Traveling Chiropractors

While it is common to hear about massage therapists traveling to various locations to perform treatments, it may not be as well known that chiropractors can travel too.

Why Chiropractors Travel

There are many reasons for a chiropractor to travel. Many times, chiropractors who travel are doing so to support athletes at sporting events. There is another type of organization, Traveling Chiropractors International (TCI), which provides a temping service. TCI proposes that doctors can see more patients, and help them maintain health throughout the year, by using their service. When using TCI, Doctors of Chiropractic can have flexibility in their hours so that they can take time out for seminars, illness, or vacation, if needed. The DCs can continue to maintain their income and growth. The “service fee is tax deductible”. Patients can also access the doctors through an emergency hotline.¹ There are other chiropractors who travel, themselves, to patients’ locations in order to more easily serve them. The chiropractors who provide mobile service promote their ability to fit into a client’s schedule. Some of the patients served include athletes, “those with a desire to stay out of the public eye”, entertainers, or clients who have “demanding schedules”. The rehabilitation and chiropractic services are said to be a “one-on-one personalized experience”. Dr. Daniel Bruno, in San Diego, for example, travels to the patient’s home, business, job site, health studio, or athletic events.² Dr. Jeffrey Solomon has taken the traveling a step further: he has a “state-of-the-art, custom-designed recreational vehicle”. The RV is a complete, mobile, chiropractic office. It is equipped with X-ray machines, two adjusting tables, and even a reception area. In his “office”, Solomon can provide consultations, exams, adjustments, and therapy, such as myofascial release, flexion distraction, and active stretching. Like many other chiropractors, he can offer nutritional and lifestyle advice and “supportive healthcare products and supplies”. As a result of these innovations, the Florida Chiropractic Association named Solomon their Chiropractor of the Year.³

The Problems of Practicing Out-of-State

The American Chiropractic Association Sports Council (ACASC) has requested that more support be given to DCs who practice outside of their home state, such as those who serve athletes. Chiropractors need to be able to work across state lines. The heads of the ACA Sports Council, World Federation of Chiropractic, and International Federation of Sports Chiropractic hope that “standardized and open travel-to-treat legislation will…align (chiropractic) with other competing health care professions”. If chiropractors are given temporary licenses to treat patients in other states, they can work at specific events on specific days. Different states have different rules about allowing out-of-state chiropractors to practice. Florida, for example, has laws that allow “any health care providers” to practice in these situations, as long as they have an active license and “no current board issues”.⁴ One-third of the states still do not allow “travel to treat” for DCs licensed in other states. This could lead to legal issues, if chiropractors are not aware of the travel to treat laws. Travel to treat doesn’t just affect sports; it can affect the arts as well, such as Cirque du Soleil, or even disaster relief, where chiropractors can treat responders and victims. International travel is also important. Some countries do not categorize chiropractic as health care. In the case of the Olympics, fortunately, the Athletes’ Village is an independent area protected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Special exceptions have been offered during these sporting events.⁵