The Texas Chiropractic Association (TCA) is pleased to announce that Gov. Greg Abbott has signed a declaration proclaiming October 2016 as Chiropractic Health Month. "In this day and age, it is easy to overlook the crucial value of personal health. Having a healthy and wholesome lifestyle can get lost in the shuffle of our everyday challenges, even though it is the binding agent of a long and happy life," said Gov. Abbott in the proclamation. "Therefore, we, as Texans, must remember the importance of maintaining personal health. Thankfully, Texas chiropractors are dedicated to doing just that."

There are many things that happen each day; if you get caught up in talking about the things you don’t love, every one of those little things bring difficulty and struggle to your life. Talk about what you love, to bring what you love to you.

The Texas Chiropractic Association is thrilled to announce that Andrea Howard has joined TCA as our new Manager, Membership & Marketing. Her main duties will be to head up TCA’s membership efforts, in addition to coordinating the association’s marketing and communications initiatives.

Back by popular demand, renowned speaker Mitch Mally, DC, is returning to Texas for a one-day seminar brought to you by TCA and Financially Fit. Neurosurgeon Reveals: Leg Length Inequality, the Cause of LBP, Hip and Knee Disorders, Saturday, Nov. 5, in Austin.

The Texas Chiropractic Association is offering you a unique opportunity to members this month. TCA recently negotiated an affiliate agreement with attorney Keith Pendleton. Take advantage of HUGE DISCOUNTS on key injury training and support services — savings available only for the next week.

Superior Quality & Unrivaled Service You Can Depend On!

Our Affinity Partner, The Office Depot, offers TCA members significant group discounts on office supplies and other products used day to day in your practice. October specials include dry-erase board essentials, storage solutions, and a desktop reference system. For more details and to see the rest of the specials, visit  tca.savingcenter.net.

The Parker Experience is celebrating 65 years of excellence in chiropractic seminars, and we couldn’t think of a better way to do that than with you. We’re not only coming home, but we’re offering great celebration pricing.

The maternal mortality rate in Texas doubled from 2010 to 2014. Texas has some of the best medical care facilities in the world, but a study in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical Journal singles out Texas for concern because its maternal mortality rate has doubled.

OCTOBER CALENDAR

H.R. 921, the Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act. The bill, passed unanimously by the House, ensures that sports medicine professionals are properly covered by their malpractice insurance while traveling with athletic teams to another state.

The Coast Guard requested from its medical advisory committee a recommendation regarding DCs performing the merchant mariner exam. The panel held a public meeting and, regardless of the positive statements of support from the Coast Guard, voted unanimously to recommend that DCs not be included. Coast Guard higher-ups witnessed a good representation of panel biases. But all is not lost.

The FDA has approved the ImPACT software and medical app, designed to help clinicians test cognitive skills after a head injury.

The CMS announced it will allow providers to choose the level and pace at which they comply with the new payment reform model aimed at emphasizing quality patient care over volume.

Next year, eligible physicians and other clinicians will be given four options to comply with new payment schemes, such as the Merit-based Incentive Payment System.

Researchers have found that five percent of Americans aged 18 years and older suffer three or more chronic illnesses in addition to having a functional impairment.

Health insurance is not healthcare. Insurers are simply middlemen. It is not clear that the value added by the industry is worth the cost, estimated at $350 billion. Supporters have ideas that would increase the cost of policies and/or reduce their value.

More than 30 million child visits to doctors of chiropractic occur in the United States every year. Chiropractic students undertake extensive theoretical and practical training at the university level, including study of and experience with the pediatric population. DCs are trained to perform a thorough history and examination to determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate and identify a suitable technique. Health professionals of all types face the same considerations when determining age appropriate treatment. This review found that technique selection and its application by chiropractors are typically modified in force and speed to suit the age and development of the child.

Pediatric DCs appear to have more positive patient safety attitudes and opinions.

TCA Silver Sponsor ChiroMatrix is hosting a FREE webinar, Back to Business Checklist: 5 Tips for Your Fall Website Tuneup, at 1 p.m. CT Thursday, Oct. 20. In just 30 minutes, ChiroMatrix will share valuable marketing tips to overhaul your website and teach you about Google's latest search algorithms, how to maximize your pay-per-click campaigns, contest strategies and more.

Social media allows businesses of all types to connect, engage and establish trust with current and prospective clients, increase brand awareness, website traffic and, ultimately, increase sales. But first impressions last forever.