Medical Referrals in Oxnard

If you are a medical or other healthcare provider, you probably have already heard this question: Doctor, what do you think about Chiropractic care in Oxnard? When you get this question, I want to be your “go-to” chiropractor. The animosity between Allopathic Medicine and Chiropractic has been fading since 1992, now both professions have become much more amenable to cross-referral.

I am seeing this in my practice; the whole spectrum of the medical community has at one time or another sent me their patients. This includes PCPs, Orthopedic Surgeons, Neurosurgeons, Neurologists, Interventional Pain Specialists as well as a plethora of other providers (Podiatrists, Dentists, Psychologists, Acupuncturists, Nurse Practitioners- the list goes on).

Medical Doctors Referrals in Oxnard

Recent Gallup polls have shown at least 50% of adult Americans are presently receiving or have been treated by Chiropractors, and this trend is growing. A few years ago, BioMed Central produced a paper that examined the referral habits of Medical Physicians (1). Specifically, they looked at how PCP's refer amongst themselves, and also how they refer to Doctors of Chiropractic. What they found maybe some of more the interesting information currently available on interdisciplinary referral relationships.

Over 500 Primary Care Physicians took part in the study. Surprisingly, over 80% of Primary Care Physicians reported that their patients requested information regarding Chiropractic. Additionally, close to 75% had patients request a Chiropractic referral. This shows the public has a significant interest in Chiropractic care despite the fact that Chiropractic utilizations it is still fairly small.

When referring to other Medical Doctors, the studies participants reported initiating a formal referral 99% of the time. When referring to Chiropractors, the PCP's initiated a formal referral in only 11% of cases. Nearly all PCP's are comfortable making formal referrals, however, they are not making these formal referrals to Chiropractors.

Finally, and more significantly, the researchers found that roughly 25% of PCP's have referred a patient to a Chiropractor. Again, while this number is low (considering the research on the safety and efficacy of Chiropractic care), it provides the information that:

1. Patients are asking their PCP's about Chiropractic care
2. 25% of PCP's have referred patients to Chiropractors
3. Only 10% of these referrals are "formal" referrals

How Chiropractic Care can Help

Chiropractors have traditionally been a nonpharmaceutical prescribing profession. With the present opiate crisis, the trend to the non-medication treatment of musculoskeletal problems his increasing. Americans prefer drug-free management of their pain (2); while 22% of US adults prefer to take pain medications to treat their pain, 78% prefer to try other ways to address the physical pain before they take pain medication prescribed by their doctor. This finding is based on data collected from February to March 2017 as part of the Gallup Palmer College of Chiropractic Annual Study of Americans.

I am glad to be part of this growing utilization of my profession. The vast majority of insurance companies cover part or all of chiropractic treatment, including Medicare, PPOs, HMOs as well as regular insurance. People injured in motor vehicle collisions as well as industrial or on-the-job injuries generally have chiropractic coverage. In fact, if you have a patient injured at work or in a motor vehicle altercation, I would be more than happy to take care of them for you. Generally, for nonindustrial injuries, you do not need any sort of referral authorization, I will provide all necessary treatment documentation (including depositions) for their injuries so you do not have to have concerns about that component of their care.

Just as you are very good at treating your patients from a medical and prescriptive approach, I am very competent in treating those injured in the industrial or personal injury arena. I will communicate with you for any needed potential referrals, diagnostic imaging, other medical referrals, and/or attorney referrals. Any reports I receive will be promptly forwarded to you. And, chiropractic treatment is surprisingly safe (3).

Also, on a personal note, I am a disabled veteran, and the VA now is been sending me patients with authorization for treatment for their chiropractic care. Nothing makes me happier than to reduce the pain to increase the function of a veteran, allowing them to live their normal life.

Last, there is a plethora of research regarding the efficacy of the treatment I provide. If requested, I would be more than happy to send you studies comparing Chiropractic to “Regular Care”; the results are very positive.

1. Barry R Greene, Monica Smith, Veerasathpurush Allareddy & Mitchell Haas (2006). Referral patterns and attitudes of Primary Care Physicians towards chiropractors. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine volume 6, Article number: 5 (2006)
2. Rudd, R. A., Seth, P., David, F., & Scholl, L. (2016). Increases in drug and opioid-involved overdose deaths – United States, 2010-2015. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from Opioid data analysis. (2017). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm655051e1
3. Cassidy JD, Boyle E, Côté P, He Y, Hogg-Johnson S, Silver FL, Bondy SJ. Risk of vertebrobasilar stroke and chiropractic care: results of a population-based case-control and case-crossover study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2008 Feb 15;33(4 Suppl):S176-83.