Chiropractic care in the Veterans’ Administration healthcare
system is legislated and expanding.
How chiropractic benefits the VA system and its patrons, the veterans, could show
how chiropractic’s inclusion in more healthcare systems may benefit a wider
population. Recent papers highlight chiropractic’s
benefits. Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office presents these to our
Groton chiropractic patients who already experience lots
of these benefits!
CHRONIC PAIN HELP IN VHA
Non-pharmacological treatment modalities (NPM) are promoted in consensus guideline recommendations for chronic pain
management. US healthcare systems face
barriers to such implementation of such NPM except in the Veterans
Health Administration (VHA) which is a more integrated healthcare system with policies
promoting such NPM. In surveys, the military veteran-patients
who look for care in the VHA system are excessively
affected by chronic pain. Chronic pain-afflicted veterans who went to
the VHA for care in the past year
were more likely to get NPM. Types of NPM available
range from physical therapy, massage, chiropractic/spinal manipulation, psychotherapy,
educational classes, peer groups, and yoga/tai chi. The main 3 used by
chronic pain veterans were chiropractic care, educational class, or psychotherapy.
The VHA policies can help other integrated US healthcare systems incorporate
the recommended non-pharmacological treatment modalities to help
their patients. (1) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office is happy to see the addition
of chiropractic treatment in the VHA to help the many
musculoskeletal and chronic pain patients it serves.
MORE USE OF CHIROPRACTIC NPM IN VHA BUT USE IS STILL
LOW
Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office hopes to see use of chiropractic services grow. From 2005 to 2016 there was an increase in chiropractic
care use – part of the VA’s efforts to expand
non-pharmacological treatment options open to veterans - in the
VA either at on-site VA facilities (1.27% to 1.48%) or from VA-purchased
community care providers (0.29% to 1.76%). These numbers did rise
but are low compared to utilization by other US healthcare
chiropractic-using populations. (2) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
is honored to treat a bit larger percentage of Groton
healthcare seeking patients.
CHIROPRACTIC’S EFFECT ON QUALITY OF LIFE
There is a reason patients seek out and
continue to receive chiropractic care: they feel
a difference. A new study focused on how chiropractic care added
to usual medical care affected health-related quality of
life scores. United States service members at the VHA who underwent
combined chiropractic care with usual medical care rated their
outcomes in a variety of questionnaires: PROMIS-29,
Roland Morris, and Global Improvement visual analog scale, the same or similar
tests used daily in chiropractic offices everywhere.
Researchers recorded a statistically significant mean
group difference in favor of the usual medical care plus
chiropractic care group versus usual medical care alone. (3) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office witnesses
this, too, and works with medical colleagues to benefit
our patients.
CONTACT Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Katrina Weiland on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she discusses
treatment of a US Air Force Veteran with a herniated disc and
severe low back pain via the Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction System
of Spinal Pain Management.
Set up your Groton
chiropractic appointment today. Offering
chiropractic care benefits chronic pain patients whether they have low back,
neck, leg, arm or other spine-related pain condition. Chiropractic’s inclusion
in Groton healthcare grows.