We are proud to introduce to our readers a new columnist -- Dr. Brad McKechnie -- and his new column on neurology that makes its debut in this issue, and will be a regular feature in Dynamic Chiropractic.
Dr. McKechnie is currently the director of the Division of Postgraduate Studies at Texas Chiropractic College in Pasadena, Texas. He is also the president of the American Chiropractic Academy of Neurology (ACAN). This group is sanctioned by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) to award Diplomate status to chiropractors who have completed the 300-hour course in neurology offered by many colleges. At present, there are 11 Neurology Diplomates in the chiropractic profession.
Dr. McKechnie received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Alabama (Huntsville) in 1978. He graduated cum laude from Texas Chiropractic College (Pasadena) in 1985, where he was awarded his Doctor of Chiropractic.
His postgraduate education includes: a Meridian Therapy Certification from Texas Chiropractic College in 1985; and a Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Academy of Neurology awarded in 1989.
Since 1986 Dr. McKechnie has been an instructor at Texas Chiropractic College. He has taught courses in: clinical neurology; pediatric and geriatric diagnosis; palpation; adjusting; physical therapy; and case management.
He has appeared on TV and radio programs on behalf of Texas Chiropractic College and the Texas Chiropractic Association during "Spinal Awareness Month."
He has authored works for the Texas Chiropractic Association Journal and is the author of current Technique Department Curriculum adopted in 1986 by Texas Chiropractic College.
"DC" is looking forward to many interesting and informative articles from the pen of Dr. McKechnie. The following is a partial list of subjects that Dr. McKechnie has suggested as topics for his future articles: neurological symptoms of AIDS; headache diagnosis forum; clinical cases from the Texas Chiropractic College; protocols for the examination of the dizzy patient; neurological complications of rheumatoid arthritis; over-the-counter medications and the subluxation complex; and streamlining the neurological/orthopedic examination for efficient clinical practice.
"DC" feels fortunate to have Dr. McKechnie as a columnist, and we're sure you'll agree that he is a welcome addition.
Many relevant diagnostic signs are not performed deliberately by the examiner or by the patient at the examiner’s direction. They are observed as the patient reacts to their condition. Fortin’s finger sign, Minor’s sign, and Vanzetti’s sign are three examples of this principle.
Spearheaded by burgeoning scientific and clinical research literature, psychedelics have reached a level of media coverage and popular interest that has not been seen for over half a century. By “psychedelics,” we are referring to the unique class of substances that includes psilocybin (the active compound found in so-called “magic mushrooms”), LSD, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ayahuasca, 5-MeO-DMT, and mescaline – each of which occurs in the natural world (except for LSD, which is a semi-synthetic compound).
While working at the Lovelace Medical Center in Albuquerque, N.M., one of the primary care physicians stated that imaging every patient prior to receiving chiropractic was not medically necessary. It was at that point I reconsidered the need for the imaging of every patient to avoid malpractice.
