Parker Clinic Experience

VA Hospital Rotation Program

Dr. Moses Q&A

Q. Last year the program began with two interns. How many are there now and why was the decision made to increase intern presence?
A. The current Parker College VA Program began in October 2007 with two interns serving an eight-week rotation. This program worked well, however, it was determined that three interns would provide more efficient services due to the number of veterans in need. At present, the profile of three interns serving eight-week rotations is working well. 
 
Q. How does the VA internship program benefit the students? The college? The chiropractic profession? 
A. It is the design and intent of the academic affiliation between the North Texas Veterans Administration Health Care Center and Parker College of Chiropractic to expand the clinical portion of the intern’s educational experience through exposure to the diverse veteran patient population. By applying chiropractic principles in this multi-faceted health care facility, the interns acquire a greater understanding of both clinical practice and interdisciplinary relations. The chiropractic interns, in return, provide a much needed service to the veteran population through appropriate chiropractic care. 

The VA Internship meets Parker's goal of providing the chiropractic student intern with a unique educational experience designed to best prepare them for clinical practice within integrated healthcare settings such as community hospitals, VAMCs (Veteran Affairs Medical Centers) and MTF (Military Treatment Facilities).

Furthermore, by servicing in a hospital setting, an introduction is made into the medical community of the benefits of chiropractic services. Serving in this complimentary setting has a broad positive outcome, as many of the providers in the VA Hospital serve in both medical academic facilities and in private practices. Good patient outcome here provides an important example of how the combination of chiropractic and medical services can effectively serve patient needs.

Q. What is the intern’s role at the VA? Describe an average day.
A. The student intern has a full eight-hour day of providing services to veteran patients. The daily schedule allows the three interns to share in evaluations of four to six new patients, as well as 30 more follow-up patients. 

Q. How did Parker College and the VA create this partnership?
A. I was fortunate to be chosen in 2004 to initiate the Pilot Chiropractic Program at the North Texas VA Hospital. In the spring of 2005, I invited Dr. Ken Thomas to the hospital to evaluate the opportunity of an affiliation between Parker College of Chiropractic and the Dallas VA. After several years of due diligence between the VA and Parker College of Chiropractic, the program began in October 2007. Fortunately, I was chosen to serve as an adjunct professor for Parker and supervising chiropractor by the VA Hospital.

Q. Are any other schools participating in similar programs?
A. It is my understanding that many of the chiropractic colleges have affiliations with veteran hospitals and that the services are appreciated by veterans nationwide.

Q. How does this program support Parker College’s commitment to wellness?
A. By providing veterans services that decrease pain and improve functional outcome without drugs or surgery, the program supports Parker College's commitment to patient wellness.

Information on applying for the Parker College VA Hospital Rotation Program is available on MyParker (login required).