- Employee Benefits
- No comments
As employee wellness continues to be a high priority for employers nationwide, many are turning to offering on-site medical clinics that can provide health care services to employees in a convenient location at the workplace. In fact, the National Business Group on Health predicts that up to 65 percent of large employers will offer on-site or near-site health clinics by 2020. While on-site clinics can offer whatever services you elect, a growing number of employers are adding chiropractic care to their on-site or near-site clinics. Read on to learn about the benefits of adding chiropractic care to your on-site medical services.
Chiropractic Care: What is it?
Chiropractors mainly perform adjustments, which are also referred to as manipulations, of a patient’s spine, neck, hips and other body parts to realign the body. These adjustments are done with the intention of relieving pain, improving bodily function and encouraging self-healing. Chiropractic care is often referred to as a complementary health approach. In recent years, it has been recommended by physicians as a treatment method in lieu of prescribing opioids for musculoskeletal injuries or conditions.
How Can it Help with Musculoskeletal Injuries?
The cost of treating musculoskeletal injuries, which include sprained joints and lower back pain, are significantly high every year. The Kaiser Family Foundation found that musculoskeletal diseases are among the leading contributors to the overall increase in health care costs. The Northeast Business Group on Health found that employers spend more on musculoskeletal disorders than any other condition, with direct costs of treating these conditions totaling approximately $20 billion a year. Indirect costs of these conditions, including absenteeism and decreased productivity, cost employers approximately $100 billion annually. What’s more, these costs are on the lower end of the estimated costs of treating musculoskeletal conditions in the United States.
Historically, treatment for musculoskeletal disorders included diagnosis, opioids, surgery and physical therapy. Many of these treatments, particularly opioids, are expensive and dangerous. And, as the United States works to address the opioid epidemic, that treatment method is becoming less popular.
As a result, chiropractic care utilization has increased. This drug-free, therapeutic approach is an effective alternative. According to a study from The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, those who received chiropractic care for lower back pain were 55 percent less likely to fill an opioid prescription for their condition. The hands-on, drug-free approach of chiropractic care provided 66 percent of patients “great relief,” according to a National Health Interview Survey.
Offering On-site Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is an effective approach to treating costly musculoskeletal injuries. Additionally, patients who receive chiropractic care are unlikely to use opioids to treat their pain, making chiropractic care a safer and more cost-effective treatment for those types of conditions.
An on-site medical clinic, in general, is a convenient and cost-effective method for employees to access care. Providing your employees access to on-site chiropractic care will encourage them to use this complementary health approach instead of seeking other treatment methods, like opioids.
Moreover, offering on-site chiropractic care can provide these benefits:
- Lowered health care costs, as you are choosing the chiropractic provider
- Integrated on-site clinical care with other wellness initiatives
- Reduced absenteeism, as you are increasing employees’ access to care
- Increased return to work success, as you are providing on-site care and therapy to employees
Next Steps
If you’re interested in offering on-site chiropractic care, you will have many practical considerations, including choosing the location and space, health care providers and vendors. You will also have compliance issues to work through with your legal advisors.
Although an on-site medical clinic can have many benefits, it is not the best choice for every employer. If you decide that an on-site medical clinic that offers chiropractic care will be an effective wellness effort for your company, there are many choices to make regarding how to set it up and how to make it as helpful as possible for employees.
Looking for more info or wondering about options for your on-site clinic? Contact us to learn more.