Chiropractic Would Make Hospitals Efficient

This was my article in the Citizen, March 22, 2011
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A few weeks ago I heard on the radio that emergency room use had risen in Massachusetts. Despite the good intentions of the 2006 “Romney-care” law, more people are relying on emergency departments.

The Massachusetts law requires virtually everyone to purchase some type of health insurance policy that meets minimum standards. How well these policies actually resolve the health care dilemma is another story.

The survey done by the consulting group, Market Decisions, showed from a sampling that 31% were turned away by a provider and 23% were not accepted as new patients.

As I looked for more studies, I found many articles debunking the myth that the uninsured or underinsured are filling up emergency rooms. Actually, folks with considerably good insurance are also driving up the numbers.

One reason ER use has climbed is out of convenience. Why make a phone call to your doctor’s office that makes you press through a menu of numbers? When you finally get a live person you are often told to come in next week or next month.

The ER department is open 24 hours a day and anyone can walk right in. At times the five or six hour wait is much easier than making an appointment. The big problem arises out of cost. The ER price tag is 2-5 times more than an office visit.

Hospitals also pick up more of the burden because computerized phone services announce that if you have an emergency “hang up and dial 911.” The alarming situation is people don’t know what really constitutes a true emergency and depend on the ER to alleviate their fears.

Even when doctors talk to their patients after hours, there is still a worry that a non-urgent situation can escalate to a crisis. Doctors know it is not ideal to make decisions when the communication is not face to face.

The statistics are quite telling and I believe the behavior is not going to change. People just want to feel secure and the immediate attention fills a psychological need for contact.

To help manage these problems in New Jersey, chiropractors are on call to show up at hospitals for severe musculoskeletal pain that does not quickly improve. Winchester Hospital in Massachusetts has its own chiropractic center.

Long waits are expected in a hospital emergency department, but having the chance to see a chiropractor can redirect the flow of non-urgent cases. Not only does a chiropractic adjustment reset pain feedback mechanisms, its calming affect is beneficial for the accompanying anxiety.
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At my office in Auburn, I’ve been lucky enough to send people out for X-rays or MRIs and some return the same day with copies in hand. This is unique for our city and I enjoy this convenience because it helps me direct care quickly.

Having chiropractic included with current emergency protocols at a hospital adds even more efficiency. Look for these beneficial services here in the future. We’ll soon get our turn as hospital chiropractic makes its way to us.

Stop Crashing --- Pay Attention

During the last batch of snow storms, I wrecked my car. Nobody was hurt but the subframe was badly damaged. That began the numerous phone calls to the claims office and the service shop.

This should be fairly simple. It takes a few visits from the adjuster and the car is fixed. Car insurance is in place to handle these kinds of mishaps. If only health insurance was this easy.

Vehicles are not complicated. After all, we’re just replacing a few parts and the car runs as good a new. There is only one owner’s manual for a particular model and each car buyer gets the same one.

People, on the other hand are very different. One size does not fit all and because of this, health insurance can be a bureaucratic disappointment. The healing process is not the same from person to person. When we don’t follow an insurance company’s determined timetable after an injury or illness, disagreements arise.

Auto insurance has been an affordable contract between the customer and the insurer. I agree to drive defensively and maintain my vehicle so safety standards are met reducing the possibility of a costly accident.

A PricewaterhouseCoopers report found health insurance premiums have outpaced inflation in recent years. One finding showed utilization has nearly doubled. This indicates we have been using more health care services than ever before. The report also cited an increase in consumer demand, newer treatments, and also unhealthy lifestyles.

If utilization increased in the auto insurance sector, it would mean cars are crashing daily on just about every street in Auburn. I am exaggerating, but you should understand the point.

Perhaps we are “crashing” on a daily basis and it has become the norm. We are out of control with our health because we don’t “drive defensively” and now the government wants to take control. I find it very scary that this report also stated less than five cents of every health care premium dollar goes to prevention.

Diabetes, which has a strong correlation with both heart and Alzheimer’s disease, is predicted to affect one third of the population by 2050. Increasing health insurance premiums is not doing anything to help this escalating health problem.

Chiropractic offers a solution to the problem of chronic disease because adjusting the spine neurologically reprograms the body for better healing. The body heals efficiently as long as the nervous system remains finely tuned.

A Rand study showed when an elderly population utilized chiropractic, they spent less time in hospitals and nursing homes, took less prescription medications, and were regular exercisers.
Another study in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed patients with chiropractic coverage had less health care costs overall when compared to patients who did not have chiropractic available in their insurance plans.

It looks as if health insurance does not make us healthy unless the insurance offers a variety of options. Our health is much too important to ignore this. Don’t be the last to get on board with chiropractic.


Live Fully Today


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Health Insurance: A Lousy Product

So, now everyone will have health insurance by mandate whether it is good for us or not.

I hope you know the truth is insurance covers the type of care you probably don't want: mostly drugs and surgeries that aren't proven to be useful.

I found this interesting video on you tube. (See Below)

People who practice serious health protecting habits would rather spend their money on superfoods, alternative care and exercise. If they do get sick, they won't turn to the sick care assembly line. Listen to find out what they would do if they got cancer!

The folks also mention how much pressure there is to conform to unhealthy lifestyles and following the sick care model is certainly unhealthy!

Health insurance may seem like a necessity to some, but the sad fact is insurance only puts out fires. You can't go back home after a dr. visit or hospital stay and live your life the same way. Your habits will keep you healthy or unhealthy.

My job is to show you the sneaky ways you undermine your own health through diet, improper exercise, stressful careers, prescription drug taking, ignoring the environmental toxin problem, and having an uninformed attitude about nervous system health.

Insurance will never create health. Only what you do at home and in the chiropractor's office will create health. In some people's lives it will require a major mind shift. Are you on board? Incidentially, there are healthy people who don't have insurance, but don't feel sorry for them.

Learn from them.



Here's the Video



See you at the table...the chiropractic table.
Dr. Lisa

Do you know how to Create Purpose?



Health will always come from within.