What Does a Chiropractic Diagnosis and Management of Internal Disorders (DABCI) Specialist Do?

A chiropractor who is designated as a Diplomat of the American Board of Chiropractic Internists (DABCI Specialist) has had significant postgraduate training as a primary care physician.  With more people becoming aware of the negative side-effects of pharmaceuticals, there is an increasing call for primary care physicians trained in natural, holistic forms of treatment. And chiropractors are ideally placed to provide this type of treatment. They believe that proper musculoskeletal alignment coupled with regular exercise, good nutrition and the use of natural therapeutics can heal a great number of ailments that are conventionally being treated with drugs.

A DABCI specialist is trained in modern medical diagnosis, including the use and interpretation of such diagnostic imaging tools as x-rays, CT scans and MRIs. He or she can also order electrocardiograms, urinalyses, blood laboratory studies, IgG food allergy testing, DEXA bone density testing, vascular doppler ultrasound, spirometry, salivary assay hormonal and neurotransmitter tests, and comprehensive gastrointestinal stool analyses, among other diagnostic tools.

Many ailments benefit from a conservative, non-invasive approach, and DACBI specialists are well trained to employ these methods for the benefit of their patients. Some of the natural therapeutics involved include advice on proper nutrition, vitamin and mineral supplements and exercise. A DABCI specialist may also use homeopathy, herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacologic counseling and natural hormone replacement in the course of his or her practice.

The American Board of Chiropractic Internists (ABCI) works under the auspices of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and their Council on Diagnosis and Internal Disorders (CDID), which was established in 1985. The ABCI is responsible for the certification of chiropractors in the diagnosis and management of internal disorders. A Doctor of Chiropractic must complete at least 300 hours of postgraduate training and pass the national certification exam in order to receive DABCI designation. DABCI specialists must also complete at least 12 hours of continuing education in advanced coursework every year in order to retain their DABCI certification. The DABCI course consists of 26 different sessions concerning issues including cardiovascular disease, gynecology, blood analysis, geriatrics, toxicology, gastrointestinal disorders, chronic and malignant diseases, and more.

With the current shortage of primary care physicians and the new rules being implemented by the Affordable Care Act, DABCI specialists are likely to become even more important in the primary healthcare mix. Having a chiropractor with a DABCI diplomate can help to ensure you are being treated in as holistic a manner as possible, in a way that will have the fewest side-effects.