• Green BN
• Gilford SR
• Beacham RF

• Affiliation / National University of Health Sciences
• Affiliation / Stanford Health Care. Employer Based Integrated Primary Care Health Centers
• Affiliation(G) / United States / California / Carmel
• Affiliation(G) / United States / California / San Diego
• Affiliation(G) / United States / Illinois / Lombard
• Chiropractic / history
• Chiropractic / history / United States
• Chiropractic / organization and administration
• Hospitals, Military
• Military Chiropractic / history
• Military Chiropractic / United States
• Military Health Services
• Open Access Document

Objective: The purpose of this report is to record noteworthy events that occurred during the early years of chiropractic in the United States Military Health System (MHS).

Methods: We used mixed methods to create this historical account, including documents, artifacts, research papers, and reports from personal experiences.

Results: Chiropractic care was first included in the MHS in 1995, after years of legislative activity. The initial program was a 3-year study of the feasibility and advisability of integrating chiropractic in the MHS. This period was called the Chiropractic Health Care Demonstration Project; 20 pioneering chiropractors began their MHS journeys at 10 military bases in fiscal year 1995. The Demonstration Project was extended for 2 more years to gather research data, and 3 additional military facilities were added during those years to accomplish that purpose. The Demonstration Project concluded in 1999. In 2000, Congress approved the development of permanent chiropractic services and benefits for members of the uniformed services. These new clinics opened in 2002.

Conclusion: This is the first article to chronicle the history of chiropractic in the MHS, and highlights some of the important events in the early years of chiropractors working within the MHS. Because of the efforts of the early MHS chiropractors to pave the way for a permanent chiropractic benefit for the deserving members of the United States uniformed services, chiropractic care is now offered at more than 60 United States military facilities.

Author keywords: Chiropractic; Military Health Services; History; Hospitals, Military

Author affiliations: BNG: Employer Based Integrated Primary Care Health Centers, Stanford Health Care, San Diego, California, United States; BNG: National University of Health Sciences, Lombard, Illinois; SRG: San Diego, California, United States; RFB: Carmel, California, United States

This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher. Click on the above link for free full text. PubMed Record