Communication between PCP and Chiropractors needs to improve. Premier Alternative Health

National Survey of Pain Management Clinicians

A multidisciplinary approach to patient care continues to have positive outcomes for patients with a variety of disorders.  One of the more critical parts of a multidisciplinary approach is that all players see the big picture.  This, on many accounts, includes “pairing” the patient’s needs with the appropriate provider.  In a study by Breuer, Cruciani, and Portenoy (2010), an investigation was done into statistics related to specific healthcare disciplines as they relate to caring for the chronic pain patient.  They state, “Chronic pain is highly prevalent, and costly in terms of lost productivity.  Primary care physicians, pain physicians, chiropractors, and acupuncturists vary in the way they treat chronic pain, and in their attitudes regarding such treatment.  These variations underscore the need for planning studies that relate patient outcomes to different provider groups and treatments, and designing a system that matches patients to practitioners and treatments” (Breuer et al., 2010, p. 738).

This paper showed, “The percentages seen by each specialty were not much different from those computed using all the study observations (based on deleting outlier observations, the percentages for PCPs [primary care physicians], pain physicians, chiropractors, and acupuncturists are 49%, 2%, 42% and 7%, respectively)" (Breuer et al., 2010, p742).  These results show that PCPs and chiropractors account for the largest number of chronic pain patients being treated.  

In the case of chronic pain treatment and management, it is critical that PCPs and chiropractors communicate effectively and co-manage these patients.  It is probable that many of these patients are seeing BOTH their PCPs and chiropractors for pain management, but this study shows that the communication level between different disciplines can be improved.  

Premier Alternative Health Center

Dr. Sean Billings

473-0399

107 N Union Blvd

Colorado Springs, CO 80909

Reference:

Breuer, B., Cruciani, R., & Portenoy, R. K. (2010). Pain management by primary care physicians, pain physicians, chiropractors, and acupuncturists: A national survey. Southern Medical Journal, 103(8), 738-747.