Chiropractic care in the Veterans’ Administration healthcare
system is legally called for inclusion and growing.
How chiropractic benefits the VA system and its patrons, the veterans, could demonstrate
how chiropractic’s inclusion in more healthcare systems may benefit the larger
population. New papers feature chiropractic’s
benefits. The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR shares these with our
Colorado Springs chiropractic patients who already experience many
of these benefits!
CHRONIC PAIN HELP IN VHA
Non-pharmacological treatment modalities (NPM) are endorsed
via consensus guideline recommendations for care of chronic pain. US healthcare systems confront
barriers to such implementation of such NPM except in the Veterans
Health Administration (VHA) which is a more integrated healthcare system with policies
encouraging such NPM. In surveys, the military veteran-patients
who seek care in the VHA system are disproportionately
affected by chronic pain. Chronic pain-afflicted veterans who went to
the VHA for care in the last 12 months
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 add
the recommended non-pharmacological treatment modalities to benefit
their patients. (1) The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR is happy to see the inclusion
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
The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR hopes to see use of chiropractic services expand. From 2005 to 2016 there was an increase in use of chiropractic care – part of the VA’s efforts to expand
non-pharmacological treatment options available 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 increase
but are low compared to utilization by other US healthcare
chiropractic-using populations. (2) The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR
is honored to care for a bit larger percentage of Colorado Springs
healthcare seeking patients.
CHIROPRACTIC’S EFFECT ON QUALITY OF LIFE
There is a reason patients look for and
persist in receiving chiropractic care: they notice
a difference. A recent study focused on how chiropractic care enhanced usual medical care influenced health-related quality of
life scores. United States service members at the VHA who experienced
combined chiropractic care with usual medical care scored 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 found a statistically significant mean
group difference in favor of the usual medical care plus
chiropractic care group versus usual medical care alone. (3) The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR witnesses
this, too, and collaborates with medical colleagues to benefit
our patients.
CONTACT The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR
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 who has a herniated disc and
severe low back pain with the Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction System
of Spinal Pain Management.
Set up your Colorado Springs
chiropractic appointment today. Including
chiropractic care benefits chronic pain patients whether they have low back,
neck, leg, arm or other spine-related pain condition. Chiropractic’s inclusion
in Colorado Springs healthcare grows.