Chiropractors are perfect for managing back pain care. - Premier Alternative Health

Chiropractors are perfect for managing back pain care.

Doctors of chiropractic are positioned to effectively evaluate spine patients from a portal of entry of care and have a higher patient satisfaction rate than any other healthcare provider.  Using chiropractic as a starting point in spine care will decreased inefficiencies and ultimately benefit the healthcare system as a whole. 

There has been much discussion on the proper entry of point of patients suffering from spinal complaints.  The idea is that the patient enters at the most conservative point in the healthcare system, is evaluated, treated and or triaged to a higher level as deemed appropriate.  Out current system operates in the opposite direction, where patients are referred to the orthopedic or neurosurgeon.  When it is determined that their condition is not surgical they are then referred “down” the ladder to more conservative care such as chiropractic.  The problem with this type of approach, for surgeons in particular, is it creates a huge waste of time and bottleneck in the surgeon’s office. 

 In a recent study in the Spine Journal (2013), the authors surveyed 85 spine surgeons “To explore spine surgeon attitudes toward the involvement of non-physician clinicians (NPCs) to screen patients with low back or low back related leg pain referred for surgical assessment.” (pg 402)  The authors reported “Our survey found that Canadian spine surgeons widely acknowledge inefficiencies in the triage timelines of patients with lower back or low-back leg pain referred to their practices.”  The continue by reporting, “Many surgical referrals are inappropriate, out-patient waiting times typically accede 6 months [less in the United States and this may not necessarily be a factor], and most surgeons have to screen 5 to 10 patients to identify one surgical candidate”  It is the ladder that is the most important finding in this study in my opinion.  

In conclusion the study states, “Most Canadian spine surgeons express a willingness to work with NPOs (e.g. chiropractors and physical therapists) to screen their low back and low back-related leg pain waiting list patients to identify individuals who are clearly not surgical candidates.” (pg 408) 

Reference: Jason W. Busse , DC, PhD , John J. Riva , DC , Jennifer V. Nash , DC , Sandy Hsu , BA, Charles G. Fisher , MD, FRCSC , Eugene K. Wai , MD, FRCSC , David Brunarski , DC, MSc, FCCS (C) , Brian Drew , MD, FRCSC ,  Jeffery A. Quon , DC, PhD, FCCS (C) , Stephen D. Walter , PhD , Paul B. Bishop , DC, MD, PhD , and Raja Rampersaud , MD, FRCSC. Surgeon Attitudes Toward Nonphysician Screening of Low Back or Low Back– Related Leg Pain Patients Referred for Surgical Assessment. Spine 2013 ;38:E402–E408. Level of Evidence: 1

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