Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC Shares Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Chronic Pain in VHA and Beyond
Chiropractic care in the Veterans’ Administration healthcare system is legislated 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 wider population. Recent papers highlight chiropractic’s benefits. Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC shares these with our La Grande chiropractic patients who already feel many of these benefits!
CHRONIC PAIN HELP IN VHA
Non-pharmacological treatment modalities (NPM) are promoted in consensus guideline recommendations for chronic pain management. 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 look for 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 offered 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 help other integrated US healthcare systems integrate the recommended non-pharmacological treatment modalities to help their patients. (1) Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC is excited to see the addition of chiropractic treatment in the VHA to help the many musculoskeletal and chronic pain patients it serves.
MORE USE OF CHIROPRACTIC NPM IN VHA BUT USE IS STILL LOW
Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC hopes to witness use of chiropractic services expand. From 2005 to 2016 there was an increase in chiropractic care use – part of the VA’s efforts to expand non-pharmacological treatment options open 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 increase but are low compared to utilization by other US healthcare chiropractic-using populations. (2) Dr. 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 scored their outcomes in a variety of questionnaires: PROMIS-29, Roland Morris, and Global Improvement visual analog scale, the same or comparable tests used daily in chiropractic offices everywhere. Researchers documented a statistically significant mean group difference favoring the usual medical care plus chiropractic care group versus usual medical care alone. (3) Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC sees this, too, and works with medical colleagues to help our patients.
CONTACT Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Katrina Weiland on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she describes treatment of a US Air Force Veteran with a herniated disc and severe low back pain via the Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction System of Spinal Pain Management.
Set up your La Grande chiropractic appointment now. Offering 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.
