Complaints vs. Life University mount

MARIETTA ã A separate investigation into a complaint about Life 
University uncovered additiona 
07/08/02
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By Mike Sampogna
Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer
 
MARIETTA ã A separate investigation into a complaint about Life 
University uncovered additional violations not related to their 
revoked accreditation, according to a letter obtained by the Marietta 
Daily Journal from the body that revoked the school¼s chiropractic 
accreditation.
„There continues to be a pervasive failure at the highest level of 
(Life University) leadership to seriously embrace or actively promote 
compliance with many of the requirements of accreditation as noted 
in the (Council on Chiropractic Education) Standards,¾ the June 26 
letter from commission chairman Joseph Brimhall states. „Particularly 
as they relate to diagnosis and the preparation of graduates to be 
primary care chiropractic physicians.¾
The Scottsdale, Ariz.-based CCE was investigating a Feb. 2001 
complaint filed by Life graduate Dr. Steven Petty, who was an 
instructor from 1998 to 2000 before leaving the school.
The letter states the outcome of the investigation was a „serious 
concern,¾ and that it could lead to further discussion or action by 
the CCE at a later date.
A total of six non-compliance issues were outlined in the 10-page 
letter addressed to then-Life president Dr. Sid E. Williams.
„It appears to be further evidence of real problems with the 
leadership at Life University,¾ said Paul Lapides, a former professor 
at Life and current director of the Corporate Governance Center at 
Kennesaw State University.
Life was stripped of its accreditation on June 10 after the CCE said 
that the school did not adhere to its standards.
„A former faculty member I talked to describes the letter as 
ådamning,¼¾ Lapides said. „He said it will be more problematic than 
the loss of accreditation letter.¾
The primary issues, according to the letter, include substandard 
preparation of chiropractic students.
CCE¼s investigation revealed that many students are entering their 
final quarter of training with a majority of their clinical experience 
unfulfilled.
An average of 30 percent of students have fallen short in seeing the 
proper number of patients over the past two years, including 41 
percent in the latest quarter, according to the letter. CCE also 
states it appeared nothing has been done by Life to correct the 
problem.
Qualifications of faculty members also came under the scrutiny of 
the CCE during the investigation.
„Although all the faculty in the clinic system appear to meet the 
minimum requirement of the CCE Standards, it is apparent that the 
faculty in the Certification Clinic do not meet the internal experiential 
requirements of the outpatient clinic system,¾ the letter states. 
„This places the least experienced faculty in direct supervision of 
students who are just entering the clinic system and learning to 
care for patients.¾
The investigation also found a large number of faculty with 
„adverse¾ ratings in the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards 
database of disciplinary actions ã with most of the poor ratings due 
to non-payment of student loans.
According to the letter, that suggests Life may be hiring 
chiropractors who have not been successful in private practice, 
which could result in poor role modeling for students.
The other areas of concern in the letter included:
n Lack of direct supervision of students by advisors and clinic 
doctors during clinical activities.
n Poor instruction of proper case management skills.
n Lack of assistance by Life to provide sufficient numbers of 
patients, and instruction on how to acquire patients, as well as 
dealing with third-party payer systems, including Medicare and 
private insurance companies.
n Lack of preparation of students in terms of diagnosing problems 
with patients.
Calls to members of Life University¼s Board of Trustees were not 
returned Sunday night.
An assembly at 10 a.m. this morning on Life University¼s campus 
promises to deliver answers to the students arriving for summer 
school.
msampogna@mdjonline.com