193851 Characteristics of VHA Chiropractors and Chiropractic Clinics

Monday, November 9, 2009: 12:30 PM

Dana J. Lawrence, DC , Palmer College of Chiropractic, Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport, IA
Christine Goertz Choate, DC, PhD , Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, Davenport, IA
Anthony J. Lisi, DC , Chiropractic Department, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT
Preeti Satyanarayana, MD, MPH , Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, Davenport, IA
Chiropractic services have been delivered on-station at select Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical facilities since late 2004. There are no published data describing the characteristics of VHA chiropractors and chiropractic clinics at a national level. This study was designed to examine elements of the structures of chiropractic services in the VHA. We used a web-based survey to question all chiropractic physicians in the VHA (n=36). Data were obtained from 33 providers, yielding a 91.6% response rate. Most respondents were full-time VHA employees, while others were part-time employees or contractors. There were differences in prior training, integrated practice, and academic or research experience. The majority of respondents (88%) ranked low back pain as the most common patient complaint seen in practice; 79% rated cervical pain the second most common complaint. Most new patient consultations (67.6%) originated from primary care, while 9.4% originated from pain management, and 6.2% from physiatry. Most respondents were similar in their reported use of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, but there were differences in the reported rates of participation in various facility integrated activities. Further work is needed to more fully understand and improve the delivery of chiropractic services in the VHA.

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the nature of chiropractic physicians working in VA medical settings.

Keywords: Chiropractic, Veterans' Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have done work on survey projects in the past, designing and implementing questionnaires and analyzing data.
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of relationship
Palmer College of Chiropractic Research Employment (includes retainer)

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.