Clinical Compass Quarterly: Research, Reach, and the Road Ahead for Chiropractic Care
Jeff Curwen, CAE WSCA Executive Director
In the last decade, the chiropractic profession has matured from a largely practice-driven field into one where high-quality research, evidence synthesis, and policy engagement determine how care is delivered, reimbursed, and perceived. That transition is not accidental. It reflects persistent investment in scholarship, the steady work of clinician-investigators, and strategic efforts to put evidence where it will change minds — in courtrooms, payer committees, state health evidence review commissions, and clinical guidelines.
The Clinical Compass Scientific Commission’s Quarter 3 Key Performance Indicator Report (July 1–September 30, 2025) provides a clear window into that work. The memo, prepared by Scientific Commission Chair Clinton Daniels, DC, MS, details active projects, publications, evidence-center activity, rapid-response engagements with state regulators, and scholarly honors awarded to contributors across the field. This article summarizes that quarter’s accomplishments, explains why they matter to Washington practitioners, and lays out concrete ways clinicians can make use of the research momentum in their own practices.
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Why this quarter matters: Context and consequence
Research alone does not guarantee impact. For impact, research must be credible, accessible, timely, and aligned with the decisions those outside our profession are making about coverage, scope of practice, safety, and integration into health systems. During Q3 2025, the Scientific Commission not only continued to produce rigorous evidence and commentary, it also engaged directly with policy decision-makers — a kind of translational advocacy that converts data into outcomes for patients and practitioners.
A few headline takeaways from the quarter:
• The Scientific Commission supported and advanced 11 active projects spanning clinical practice guidelines, systematic reviews, safety guidance, and evidence-synthesis stakeholder consensus work. These projects address high-priority clinical topics (headache, shoulder pain, care for older adults) and profession-level needs (safety guidance and informed consent).
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