Chiropractic Improves Quality of Life in Older Adults
Doctors of chiropractic (DCs) play an important role in the treatment and management of
health conditions in the older adult. An estimated five million patients
treated by DCs are 65 and older. By 2030, nearly one in five U.S. residents is
expected to be age 65 or older.
Spinal pain is a significant musculoskeletal problem among older patients. Bad spinal
health can impact nerve function of the legs, which impacts the potential for
strength to be stored. The prevalence of disabling and non-disabling back pain
in community-dwelling adults is six percent and 23 percent, respectively, and
is on the rise making it more important to be proactive when it comes to spinal
hygiene. Maintaining quality of life
requires chiropractic care.
Originally
conceived by large employers at least 70 years ago[1]
as a center for treating work related injuries, adding a benefit for high-wage
employees, or minimizing employees’ time away from work,[2]
on-site corporate health clinics have evolved into a new and expanded model.
Today, these clinics reflect post-health care reforms and address a myriad of challenges:
control and reduce health care costs, enhance access to primary care, and
function as a medical home for employees and their dependents.
Employers
increasingly consider on-site corporate health clinics as a vital component of
corporate health and wellness strategies that aim to measurably improve
employee productivity, integrate wellness initiatives, and provide an
employment benefit comparable to other employers. In some cases, these clinics
result in better control of corporate health care expenditures through on-site
screening for chronic diseases and active condition management.
That’s
a tall order for any health care delivery model, but one that continues to earn
market confidence. In 2009, Fuld & Co., a research organization, predicted
that the number of corporate on-site health clinics would swell to 7,000 by
2015, and would serve about 10 percent of the U.S. population under age 65.[3]
Several organizations tracking this trend, as well as the ever increasing scope
of services offered, have provided key statistics:
National
Business Group on Health shared in a 2013 survey that 44 percent of large employers
have on-site corporate health clinics, and nine percent were considering the introduction
of one.[4]
Mercer’s
(New York) most recent National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans, released
in November 2012, indicated 37 percent of firms with 5,000 or more employees reported
they offer occupational and/or primary care services through an on-site
corporate health clinic, compared with 32 percent in 2010. Another 15 percent
indicated they are considering installing a clinic within the next two years.
On-site
corporate health clinics were slightly less popular with mid-size employers. About
30 percent of employers with > 500 employees said they currently offer
on-site services, while nine percent said they may begin offering on-site
occupational health services, and 15 percent said they are considering offering
primary health care services by 2014.
The
National Association of Worksite Health Centers (www.nawhc.org), the nation’s
only nonprofit association supporting employer sponsors of on-site, near-site,
mobile health, fitness and wellness centers, studied U.S. employers during the
period of Nov. 2013-March 2014. There were 275 total responses: 116 of
respondents were employers indicating that they had an on-site or near-site
clinic. Results are shown for those with <1000 1="" and="" employees="">10,000 employees:
[1] Brugh,
Victor M., M.D.; McCarthy, Mac; Why Establish On-site Care: Employer-Sponsored
Medical Clinics: Much More Than Convenience Care; Benefits Quarterly, first
quarter 2014, International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists; https://www.iscebs.org/Documents/PDF/bqpublic/BQ1_2014.pdf;
Accessed October 27, 2014
[2] Boukus,
Ellyn R, Cohen, Genna R., Tu, Ha T.; Growing Employer Demand for Workplace
Clinics; HSC Research Brief No. 17; Center for Studying Health System Change,
December 2010; http://www.hschange.com/CONTENT/1166/;
Accessed October 27, 2014
[4] Towers
Watson/National Business Group on Health. (2013). Reshaping health care: Best
performers leading the way. Retrieved from
http://www.towerswatson.com/en-US/Insights/IC-Types/
“The care provided
by adoctor
of chiropracticcan help athletes reduce the risk
of injuries, accelerate recovery time and improve health through improvements
in range of motion, flexibility, balance, muscle strength and other key
factors.Chiropractic
care provides athletes with the competitive edgeto fuel peak
performance and succeed during their time at theOlympics.”
Companies that offer
chiropractic care at their on-site health clinics lower their costs, have
greater productivity and increased employee satisfaction.
Malpractice insurance premium
rates are based upon risk – the higher the risk of injury from a given
treatment, the higher the malpractice insurance rates for providers of that specialty.
Doctors of chiropractic have
some of the lowest malpractice insurance rates of all primary health care
providers in the United States (including medical doctors and osteopaths). The
translation: services provided by a doctor of chiropractic carry the lowest
risk of harm.
