Horwitz A D, Hosek R, Boyle J, Cianciulli A, Glass J, Codario R
Massachusetts Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Boston, USA.
Am J Manag Care. 1998 Apr;4(4):576-9.
Managed care programs have evolved in response to the escalating costs of healthcare in the United States. Expenses related to back pain represent a significant portion of these costs. Chiropractic physicians handle more back pain visits than do medical doctors and are playing an increasing role in the management of neuromusculoskeletal problems in general. Furthermore, chiropractic patients are more satisfied with their care than are patients of family physicians. A number of studies have shown chiropractic medicine to have high efficacy and cost-effectiveness. Its utilization for neuromusculoskeletal problems in the managed care setting may well offer competitive advantages. Using chiropractic physicians as gatekeepers for back pain would result in more expedient movement through the algorithmic process and facilitate treatment of the patient with acute back pain. Many medical facilities are enhancing their services by utilizing chiropractic physicians as gatekeepers for the diagnosis and treatment of neuromusculoskeletal disorders.
管理式医疗计划是在美国医疗保健成本不断攀升的背景下发展起来的。与背痛相关的费用在这些成本中占了很大一部分。整脊医师处理的背痛就诊病例比医学博士更多，并且总体上在神经肌肉骨骼问题的管理中发挥着越来越重要的作用。此外，整脊疗法患者对其治疗的满意度高于家庭医生的患者。多项研究表明整脊医学具有高效性和成本效益。在管理式医疗环境中，将其用于治疗神经肌肉骨骼问题很可能具有竞争优势。将整脊医师作为背痛的把关人，将使患者在诊疗流程中更快地得到诊治，并有助于对急性背痛患者进行治疗。许多医疗机构通过将整脊医师作为神经肌肉骨骼疾病诊断和治疗的把关人来提升其服务。
