Chiropractic care in the Veterans’ Administration healthcare
system is legally called for inclusion and expanding.
How chiropractic benefits the VA system and its patrons, the veterans, could show
how chiropractic’s inclusion in more healthcare systems may benefit a larger
population. New papers highlight chiropractic’s
benefits. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC presents these to our
La Grande chiropractic patients who already feel lots
of these benefits!
CHRONIC PAIN HELP IN VHA
Non-pharmacological treatment modalities (NPM) are endorsed
via consensus guideline recommendations for care of chronic pain. US healthcare systems confront
barriers to such incorporation of such NPM except in the Veterans
Health Administration (VHA) which is a more integrated healthcare system with policies
encouraging such NPM. In surveys, the military veteran-patients
who seek care in the VHA system are excessively
affected by chronic pain. Chronic pain-afflicted veterans who went to
the VHA for care in the past year
were more likely to receive NPM. Types of NPM available
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 integrate
the recommended non-pharmacological treatment modalities to help
their patients. (1) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC is happy to see the inclusion
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
Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC hopes to witness use of chiropractic services grow. From 2005 to 2016 there was a rise in use of chiropractic care – part of the VA’s efforts to increase
non-pharmacological treatment options available 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 use by other US healthcare
chiropractic-using populations. (2) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
is honored to treat a bit larger proportion of La Grande
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 affected 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 recorded a statistically significant mean
group difference favoring the usual medical care plus
chiropractic care group versus usual medical care alone. (3) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC witnesses
this, too, and works with medical colleagues to benefit
our patients.
CONTACT Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Katrina Weiland on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she discusses
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.
Schedule your La Grande
chiropractic appointment now. Including
chiropractic care benefits chronic pain patients whether they have low back,
neck, leg, arm or other spine-related pain condition. Chiropractic’s inclusion
in La Grande healthcare grows.