Chiropractic care in the Veterans’ Administration healthcare
system is legislated and growing.
How chiropractic benefits the VA system and its patrons, the veterans, could show
how chiropractic’s inclusion in more healthcare systems may benefit the wider
population. New papers feature chiropractic’s
benefits. Satterwhite Chiropractic shares these with our
Oxford chiropractic patients who already experience many
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 incorporation 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 excessively
impacted by chronic pain. Chronic pain-afflicted veterans who sought care at the VHA 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 assist other integrated US healthcare systems integrate
the recommended non-pharmacological treatment modalities to help
their patients. (1) Satterwhite Chiropractic is happy to see the inclusion
of chiropractic treatment in the VHA to care for the many
musculoskeletal and chronic pain patients it serves.
HIGHER USE OF CHIROPRACTIC NPM IN VHA BUT USE IS STILL
LOW
Satterwhite Chiropractic hopes to see use of chiropractic services grow. From 2005 to 2016 there was an increase in use of chiropractic care – part of the VA’s efforts to increase
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) Satterwhite Chiropractic
is honored to care for a bit larger percentage of Oxford
healthcare seeking patients.
CHIROPRACTIC’S EFFECT ON QUALITY OF LIFE
There is a reason patients seek out and
continue to receive chiropractic care: they notice
a difference. A recent 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 comparable
tests used daily in chiropractic practices everywhere.
Researchers found a statistically significant mean
group difference favoring the usual medical care plus
chiropractic care group versus usual medical care alone. (3) Satterwhite Chiropractic witnesses
this, too, and works with medical colleagues to benefit
our patients.
CONTACT Satterwhite Chiropractic
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.
Make your Oxford
chiropractic appointment soon. 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 Oxford healthcare grows.