Boston Globe: Chiropractors practicing at VA Pain Clinics

[drusso]

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In opioid crisis, VA moves to alternative treatment - The Boston Globe

"Last year, the pain clinic and rehabilitation services were placed in a joint unit that Franklin oversees. Dr. Derek Golley, a chiropractor, said that the staffs are in regular communication and that he often treats veterans from the clinic."

New Chiropractic Residency Program - VA Western New York Healthcare System

”The chiropractic care residency program is designed to train chiropractic residents as clinician scientists blending patient care, research and academics within an integrated health care environment to optimally prepare them to supervise VA chiropractic clinics. “VA provides a robust clinical experience for trainees across a spectrum of disciplines to meet the health care needs of the nation, stated “Andrew S. Dunn, DC, MEd, MS, Chiropractor/Residency Program Director, VA Western New York Healthcare System. “The chiropractic residency program adds to that mission by optimally preparing residents to successfully work within VA chiropractic clinics or other integrated clinical settings.”

 

[PainMD23]

There have been Chiropractors at the VA for many years. I recall them practicing in 2004 when I was a resident, and in 2008 when I was a fellow.

 

[clubdeac]

Yeah there's been a good one here as long as I can remember.... his wait times are about 2 months though

 

[drusso]

Yeah there's been a good one here as long as I can remember.... his wait times are about 2 months though

It's interesting that despite the chronic short-comings of that system the VA can afford to pay for psuedo-scientific chiropractic therapy, but not other things...

The V.A.’s Biggest Problem Isn’t Who’s In Charge—It’s Centralized Government Control

"Shortages and waiting lists at the V.A. are hardly surprising. Its health care system, the VHA, is the United States' version of the U.K.'s single-payer National Health Service. It is an entirely socialist enterprise, where the government owns the means of production (hospitals, clinics, CT scanners, bedpans), employs the workers, decides how much everyone gets paid, and generally chooses how to allocate all those capital and human resources."

 

[drpainfree]

It's interesting that despite the chronic short-comings of that system the VA can afford to pay for psuedo-scientific chiropractic therapy, but not other things...

The V.A.’s Biggest Problem Isn’t Who’s In Charge—It’s Centralized Government Control

"Shortages and waiting lists at the V.A. are hardly surprising. Its health care system, the VHA, is the United States' version of the U.K.'s single-payer National Health Service. It is an entirely socialist enterprise, where the government owns the means of production (hospitals, clinics, CT scanners, bedpans), employs the workers, decides how much everyone gets paid, and generally chooses how to allocate all those capital and human resources."

It's not about paying for psuedo-scientific chiropractic therapy, it's about paying for ANYTHING CHEAP as a substitute for anything more expensive.

In California work comp system, chiro, acupuncture, PT have taken over, regardless whether they are effective or not.

They are being offered, simply because they are cheap.

 

[hyperalgesia]

It's not about paying for psuedo-scientific chiropractic therapy, it's about paying for ANYTHING CHEAP as a substitute for anything more expensive.

In California work comp system, chiro, acupuncture, PT have taken over, regardless whether they are effective or not.

They are being offered, simply because they are cheap.

VA is driven by politics more than anything else. The politically correct way to treat pain is to offer interdisciplinary tx including CAM. Anything that looks good to the general population, gets favorable coverage, makes the politicians look good.

 

[drusso]

VA is driven by politics more than anything else. The politically correct way to treat pain is to offer interdisciplinary tx including CAM. Anything that looks good to the general population, gets favorable coverage, makes the politicians look good.

How did it get this way?

 

[siliso]

Yup, I can refer for in house chiro, community acupuncture, various other modalities up to but no longer including reiki (outdoes chiro on the woo factor by far). I don’t push it on people but if they want it, as long as it’s not dangerous, I’m fine with it. Much more fine than opioids for chronic MSK pain that I won’t do period. But then I will also sometimes give people bentyl or guaifenesin for their self limited problems for mostly placebo value, too.

 

[drusso]

Yup, I can refer for in house chiro, community acupuncture, various other modalities up to but no longer including reiki (outdoes chiro on the woo factor by far). I don’t push it on people but if they want it, as long as it’s not dangerous, I’m fine with it. Much more fine than opioids for chronic MSK pain that I won’t do period. But then I will also sometimes give people bentyl or guaifenesin for their self limited problems for mostly placebo value, too.

I couldn't live with myself if I referred a patient for something I knew was pseudo-science and they were legitimately harmed or even killed.

Chiropractic: Why It Is Controversial