Should physician social networks include chiropractors? I don’t think so.
My human signal likely wouldn’t benefit from a chiropractor’s input. Similarly, I’m not sure that a chiropractor would benefit tremendously from the input of allopaths and osteopaths. This isn’t a judgment about any chiropractor’s value, it’s just that our worlds are too divergent. To suggest that ‘we all just need to get along‘ is missing the point. Complementary physical care has its place. But a great community is about people who have the capacity to make one another stronger through cooperative relationships.
I suspect that the chiropractors have the numbers to support a tidy little vertical of their own. There’s a big opportunity for someone so inclined.
Would I willingly participate in a network that connects MDs and chiropractors? I would if the network proved valuable. And that can be a challenge independent of who you invite. Sermo, for the record, excludes chiropractors from membership.
Nicholas Christakis in Connected suggests that all of this should evolve on its own, independent of what any of us individually believe.
We do not cooperate with one another because a state or a central authority forces us to. Instead, our ability to get along emerges spontaneously from the decentralized actions of people who form groups with connected fates and a common purpose.
What do you think?
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Should physician social networks include chiropractors?
To answer that question, I’ll post one quote and a video from chiropractors:
In the video Are Chiropractors Qualified To Speak Out On Vaccination? an Iowa chiropractor claims that the education chiropractors receive is “virtually identical” to MDs in microbiology, immunology, public health, …. you should watch it.
Now, Liz. That’s intellectually dishonest. The Iowa chiropractor has as much authority to speak for the chiropractic profession as you have to speak for womankind. Those statements are an odd mixture of historical theory and the bizarre. They are contrary to the position of the the American Chiropractic Association and are not representative of the majority of DCs. They have nothing to do with the chiropractors practicing in VA, DOD, and private hospitals across the united states.
Your conclusion from this anecdote should be that not every chiropractor is good. You would be very right.
Bryan,
Well said.
In short, I agree.
Let’s move on.
Greg
Great post, although I would caution against using the term “allopath” to describe physicians. I understand that you are trying to differentiate MDs from DOs, but “allopathy” has been used by “homeopaths” and “naturopaths” to describe physicians who base their care on science.
BTW, I would throw homeopaths and naturopaths in the same bin as chiropractors…
I’m not surprised that you note the chiropractor’s and your worlds are too divergent. Ped GI patients don’t need complimentary physical care. As a chiropractor, I don’t have anything to add to the care of your patient.
I’m still getting a feel for social media, but it seems to me like a cocktail reception, free flowing and organic, as Christakis describes. As such, I have a lot to discuss with those in my “world”: the PCP, the PT, the athletic trainer, the neurosurgeon, neurologist, physiatrist, orthopedist, FNP, and others more interested in the evidence-based care of MSK suffers than the provider type of the person with whom they are talking.
BTW- Great blog. Thanks for letting a chiropractor comment. : )
I agree, as a DC, I would only be interested in a group where I could contribute something positive to the health care community.
As far as worlds, paradigms and points of view being too divergent; I think some would be surprised at how many of us are really focused on patient care and are outcome-based. I think that could be a common thread. There are always going to be fringe docs who make a lot of noise but a community with similarly-thinking providers wouldn’t be bad…. Would it?
I agree. It has been my experience that pediatric gastroenterologists don’t have much to contribute to a health promoting healthcare system. They completely miss the boat on diet and nutrition. I wouldn’t want myself or my daughter to be part of their system.
Well put Chris. The allopathic model has very little to offer in “treating the cause”, especially in pediatric gastro cases.
I encouraged discussion in regard to, “Who Is A Healthcare Professional?” after recently opening an account with Doximity and being denied privileged communication as a Mental Health Clinician. Let’s examine the purpose of a networks creation, as defined by it’s creator, and participate in accordance. Though at same time, let’s challenge the idea of what a platform should be and who it should include when we feel a mission statement does not match inclusion policy. In the case of my experiences thus far with Doximity, this group has embarked on, “connecting the people that matter most – the professionals at the point of care”. I contend that by excluding mental health professionals working within clinical settings, we exclude a large number of people that are currently tying up physician phone and fax lines across the globe in attempts to relay results of psych assessments referred by the physician, attain lab results, etc. My point is not to make every individual in desire of contacting a physician through a dedicated social network to be able to do so. My point is to recognize those points of communication that most need attention in making a physicians work / life easier and make attempts to incorporate related communication tools at its inception, rather than creating a “niche” function outside of the primary privileged communication system available to physicians only within a platform. Thank you Bryan, for providing a great perspective on an extremely important topic in the healthcare / social media realm.