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A Revolution in Illinois

© Adelle Vancil Tilton

In Highland Park, Illinois, a change is beginning; An experiment that may or may not change the face of primary health care across the United States. HMO Illinois, an HMO run by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, has contracted with Alternative Medicine, Inc., a clinic that calls Highland Park home. This clinic is in itself a revolutionary approach to medical care as it combines the alternative medical approach with the traditional medical approach. Integrated Medicine is what AMI has to offer. The interesting part is that through the agreement with HMO Illinois, for the first time in American history, a patient is allowed to choose a Chiropractor as a Primary Care Physician.

As the years have gone by, more and more Americans are demanding alternative approaches to their medical care. Battles with their insurance companies have ensued, usually proving fruitless, but none-the-less, the demand continues. According to the Richard Sarnat, MD., who co-authored Physician Heal Thyself -- What Every Practitioner Should Know About Alternative Medicine with James Zechman, the Director of AMI, "Every year, the American Medical Association puts out a list of their top 100 focus issues. Two years ago, alternative medicine was No. 64. Last year, it jumped all the way to No. 3." Clearly the patient population of this country wants something more, something different, and AMI is attempting to meet this challenge.

It is interesting to compare the qualifications of the chiropractic physicians and the traditional "gatekeeper" of traditional medicine, the family practice physician. The National College of Chiropractic is one of the leading educational institutions for chiropractic medicine. They require a minimum of a B.A. or B.S. with a C average (with other bachelor degrees they require a B average). Then after application and acceptance, it is five academic years of training before the initials D.C. can be attached to a person's name. Family practice medicine is traditionally the bachelor's degree in pre-med with a C average (B average depending on the university), then four to six years of medical school. The residency requirements are nearly identical, three years for the chiropractic physician. It would seem that the difference may be what these students are studying. And the difference is integrative medicine.

Alternative Medicine, Inc., is definitely an experiment for American medicine and for American insurance companies. There are many pros and cons either way, but it remains, as a bottom line, that the patient needs to be able to choose the path of their medical care. It would seem a basic patient right. It would also seem that this emphasizes the enormous problem facing the traditional medical profession. Why are patients wanting alternatives? Why do they feel that the doctor is not listening to them and meeting the needs they have.

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