News / Profession

One-Third of Back Pain Sufferers Seek DCs Over MDs

Dynamic Chiropractic Staff

A recent issue of "Research Activities" published by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) gave this summary of two studies the Agency funded:

"Back pain episodes of care among adults in the United States are usually brief and recur infrequently (within 3 to 5 years). One-third of all patients suffering from back pain choose chiropractors over physicians to treat them, and chiropractors provide 40 percent of primary care for back pain. These are the results of two studies supported in part by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (HS06920).

"About 10 percent of patients initially seeing other providers switched to a chiropractor to receive the majority of their back pain care. Moreover, chiropractors retained a greater proportion (92 percent) of their patients for subsequent episodes of back pain care than did other providers. This coincides with other findings that low back pain patients of chiropractors are more satisfied with their care than those of other providers."

It's not just what is said, but who says it.

------------------------ "One-third of back pain sufferers seek care from chiropractors instead of physicians", Research Activities, No. 189, November/December 1995

April 1997
Trending
Diagnosis & Diagnostic Equip
When Radiculopathy Isn’t Radiculopathy: A Clinical Series (Pt. 6): Differential Diagnosis
When Radiculopathy Isn’t Radiculopathy

While cervical disc pathology can unquestionably produce radiculopathy, many patients presenting with arm pain, paresthesia or perceived weakness do not exhibit the clinical behavior of true nerve-root compromise. In these cases, failure to differentiate the primary pain generator may lead to unnecessary spinal injections, nerve ablation procedures or surgical consultation despite limited likelihood of benefit.

Ken Kaufman, DC
X-ray / Imaging / MRI
A National Turning Point: N.J. Board Rejects Insurer Medical X-Ray Rules for DCs
A National Turning Point: N.J. Board Rejects Insurer Medical X-Ray Rules for DCs

The New Jersey Board of Chiropractic Examiners has made a precedential decision, concurring with the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors' (ANJC) position paper on chiropractic X-ray guidelines. In plain terms, the board ruled, consistent with the ANJC position, that insurance companies cannot use medical X-ray rules or recommendations, like those written by the American College of Radiology (ACR), to decide whether a chiropractor's X-ray was necessary.

 |  Digital Exclusive
Jeff Randolph, Esq.
Your Practice / Business
The Relationship Behind the Referral
The Relationship Behind the Referral

For decades, chiropractors have been told the answer to more professional referrals is simple: educate medical doctors about chiropractic. There is some truth in that advice; but it is also incomplete. The modern challenge is not simply getting another healthcare professional to know that chiropractors exist. It is becoming the kind of clinician (and building the kind of professional relationship) that makes collaboration easy and sustainable.

 |  Digital Exclusive
Dynamic Chiropractic Staff