Value of Chiropractic Services at an On-site Health Center

2008

Value of Chiropractic Services at  an On-site Health Center

Curt A. Krause, DC; Lisa Kaspin, PhD; Kathleen M. Gorman, MPH; Ross M. Miller, MD, MPH

From the Cerner Healthe Clinic (Dr Krause), Kansas City, MO;
Cerner LifeSciences Consulting (Dr Kaspinand and Ms Gorman), Beverly Hills, CA;
and Cerner Employer Services (Dr Miller), Cerner Corporation, Beverly Hills, CA.


OBJECTIVE:   Chiropractic care offered at an on-site health center could reduce the economic and clinical burden of musculoskeletal conditions.

METHODS:   A retrospective claims analysis and clinical evaluation were performed to assess the influence of on-site chiropractic services on health care utilization and outcomes.

RESULTS:   Patients treated off-site were significantly more likely to have physical therapy (P < 0.0001) and outpatient visits (P < 0.0001). In addition, the average total number of health care visits, radiology procedures, and musculoskeletal medication use per patient with each event were significantly higher for the off-site group (all P < 0.0001). Last, headache, neck pain, and low back pain-functional status improved significantly (all P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS:   These results suggest that chiropractic services offered at on-site health centers may promote lower utilization of certain health care services, while improving musculoskeletal function.

From the FULL TEXT Article:

Discussion

Although previous research has demonstrated the benefits of chiropractic care, to the best of our knowledge this study is the first to evaluate its impact when offered at an on-site health center. [6–10, 14–17] Given the convenience and quality of care provided by on-site health centers, it was hypothesized that on-site chiropractic care would be more beneficial than off-site clinic care. Despite some limitations that may have weakened the conclusions, the findings suggest on-site chiropractic services are associated with lower health care utilization of certain services and improved functional status of musculoskeletal conditions.

Specifically, patients receiving chiropractic care on-site were less likely to have a physical therapy visit (P < 0.0001) and outpatient visit (P < 0.0001). Moreover, the average total numbers of health care visits, radiology procedures, and musculoskeletal medication use per associate with each event were significantly lower for the on-site group (all P < 0.0001). Metz et al [18] assessed health plan members with and without chiropractic coverage and found that patients were directly substituting chiropractic care for medical care when it was available. Although all patients in our study had access to chiropractic care, the convenience of having it on-site may have eliminated the access barriers for patients who may have received other types of medical care instead. This trend is most evident in the finding that the on-site group averaged significantly fewer physical therapy and physician visits compared with the off-site group (both P < 0.0001), given that chiropractic care is a common alternative for both of these services. [18, 19]

Lower health care utilization among the on-site group may also be related to the characteristics of effective chiropractic care. On the basis of a large claims analysis, Legorreta et al [14] reported that chiropractic services were associated with less invasive, more conservative treatments. That is, patients with chiropractic coverage seemed to be avoiding more surgeries, hospitalizations, and radiographic imaging procedures. Similarly, Phelan et al [16] observed that chiropractic patients had lower utilization of ancillary medical services. In this study, associates who received care on-site were less likely to have an outpatient visit (P < 0.0001), but average utilization among associates who had a visit was similar between groups. This finding suggests that on-site chiropractic care may be lowering the occurrence of outpatient visits among associates on the cusp of requiring these services, but utilization is not affected for more serious cases.

Nonetheless, despite the reported benefits, in the literature there is also continued critique that chiropractic services can have variable quality and lack of adherence to evidence-based practice guidelines. [20–25] In particular, several reviews have described how the profession is divided into two types of practices: one faction maintains the use of nonscientifically supported techniques, whereas the other observes evidence-based guidelines. [20, 21, 23] Those who conform to the evidence-based approach perform services that are perceived as being more effective, better able to integrate with other health care services, and less likely to result in complications. [21–23] In addition, Hinton et al [25] performed a survey of chiropractors to assess their use of outcome measures in daily practice and found that the majority did not use psychosocial questionnaires or condition-specific disability indices to record changes in health status. Although this study did not measure the effectiveness or quality of chiropractic care off-site, given the on-site health center’s focus on providing quality, effective, and holistic care, the lower health care utilization trends found in this study may be due to a greater adherence to evidence-based practices and integration with other health services on-site than off-site. Further investigation, however, is needed to fully understand the consistency and quality of off-site chiropractic care.

Further evidence of the on-site chiropractic care’s effectiveness is the change in patient-reported functional status after treatment. That is, over the study period, there was a statistically significant decrease in the average HADI, NPDI, and OLBQ scores (all P < 0.001). Although a comparison with off-site cannot be made because the questionnaire data were not available for patients treated off-site, these findings confirm that on-site chiropractic care successfully improved patients’ daily functioning. Previous research has shown that functional improvements resulting from chiropractic care increase the ability to perform work-related activities. [9]

The improved functional status found in this analysis indicates potential for reduced indirect costs, including absenteeism, presenteeism, and productivity losses, with on-site chiropractic services. Phelan et al 16 reviewed claims for musculoskeletal injuries treated by medical doctors and chiropractors. Treatment performed by chiropractors, on average, resulted in fewer lost workdays and lower workers’ compensation payment.

In addition, direct cost savings may result through lower rates of health care utilization. Compared with alternatives, including physician visits, hospitalizations, and surgery, chiropractic care is considered a cost-effective treatment. [14–17] A retrospective analysis [14] of administrative claims data compared health plan members with and without chiropractic coverage, and found that annual medical care costs were 12% lower among members with chiropractic coverage due to less utilization of high-cost services.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study support the value of chiropractic services offered at on-site health centers. Offering patients evidence-based, integrative, and convenient care, treatment at on-site chiropractic services was associated with lower utilization of certain health care services, as well as improved functional outcomes. Future research into potential indirect and direct cost savings would supplement this study and further demonstrate the advantages of on-site chiropractic care.

References:

 

 

  1. Dr. Paul M. Hinton, DC, FCCRS(C), Dr. Randall McLeod, DC, FCCRS(C), DACRB, Dr. Blaine Broker, DC, FCCRS(C), Dr. C. Elizabeth MacLellan, BSc, DC, FCCRS(C)
    Outcome Measures and Their Everyday Use in Chiropractic Practice.
    J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2010 (Jun); 54 (2): 118-131 ~ FULL TEXT

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR