Data. Data. Data. We humans
are well researched: our illnesses,
our habits, our lives. In healthcare, data and stats can be quite
helpful in improving care, particularly flow
of low back pain management from conservative, non-surgical to surgical when
needed. In Groton Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office is practiced
in managing this flow of back pain care and in referring when/if necessary.
LOW BACK PAIN MANAGEMENT STATS
The worldwide leading cause of
disability is low back pain. Diagnosing the cause of low
back pain – spinal stenosis, radiculopathy, non-specific and specific low back
pain – is key to managing it. One study stated
that low back examination tests alone are not always helpful
on their own. (1) That’s the reason that Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office considers
everything - your history, current pain, exam tests’ results, imaging, and more
- to establish a diagnosis and a treatment plan.
And not all back pain sufferers have to visit specialists
like spinal surgeons. Even the surgeons value it
when patients who require their expertise (surgical
skills) are referred to them. A recent study pointed
out that of 500 cases sent to a neurosurgeon, only 22% were
surgical candidates. 80% of referrals done during the study’s time
period were considered not appropriate.
The researchers wrote that “triaging approaches led by
musculoskeletal experts may improve referral appropriateness to specialized
care.” (2) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office agrees and is ready to perform
that role. Your Groton chiropractor specializes in the diagnosis and management of low back pain
and knows when to refer for specialized treatment like advanced
imaging, surgery, etc.
STATS ON CHIROPRACTIC BACK PAIN PATIENT CARE
In the chiropractic world of healthcare,
Care Response is a packed database of details from
chiropractic patients around the world. It has been amassing
data for over 10 years regarding patient satisfaction. Two main
points of feedback were on what chiropractic patients thought was
good about their care and what could be improved. The good incorporated
clinical outcomes (less pain, improved
function, being understood as having pain and its cause), examination and description
of the condition and its treatment, professionalism, friendliness, feeling
valued as a person, safety, comfort, and punctuality. There is always room for
improvement, and patients commented that they wanted to
not be rushed during the visit, wanted to feel understood, wanted good
outcomes, etc. (3) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office tries hard to focus
on you during your time at our Groton chiropractic office.
CHIROPRACTIC IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE
As your Groton chiropractor, Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office strives
to deliver the ‘good’! And we take it one step further to enhance
quality of life for our low back pain patients. The most recent
series of questions to assist us in evaluating patients for
these outcomes is known as PROMIS that comprises
function, pain interference, pain intensity, fatigue, sleep, depression,
anxiety, satisfaction in social life, mental health, etc. The final word from all the assembled data found that patients (1)
improved significantly and felt they did, (2) improved significantly but did
not think they did, (3) didn’t improve significantly
but felt they did, (4) did not improve significantly or report
feeling better. (4) We strive for the ideal #1 outcome described
above, and we want you to tell us how you feel you are.
CONTACT Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Coleman Cormier on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
describes the relief of low back pain in a patient with a disc
herniation implementing The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain
Management.
Make your Groton chiropractic
appointment soon. Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office studies the data
to best deliver quality of life-improving care for our Groton low
back pain patients.