Technology transfer

Article Abstract:

Chiropractic treatment is beginning to play a larger role in occupational safety and health. Previous studies have documented the cost effectiveness of using chiropractic services versus medical services. This is an important issue because of the rapid increase in health care costs and the increase in costs for providing health care programs for employees. In an attempt to reduce employee health care costs, employers should find ways to prevent occupational injuries. One way to do this would be to evaluate work stations; many work stations are poorly designed and can be the cause of a variety of different occupational injuries. By identifying and eliminating factors that are associated with the development of occupational injuries, employee health care costs can be greatly reduced. For example, a recent survey of workers who operated video display terminals in a Swiss bank indicated that they had more complaints of back, shoulder and neck pain than other bank workers. An evaluation of the work stations revealed that by increasing the adjustability of the display monitors, making them the appropriate height, and adding space for arm and hand rests, the back, neck and shoulder problems could be eliminated. When the same survey was conducted at a facility that had appropriately designed work stations, it was found that workers who operated video display terminals did not have complaints of neck, shoulder or back pain. It is concluded that a reevaluation of work station units can reduce employee health care costs. With the development of special training programs for chiropractors to teach them how to perform evaluations of work station areas, the chiropractors will be able to provide preventive services for companies, which will reduce the cost of employee health care. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Workstations (Computers)

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Who are the chiropractic occupational health consultants and what do they do?

Article Abstract:

Chiropractors are becoming more widely recognized as providers of occupational health care services for work-related injuries. The major goal in providing occupational health care is the reduction and prevention of muscular and skeletal injuries. Organizations, such as the International Academy of Chiropractic Industrial Consultants (IACIC), offer education for chiropractors in the fundamentals of providing occupational health care. The IACIC offers a 120-hour certification program for chiropractic occupational health consultants. A survey of 135 chiropractors who completed the certification program indicated that 40 percent have practices in communities with up to 50,000 people, and another 40 percent have practices in communities of over 100,000 people. Seventy percent of the cases involve treating muscle and skeletal injuries. Over 50 percent of the chiropractors described themselves as "consulting and treating" doctors, 20 percent as "treating only", and 20 percent as "chiropractic consultant". As company consultants, the services most frequently provided by the chiropractors included job physicals and analysis of work sites. An average fee of $35 was charged for a job physical, and an additional $65 was charged for X-rays. The average charge for evaluation of a work site was $150 per hour. Also, some of the chiropractic consultants developed exercise programs for the employees, costing $30 per employee. It is concluded that there are many opportunities for chiropractors as occupational health consultants. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Education

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The industrial impact on chiropractic

Article Abstract:

With the rising charges for medical care, businesses of all sizes are faced with increasing costs for providing adequate health care coverage and compensation for their workers. The cost of health care for workers is one of the main topics when labor and management come together to negotiate. Increased health care costs are forcing companies to reevaluate the providers (hospitals, clinics, doctors) of their health care programs in an attempt to contain costs. A recent study conducted at a Fortune 40 company showed that a large portion of health care costs were attributed to treating mental, drug and alcohol disorders. It was estimated that 17 cents out of every dollar spent on health care went for treating these disorders. Skeletal and muscle disorders comprised the second-highest-cost group of illnesses, using an estimated 12 cents of every health care dollar. These top two categories make up almost one-third of every dollar that is spent on health care. Attempts to reduce health care costs should focus on these types of disorders. Previous studies have demonstrated the cost effectiveness of using chiropractic treatment instead of medical treatment for occupational injuries. Companies may be able to contain health care costs by using chiropractic services for the prevention of occupational injuries. Special training programs for occupational health professionals have been developed to provide education on the prevention, recognition, and treatment of occupational injuries. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Medical care, Cost of, Health care costs

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