Through the Associate of Science in
Chiropractic Technology (A.S.C.T.) degree
program, Palmer College of Chiropractic,
which has offered chiropractic staff training
since 1966, has qualified as a PACErecognized
provider for the Certified
Chiropractic Clinical Assistant (CCCA)
certification offered by the Federation of
Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB).
Those students who complete the
A.S.C.T. program are considered to have
met the required education and internship
components for CCCA certification,
should they decide to obtain this additional
credential, and are eligible to sit for
the exam with proof of completion of
their A.S.C.T .degree. (See www.fclb.org
for exam details.)
"Regulatory requirements for training in
allied health are changing to meet new
demands in an ever-changing health
care environment," says Palmer's Vice
Chancellor for Academics Robert
Percuoco, D.C. (Davenport '83), "Palmer's
A.S.C.T. degree program provides graduates
with unique chiropractic supportive
training to meet such requirements."
While X-ray training and certification is
required by virtually all states, the majority
still do not have specific training
requirements for staff performing other
billable services involving patient contact.
The FCLB, which deals with maintaining
uniform standards in areas related to
chiropractic licensure, regulation and
education, has developed this national
clinical chiropractic staff certification to
offer continuity from state to state. One
motivation to establish a more uniform
standard is in reaction to insurance
companies' accreditors who are, in many
cases, requiring that those performing
billable procedures, such as physiotherapy,
be credentialed. States will make
individual determinations regarding
acceptance of the FCLB's standard.
The CCCA certification was developed to
provide staff training for basic clinical
procedures other than radiography.
Palmer's A.S.C.T. program, however, is a
comprehensive associate's degree program
offering hands-on training in physiotherapy,
patient history-taking, recordkeeping
and performance of physical, orthopedic
and neurological exams. In addition, it
prepares students to take X-rays, preparing
them for the ACRRT certification
exam or other state-based radiography
exams. Students also are provided with
the business management skills needed in
a chiropractic office such as insurance
billing and coding, bookkeeping, office
management, chiropractic philosophy,
ethics, communication and more.
Doctors with clinically-trained staff are
more productive. Such formal training
also helps to address the issue of vicarious
liability: doctors' liability for actions
of staff. For additional information about
the A.S.C.T. program, contact Lisa Gisel
at (563) 884-5743, lisa.gisel@palmer.edu,
or go to ASCT Program.