Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
at the Palmer Center
for Chiropractic Research

This section is compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
Send all comments or additions to:    Frankp@chiro.org

On Saturday August 10, 2002 Senator Tom Harkin (IA) joined Palmer President Guy Riekeman, President of the Board Vicky Palmer, Chancellor Mike Crawford, and Research Vice-President Bill Meeker, D.C. for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the newly renovated Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research. It is hoped that the Center will open for business on the Founder's Day on Sept 12,2002.

In attendance were other research luminaries, including Anthony Rosner, PhD of the FCER and John Triano, D.C. of the Texas Back Institute and several hundred chiropractors from around the country.

In October 2000, the Federal Government awarded the PCCR a facilities construction grant for the renovation of the present research facility in Davenport. The project will expand the existing facilities by approximately 60%. This will increase the laboratory and clinical research space, and also contribute to the functionality and productivity of the research programs in neurophysiology and anatomy, clinical biomechanics, clinical trials and epidemiology research.

The Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research was established in 1995 to combine the resources of Palmer College of Chiropractic and Palmer College of Chiropractic West. Research faculty and staff from both Palmer campuses work effectively together on common goals. The Center is now organized into six research programs and two offices for planning and administration:

The Chiropractic Technique and Technology Assessment program focuses on studies related to the validity and reliability of clinical diagnostic and outcome measurement procedures, especially as they relate to spinal problems and on the clinical utility of evolving technology. One of its major goals is to improve the quality of chiropractic care and provide data to support the development of chiropractic practice parameters.

The Clinical Trials and Outcomes Research program focuses on studies that evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of chiropractic care for specific health conditions, such as patients with chronic pelvic pain, hypertension, chronic neck pain, headache or low back pain.

The Consortial Center for Chiropractic Research (CCCR) program is supported by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health. Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research serves as headquarters for the consortium. In addition to Palmer College of Chiropractic, members are from six other chiropractic colleges, including National University of Health Sciences, New York Chiropractic College, Northwestern Health Sciences University, Southern California University of Health Sciences, Western States Chiropractic College, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College; five state-supported universities: Kansas State University, McMaster University, State University of New York, University of Iowa, and University of Calgary (Canada); and Beth Deaconess Medical Center. The mission of the CCCR includes providing clinical and technical assistance to chiropractic investigators, aiding in the development of research projects, and building an infrastructure to support chiropractic research.

The Educational Research program focuses on studies geared to evaluate and improve the quality of chiropractic education. Such studies pertain to chiropractic colleges, faculty, and students, and can impact scholarly activity and academic policies and procedures.

The Experimental Biomechanics and Neurosciences Research program is geared toward basic science-oriented studies relevant to chiropractic theory and practice, especially subluxation and the chiropractic adjustment. Studies in this program attempt to model and test hypotheses with respect to the biomechanical and neurological mechanisms underlying chiropractic concepts and procedures, its research relying heavily on sophisticated technological instrumentation and laboratory controls.

The Health Services and Policy Research (HSPRP) program concentrates on studies of high priority health policy issues involving utilization, cost, quality and access as it relates to chiropractic health care delivery. HSPRP examines the impact of chiropractic in various health delivery systems including its role in the evolving managed care industry, in patient satisfaction and in cost-effectiveness evaluation. Projects currently underway and in development are supported by Palmer College of Chiropractic and the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research.

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Since 8-12-2002