Back pain is a widespread concern among Americans from all walks of life, whether they hold office jobs or regularly perform manual labor. Unfortunately, a new study from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDC) in Boston indicates that this issue is routinely mismanaged, as physicians have been frequently shown to veer from clinical guidelines and instead opt for advanced imaging and other procedures that often prove unnecessary.

The researchers reviewed data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey spanning from 1999 to 2010, according to a BIDMC press release.

"We observed a significant rise in the frequency of treatments that are considered discordant with current guidelines [which generally entail physical therapy and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs] including the use of advanced imaging, such as CT or MRI, referrals to other physicians (presumably for procedures or surgery), and the use of narcotics," lead author Dr. John Mafi stated.

These findings are disconcerting, Dr. Mafi notes, because they indicate potentially wasteful spending in an industry already under severe financial pressure and the possibility of putting patients at risk through exposure to radiation and the unnecessary prescription of heavy-duty narcotics that may prove addictive.

According to the source, back pain is ranked as the fifth most common reason for Americans to schedule a doctor's visit, and is widely perceived as the leading cause to seek out chiropractic care. As such, it is essential for chiropractors to have an extensive knowledge of a each patient's back issues and the steps that have been taken to address it. 

By introducing a chiropractic EHR system, these professionals can have immediate access to an individual's comprehensive medical history, empowering them to make informed decisions about the care of each patient. Whether your patients are suffering from acute or chronic back pain, chiropractic software programs can help you determine the best course of action for their care.