Perhaps one of the most significant benefits to chiropractic EHR is being able to easily review patients' past medical data to determine whether a problem has become chronic. In cases of persistent back pain, healthcare providers may want to consider a new study linking the condition to anxiety. 

Researchers at Indiana University in Indianapolis discovered that chronic back pain sufferers are also likely to experience mental anguish. Authors of the study looked at 250 individuals with joint or back pain lasting at least three months, despite that they were on pain medications. 

The team found that 45 percent of patients studied had at least one form of anxiety disorder, such as generalized anxiety, post-traumatic stress or obsessive-compulsive disorder. 

"Psychological comorbidities are common in patients with chronic low back pain and other studies have also shown a high prevalence of depression, anxiety and other psychological conditions," said Dr. Roger Chou, an assistant professor of medicine at Oregon Health and Science University.

Authors of the study noted that their findings indicate that cognitive and behavioral therapy may be effective in treating back pain, and that medications could just be masking the symptoms. 

Research results can go a long way in helping healthcare providers increase patient satisfaction, and, according to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), so can chiropractic EHRs. This software is being increasingly used by professionals in an effort to streamline office workflow and ultimately improve care. EHR use may lessen wait times, decrease the prevalence of unnecessary procedures, improve appointment scheduling and help patients take charge of their own care, the government agency states.