US Healthcare: More Efficient and Cost-Effective with Multidisciplinary Practices

Demand for alternative approaches to healthcare in the US is at the forefront of everyone’s mind these days. Between being the most expensive healthcare in the world, and dealing with things like the opioid crisis and how to navigate the Patient Protection and Affordable Car Act (PPACA), most people believe that we, as a nation, need to rethink how we do healthcare.

The healthcare environment is beginning to change in the US. There are several reasons for the changes including addressing increasing demand for good, quality patient care. This care needs to be more affordable, more effective, and more efficient. Chiropractic practices are now beginning to include many other types of healthcare providers under the same roof. Chiropractors, physical therapists, functional medicine specialists, orthopedists, and nurse practitioners are welcoming opportunities to practice together for the patient’s benefit.

There are several ways that integrated practices can better treat patients when compared to the more traditional approach of “siloed” healthcare:

Chronic Pain

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2017, 17,029 people died from overdosing on prescription opioids alone. That number skyrockets to 47,600 when you also take into account all opioid – related deaths, including the use of illicit opioids.

Most experts agree that improving prescribing practices and including early intervention of an effective and appropriate integrated approach to managing chronic pain could potentially save thousands of lives who may have otherwise turned to the overuse of opiods to address their symptoms

Healthcare more Affordable

We, who live in the US, have the most expensive healthcare costs per capita in the world.Insurance companies’ deductibles and copays seem to be increasing yearly. Patients are forced to bear the burden of this ever-increasing percentage of expense, ultimately reducing their monthly income. Healthcare delivery systems have been forced to morph into more effective and efficient ways to take care of these patients. Primary care providers are increasingly called upon to offer advice about preventing disease as well as the continued challenge of treating chronic pain. Providers are discovering that they are more efficient and effective in addressing these healthcare challenges in an integrated, multidiscipline practice, collaborating with other providers.

Healthcare more Effective:

Better coordination in care for patients with musculoskeletal conditions will consistently improve the patient outcomes and quality of care. Integrated practices afford the practitioner more options in patient care because more eyes have seen the patient, and more approaches are then considered to treat the individual’s needs.

In today’s world of healthcare, every patient is challenged to take more ownership in their own healthcare. At Arvada Sport and Spine Group we see this trend occurring every day. We invite you to investigate our integrated approach to healthcare utilizing chiropractic, physical therapy, nutrition and weight loss options, acupuncture, as well as orthopedic intervention with the use of stem cell and PRP injections as needed.

Gary Spears, D.C., F.I.A.M.A.

For Arvada Sport and Spine Group