By Robert Braile, D.C.

For the past several years a situation has occurred in our profession that some may see as a good thing, but, in reality, could signal the beginning of the end for chiropractic. Over the last several years, more of our doctors have been either leaving chiropractic by retirement or death than have been entering our chiropractic schools. In short, our numbers are shrinking.

Those of short sightedness are probably applauding these events, as they believe that there are too many chiropractors. They believe that a reduction in the number of DCs means more business for them. This selfish view not only is incorrect, as it will not increase their business, but if left unchecked, spells doom for the unique offering chiropractic brings to humanity.

There are two factors that are currently causing this shrinking of our profession. One is economical, and one is entirely of our design. In both of these cases we, as a profession, have been taking the wrong steps to reverse this trend.

From an economical standpoint, becoming a doctor of chiropractic was always seen as a good financial decision as a career. Although we like to think that most of our students got into chiropractic school because they wanted to be a part of our profession, we must realize that a large number of them would probably not have chosen chiropractic school if they did not also anticipate the potential for a financially rewarding life.

With this in mind, the last decade brought a new financial competitor to healthcare. Computers, and the Internet have spawned an entire industry of high-paid positions that can be accessed with just 4 years of college. In many cases these careers hold the promise of financial rewards much higher than are available in chiropractic. Whether true or not, the perception of easy money has lured many away from a career in healthcare and away from chiropractic.

We must also look at our schools as part of this problem. Almost every school is down in enrollment. Many schools are financially on the brink of major crisis. As much as they would like to increase the enrollment, they have themselves contributed to the very problem that they are experiencing.

The cost of chiropractic education is very high. Most students come out of chiropractic school with over $125K in debt. This is a staggeringly high figure considering the amount of money computer students spend to go to school for the return they expect to get after just 4 years. How many potential chiropractic students do you think decided to go into commuters instead when looking at he potential educational debt issue?

Now, we must realize that the schools are not the biggest culprits in this situation. State boards and the CCE accrediting agency should take the lion share for our professions present downturn. These groups have been increasing the “pre-chiropractic” entrance requirements. This increase has come in a total void of any evidence to show that an increase in pre-chiropractic education produces a better doctor. If we wish to say that we are a “scientific profession”, or utilize “evidence based” thinking, where is the proof that increasing pre-chiropractic college requirements has ever produced a better or safer doctor? It simply does not exist.

Increasing requirements does nothing except to increase educational debt for the student while placating the inferiority complexes of those who are pushing for more education before they can join the ranks of those of us who had less pre-chiropractic education before them. The mentality of “last one in close the door behind them” is a big factor in the current negative trend in our profession’s population.

So what is the solution? No, I do not believe you can now roll-back the increase in pre-chiropractic requirements. And, I do not believe you can decrease the cost of tuition. But a freeze in both would be nice. Our schools should consider a moratorium on increases in tuition.

Even more important is that our accrediting agencies and state boards should take a break at the ego boosting activities of making it harder to get into chiropractic school. Some of the best servants and doctors our profession has ever seen did not have degrees before they got into Chiropractic College.

Chiropractic care is not only needed now more than ever, but is still underrepresented right here in the United States. Only about 11 percent of the population in this country has been to chiropractors. We certainly are not reaching the masses. Cutting our numbers will only serve to decrease the impact chiropractic has on the general public and create a situation where less people are using our services. Once this trend begins, we will have seen the possible beginning of the end of chiropractic.

In nature, a species whose numbers are in decline is considered endangered. If this condition continues, they become extinct. In order to avoid suffering this fate, chiropractic must continue to grow.