American Specialty Health Complementary Health Care Providers Discuss Risk Management and Other Topics at 6th Annual Conference on Clinical Quality.SAN DIEGO -- More than 75 clinicians and health professionals from 21 states gathered in San Diego for the sixth annual Conference on Clinical Quality, hosted by American Specialty Health, the nation's leading complementary health care organization. Consultants represented the specialties of chiropractic chiropractic (kīrəprăk`tĭk) [Gr.,=doing by hand], medical practice based on the theory that all disease results from a disruption of the functions of the nerves. , acupuncture, dietetics dietetics /di·e·tet·ics/ (-iks) the science of diet and nutrition. di·e·tet·ics n. The branch of therapeutics concerned with the practical application of diet in relation to health and disease. , massage therapy Massage Therapy Definition Massage therapy is the scientific manipulation of the soft tissues of the body for the purpose of normalizing those tissues and consists of manual techniques that include applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, and/or , and naturopathy naturopathy /na·tur·op·a·thy/ (na?cher-op´ah-the) a drugless system of health care, using a wide variety of therapies, including hydrotherapy, heat, massage, and herbal medicine, whose purpose is to treat the whole person to stimulate at the conference, which covered issues of importance to complementary health care providers, and what ASH is currently doing to support its provider networks. Presenters included George DeVries, chairman and president of ASH, and Douglas Metz, DC, ASH's Chief Medical Officer, who provided details about the company's 2004 Member Satisfaction Survey. Attendees also heard presentations about the HealthyBacks 2020 initiative. Dean Morris, Director of Technical Affairs for dietary supplement manufacturer Nature's Way, presented on utilization and risk management associated with the use of herbs and other botanical products. Other presentations included panel discussions on risk management, featuring Stephen Perle, DC, of the Bridgeport College of Chiropractic; chiropractor Michael J. Stahl; and Marilyn Allen of the American Acupuncture Council. Highlights of the conference included focus groups which centered on providers' use of ASH Link, ASH's interactive provider Web site, and ASH's 2004 Provider Satisfaction Survey. In each focus group, participants identified the five most important issues facing providers, and examined possible solutions. After the conference, 21 of the participating attendees, who are also members of ASH's Technical Assessment and Clinical Consensus Committee, met to discuss and deliberate various techniques and procedures. National and state professional associations provided representatives to participate in a forum on issues related to techniques, procedures, and other issues related to their individual specialties, including representatives from Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, National College of Naturopathic Medicine Naturopathic Medicine Definition Naturopathic medicine is a branch of medicine in which a variety of natural medicines and treatments are used to heal illness. , the American Dietetic Association The American Dietetic Association (ADA) is the United States' largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, with nearly 65,000 members. Approximately 75 % of ADA's members are registered dietitians and about 4 % are dietetic technicians, registered. , the New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of State Chiropractic Association, and the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, n.pr an organization founded in 1985 that serves as the professional society representing naturopathic practitioners. . ASH is the nation's largest organization for complementary health care benefit, health education, and wellness programs, measured in terms of annual revenues, members/insured, employees, and contracted health plans. Its affiliate, American Specialty Health Plans of California (ASH Plans), is the state's first and largest specialized health plan for chiropractic and acupuncture benefit programs, providing programs to full-service health plans and employer groups. ASH administers benefit programs for over 12 million members and affinity discount programs for over 75 million members. For more information about ASH, visit ASHCompanies.com. |
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