Expanding Whole Community Practice Opportunities Through Occupational Medicine Services

The chiropractic profession stands at a pivotal moment of opportunity—one that aligns with the evolving needs of today’s workforce and the broader healthcare system. As the demand for prevention-focused occupational medicine services continues to rise, chiropractors are uniquely positioned to meet this need. Conservative, non-invasive approaches to treating work-related injuries are not only increasingly accepted but actively sought out by employers, insurers, and employees alike. This shift creates a strategic opening for chiropractors to not only expand the breadth of their current patient base but also their impact beyond traditional musculoskeletal care.

By incorporating occupational medicine services—such as injury treatment, return-to-work evaluations, ergonomic assessments, DOT examinations, and functional capacity evaluations—chiropractors can significantly broaden their clinical offerings. This integration not only diversifies revenue streams and strengthens practice sustainability but also improves patient outcomes through a holistic and preventive care model. Moreover, chiropractors engaged in occupational health contribute valuable expertise to interdisciplinary care teams, enhancing their professional visibility and relevance.

For chiropractic leadership, the implications are even broader. Embracing occupational medicine as a strategic initiative can drive substantial growth across the profession. It positions chiropractic care as essential to workplace safety, injury prevention, and employee wellness—areas of increasing priority for employers and policymakers. Leadership that advocates for and supports the integration of these services can influence public health policy, employer health strategies, and healthcare reimbursement models, thereby amplifying chiropractic’s voice and role in shaping the future of healthcare.

In summary, occupational medicine is not just a clinical opportunity, it is a vehicle for advancing the chiropractic profession and virtually all of its specialty subsets on multiple fronts. By championing this integration, chiropractic leaders can ensure the profession remains responsive to modern healthcare demands while reinforcing its place as a vital component of workforce health and well-being.

Learning Objectives:

• Objective 1: Define occupational medicine and its relevance to chiropractic practice.

• Objective 2: Identify the core competencies chiropractors bring to these settings.

• Objective 3: Evaluate potential integration pathways for occupational medicine into chiropractic services.

• Objective 4: Recognize current market demands and workforce gaps that chiropractic can fill.

• Objective 5: Formulate strategic plans to support chiropractic inclusion in occupational medicine roles at local, state, and national levels.

Hourly Breakdown:

• Introduction (Welcome, overview of profession's evolution, importance of diversification and growth) 5 minutes

• Defining Occupational Medicine (Core services, key players) 10 minutes

• The Strategic Fit: Why Chiropractors Are Ideal For Occupational Health Roles (Natural conservative options, cost-effective) 10 minutes

• Opportunities For Integration (TPA, DOT, insurers, case examples) 15 minutes

• Market Demand and Workforce Needs (shortage of providers, increased demand, regulation) 10minutes

• Implementation Pathways (Education and credentialing, legal compliance) 5 minutes

• Summary and Call to Action (Recap, leadership support, professional development) 5 minutes

This course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming. 

This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas. 

View a list of accepted and approved states. 

PACE ID: ON121265