The Michigan Association of Chiropractors (MAC) is proud to share a milestone moment for chiropractic in Michigan and a powerful opportunity to demonstrate what our profession does best.
After a year of collaboration between the MAC and the Michigan Association of Ambulance Services (MAAS), the Michigan Chiropractic Foundation (MCF) has officially approved funding for an EMS Chiropractic Care Pilot Program in partnership with Tri-Hospital EMS, the largest ambulance provider in St. Clair County. Tri-Hospital EMS provides service to more than 160,000 individuals and responds to more than 23,000 runs each year.
Once this innovative, first-of-its-kind project is complete, the MAC, MCF, and MAAS believe that the successful program can be successfully repeated, serving first responders across not just the state of Michigan, but eventually nationwide.
Following the recent MCF supportive vote for this project, Dr. Don Reno, Program Implementer of the MAAS pilot, declared “I am proud to be partnering with MCF and MAC to further our mission through this valuable project. Our first responders are true heroes who put their lives on the line every day. Supporting these heroes by providing critically needed chiropractic care can improve overall wellness and even save lives!”
The pilot project is designed to bring early, barrier-free conservative chiropractic care to EMS professionals, a workforce with some of the highest rates of musculoskeletal strain and injury. Research shows that EMS professionals have higher rates of work-related injuries than the general workforce and three times the lost workday rate of all private-industry workers. This critical pilot project will ensure that these essential workers suffering from musculoskeletal ailments can access chiropractic care early, before small issues become catastrophic injuries that remove them from the EMS workforce.
What This Means in Plain Terms
EMS providers work in physically demanding environments where repetitive strain, lifting injuries, and cumulative stress are common. This is not a marketing campaign. The Pilot Project is about:
- Access to timely, conservative care
- Prevention over reaction
- Risk reduction before major claims occur
- Workforce health and sustainability
Funding from the Michigan Chiropractic Foundation will allow us to:
- Deploy a mobile Discovery x-ray unit for on-site diagnostics
- Deliver near-site chiropractic care within defined visit limits
- Track participation, engagement, and measurable outcomes
- Build a scalable model for expansion in 2027 and beyond
AlignWell: A Strategic Partnership to Expand the Pilot Program’s Impact
To support member participation and long-term scalability of the Pilot Project, the MAC has also partnered with AlignWell, a company focused on engaging employees in proactive musculoskeletal and health management. AlignWell builds trust-based relationships that position providers as health mentors and accountability partners. Their model emphasizes:
- Improved employee quality of life
- Symptom reduction and injury prevention
- Lower musculoskeletal claim costs
- Reduced turnover
- Stronger workforce engagement
For chiropractic providers, this partnership opens doors to new populations while reinforcing our profession’s strength in conservative care delivery.
Why This Matters for Chiropractic
We are confident that this initiative firmly positions chiropractic at the forefront of occupational health, workforce protection, and preventive care. It demonstrates measurable value to employers, insurers, and policymakers – exactly the kind of evidence-driven model that expands professional opportunity.
Most importantly, it shows what happens when we collaborate with other like-minded organizations and associations with a united, shared purpose.
“I want to thank the Michigan Chiropractic Foundation for getting involved in this important effort to help our state’s EMS first responders,” said Kris Dowell, MAC Executive Director. “I also want to thank MAAS for their trust in our profession in an effort to help protect those who protect all of us. I strongly believe that this Pilot Project will make a positive difference in the health of our state and enhance the public perception of the chiropractic profession as THE primary source of drug- and surgery-free healthcare.”
MAC members receive discounted credentialing into the AlignWell network. If you’re interested in expanding your practice through employer partnerships and positioning yourself at the center of MSK risk management, text MAC to 616-344-9688 to learn more.
If you would like to donate to the Michigan Chiropractic Foundations and keep programs like the EMS Chiropractic Care Pilot Program Pilot Project funded, scan or click on the QR code. Checks can be made out to “Michigan Chiropractic Foundation” or “MCF” and mailed to the MAC Central Office, 416 W. Ionia St. Lansing, MI 48933.
