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.
Florida Chiro. Assn. Suggests Baseline of Standards for Peer Review Doctors
In the Nov. 18 issue of "DC," we reported on the the Florida Peer Review Committee, and that six of the seven DCs on that committee were consultants for DRS, a utilization review company.
We suggested a simple solution to the concerns over conflicts of interest with the Florida Peer Review Committee would be to prohibit board members from working for utilization review companies.
We have since received a position statement on this matter from Ronald Wellikoff, DC, president of the Florida Chiropractic Association. He states that although the peer review committee members are not in violation of any existing ethical regulation, that the FCA would support "establishing a baseline of standards" that would balance the rights of a private doctor who volunteers to do the important work of peer review. The FCA stated it would continue to "stand behind the peer review committee's efforts to identify overutilization which only occurs in a small percentage of cases."