Yet the practical obstacles for obtaining on campus CA training has resulted in limiting the number of graduate students from these programs. The challenges we face in obtaining and providing appropriate training for the chiropractic allied health professional are not unique to our profession. A study of the training of allied health professionals for the other professions revealed some surprising information. Some of the allied health professions require very extensive formal education. Others are hired off the street and receive no formal education at all.
Phlebotomists are an example.
They are usually trained to conduct venapuncture on the job. Similarly, physical therapy aides in some states are hired off the street and receive on the job training, most often from the physical therapy assistant who is responsible to the physical therapists. The challenge was how to develop and provide a CA training program that included didactic education as well as clinical training, for the CA who works in the clinical side of the practice either solely, or as a part of total duties. Obviously the number of Maine residents who are able to leave the state, and enroll in CA programs at chiropractic colleges is extremely limited and does not come close to meeting the number of CAs needed to serve Maine's DCs. To continue to justify the public confidence and trust in the clinical staff, solutions were imperative.