Data. Data. Data. We humans
are well scrutinized: our illnesses,
our behaviors, 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 Largo Hollstrom & Associates Inc is proficient
in managing this flow of back pain care and in referring when/if needed.
LOW BACK PAIN MANAGEMENT STATS
The global 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 central to managing it. A new study commented
that low back examination tests alone aren’t always helpful
when considered alone. (1) That is why Hollstrom & Associates Inc associates
everything - your history, current pain, exam tests’ results, imaging, and more
- to come up with a diagnosis and a treatment plan.
And not all back pain sufferers must visit specialists
like spine surgeons. Even the surgeons value it
when patients who require their skill (surgical
skills) are referred to them. One recent study pointed
out that of 500 cases referred to a neurosurgeon, only 22% were
surgical candidates. 80% of referrals made 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) Hollstrom & Associates Inc concurs and is ready to perform
that role. Your Largo chiropractor specializes in the diagnosis and management of low back pain
and is well aware of when to refer for specialized treatment like advanced
imaging, surgery, etc.
DATA ON CHIROPRACTIC BACK PAIN PATIENT CARE
In the chiropractic world of healthcare,
Care Response is a packed database of info from
chiropractic patients around the world. It has been collecting
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 comprised
clinical outcomes (decreased pain, better
function, being understood as having pain and its cause), examination and explanation
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 satisfactory
outcomes, etc. (3) Hollstrom & Associates Inc tries hard to concentrate
on you during your time at our Largo chiropractic office.
CHIROPRACTIC IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE
As your Largo chiropractor, Hollstrom & Associates Inc strives
to deliver the ‘good’! And we take it one step further to boost
quality of life for our low back pain patients. The latest
series of questions to assist us in evaluating patients for
these outcomes is called PROMIS that covers
function, pain interference, pain intensity, fatigue, sleep, depression,
anxiety, satisfaction in social life, mental health, etc. The final word from all the collected data found that patients (1)
improved significantly and felt they did, (2) improved significantly but did
not think they did, (3) did not improve significantly
but felt they did, (4) didn’t improve significantly or report
feeling better. (4) We strive for the ideal #1 outcome explained
above, and we want to know how you feel you are.
CONTACT Hollstrom & Associates Inc
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.
Schedule your Largo chiropractic
appointment soon. Hollstrom & Associates Inc studies the data
to best deliver quality of life-improving care for our Largo low
back pain patients.