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 wider
population. New papers feature chiropractic’s
benefits. Vancouver Disc Centers shares these with our
Vancouver chiropractic patients who already feel 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 encounter
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 last 12 months
were more likely to get NPM. Types of NPM offered
range from physical therapy, massage, chiropractic/spinal manipulation, psychotherapy,
educational classes, peer groups, and yoga/tai chi. The top 3 used by
chronic pain veterans were chiropractic care, educational class, or psychotherapy.
The VHA policies can assist other integrated US healthcare systems incorporate
the recommended non-pharmacological treatment modalities to benefit
their patients. (1) Vancouver Disc Centers is excited to see the addition
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
Vancouver Disc Centers 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 increase
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) Vancouver Disc Centers
is honored to care for a bit larger percentage of Vancouver
healthcare seeking patients.
CHIROPRACTIC’S EFFECT ON QUALITY OF LIFE
There is a reason patients seek out 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 rated their
outcomes in three different 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) Vancouver Disc Centers witnesses
this, too, and collaborates with medical colleagues to help
our patients.
CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Katrina Weiland on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she describes
treatment of a US Air Force Veteran with a herniated disc and
severe low back pain with the Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction System
of Spinal Pain Management.
Make your Vancouver
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 Vancouver healthcare grows.