Characteristics of VHA Chiropractors and Chiropractic Clinics

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.