boundaries and

Ethics

• Emergency Procedures

CTA 50 Hour Distance Learning Program

• Textbook

• Practical Workbook

• Video Component

• Affidavit of Completion documentation

• Completion Exam and Certificate

Making It Work in

Your State……

• Licensing Verification

• Insurance Claim Denials

• Practicing Without a License

– Affects Doctor and CTA

Standardization in CA TrainingBe Proactive - Things to Consider

Licensing Matters

Standardization in CA TrainingBe Proactive - Benefits to Profession

• Parity of training, applicable in all chiropractic practices

• Pool of licensed professionals with potential for reciprocity among states

• Annual CE keeping CTAs current with the latest research and technology

• Knowledgeable patient education leading to increased retention

• Higher level of professional CTAs = increased quality to patient care

The CTA Experience: Standards Advancing a Profession