3 Simple Actions for A Brighter Chiropractic Tomorrow
Reading time: 5 minutes
Chiropractic Kicks A$$
Abundant research has conclusively proven that spinal manipulation and chiropractic care are effective. The ChiroUp COPS Synopsis references 120 studies that support our care for more than a dozen different conditions.
And support continues to grow. Last month, the Claims Journal published a synopsis of a Workers Compensation Research Institute study of more than two million patients that concluded: (1)
“Medical care costs less [$1,366 vs. $3,522] and claimants return to work more quickly when low back pain treatment is provided solely by chiropractors [vs. other providers].”
“Injured workers treated exclusively by chiropractors also used fewer drugs [opioids 1% vs. 10.3%] and diagnostic imaging scans [MRI 4.3% vs. 18.9%].”
Not All Patients Have Access
Interestingly, the authors also found that “the use of chiropractic care varied widely among the states” from a high of 34% of all work-related LBP claims in Minnesota to a low of 1% in South Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas, New Jersey, and North Carolina. And diminishing chiropractic utilization correlated directly to restrictive worker's compensation laws limiting chiropractic care or requiring employer and PCP referrals. (1)
This single study highlights three of our profession’s most significant challenges:
Policies and laws limit access and reimbursement for chiropractic care
Underinformed PCPs don’t refer to chiropractors
Patients don’t always know when chiropractic is the best option
It’s time for that to change! And together, we can make that happen. This blog details three straightforward steps to overcome these challenges.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandel
Solution 1: Educate the Public
Share Your Clinical Outcome and Patient Satisfaction Data
Yes, your results are extraordinary. But does your community know how extraordinary? ChiroUp subscribers automatically track their clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction data per patient. And your most satisfied patients are automatically asked to rate you online. But do your patients know that you’re also part of something bigger?
Patients and prospective patients would certainly appreciate learning that you’re part of an elite worldwide team of 2500 evidence-based DCs who share real-world best practices to achieve out-of-this-world results.
Action step: Post the following COPS graphics with a short message on your social media pages.
Solution 2: Educate PCPs
Send PCP Release Reports on Every Patient
In 2017 a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians recommended that for LBP, physicians should stop prescribing medication and instead promote spinal manipulation, heat, massage, and acupuncture. (2)
And the next day, our PCP referrals exploded. Right…. 🤷🏼♀️
Well, if that didn’t happen, you’re not alone. A 2021 survey of PCPs reported that 76%-87% of PCPs are familiar with the ACP guideline, yet their prescribing patterns do not follow the recommendations. (3)
Why PCPs Ignore Guidelines
Regardless of our professional degrees, PCPs and DCs all have failed cases mixed into our many clinical successes. Unfortunately, since the successes don’t seek a subsequent provider, we primarily see each other’s failures. PCPs who repeatedly hear about these failures develop a progressively stronger (faulty) belief that chiropractic doesn’t work. And this first-hand personal experience trumps research & guidelines!
The May 2022 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) of more than 5,600 medical physicians confirmed this suspicion:
“a lack of perceived benefit was the most frequently reported reason for not recommending [chiropractic care]” (4)
Sharing our numerous chiropractic clinical success stories can change personal perceptions. Can you imagine a world where every PCP learned about every successful chiropractic outcome? You and I can make that happen by sending a brief synopsis of the patient's first visit and the last visit. These summaries get noticed to change perceptions and referral patterns. As ChiroUp subscribers, this process takes your staff a couple of seconds!
Initial Report
Release Report
Action step: Confirm that you’re sending PCP initial reports plus release reports at the conclusion of every care plan.
ProTip: In addition to PCP initial visit summaries and release reports, next week, the ChiroUp platform will also offer interim reports so you can update PCPs with a couple of mouse clicks.
Solution 3: Educate Lawmakers
Support Passage of S. 4042/H.R. 2654
Legislators and policymakers must understand that enhanced chiropractic access and adequate reimbursement helps patients and saves money. The new Workers Compensation Research Institute study reaffirms many earlier reports on chiropractic cost-effectiveness, including this American Board of Family Medicine finding:
“For Medicare patients with back and/or neck pain, availability of chiropractic care reduces the number of primary care physician visits, resulting in an annual savings of $83.5 million.” (5)
Enhanced access and reimbursement are essential. Fortunately, chiropractors and Medicare patients have a potent advocate. The American Chiropractic Association is championing legislation that would allow improved chiropractic access and Medicare reimbursement. Learn more and see how you can help here.
Action step: Check to see if your senators and representatives have co-sponsored Senate bill # 4042/HR bill # 2654 and if not, contact them today to ask for their support.
Bonus: Recognize That You’re Part of Something Bigger
In school, we gathered as groups and fought our battles together. In practice, we become progressively more isolated. We often become the “lone wolf,” forgetting that we are part of a larger pack.
We know that we’re in a jungle. Our challenges have never been more significant. But opportunity is the partner of challenge. Few of us can influence our profession's future individually, but as a pack, we will! By banding together to share resources, knowledge, and skills, we can seize the tremendous opportunity that lies in front of us.
As a ChiroUp subscriber, you’re part of one of our profession's strongest and most respected packs - 2500 DCs committed to learning and growing every day, sharing best practices, and working together to make our profession the undeniable best choice for patients and payors alike. And we’re proud to have you on board!
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1. Chiropractic Care for Workers with Low Back Pain. Dongchun Wang, Kathryn L. Mueller, Donald R. Murphy, and Randall D. Lea. May 2022. WC-22-17 Link
2. Qaseem A, Wilt TJ, McLean RM, Forciea MA, Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians*. Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of internal medicine. 2017 Apr 4;166(7):514-30. Link
3. Roseen EJ, Conyers FG, Atlas SJ, Mehta DH. Initial management of acute and chronic low back pain: responses from brief interviews of primary care providers. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2021 Mar 1;27(S1):S-106. Link
4. Stussman BJ, Nahin RL, Barnes PM, Scott R, Feinburg T, Ward BW. Reasons Office-Based Physicians in the United States Recommend Common Complementary Health Approaches to Patients: An Exploratory Study Using a National Survey. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine. 2022 May 12. Link
5. Davis MA, et al. Regional Supply of Chiropractic Care and Visits to Primary Care Physicians for Back and Neck Pain. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine: JABFM. 2015;28(4):481-490. Link
