Outcome Assessment Guidelines

This section was compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
Send all comments or additions to:   Frankp@chiro.org

This page is devoted to a full description of what is considered “complete” patient file documentation, as described by National Associations and Third party Payors. It is the intention of this page to inform our profession of the most efficient means of communicating patient information, as well as outlining what is considered adequate documentation.

Association Recommendations

	Getting the Most Out of PROMS (Patient-reported Outcome Measures) The King’s Fund + The Office of Health Economics London, UK (2010) This 92-page document covers pretty much everything you might want to lnow about Outcomes.
	Overview of Implementation of Outcome Assessment Case Management in the Clinical Practice Washington State Chiropractic Association (2001) .
	Outcome Assessment Clinical Guidelines for Chiropractic Practice in Canada.
	Outcome Assessment in Adobe Acrobat PDF (103 KB) OR as a Word document (173 KB) ICA's Clinical Protocols and Guidelines for the Practice of Chiropractic.
	Reassessment and Outcomes Assessment Vertebral Subluxation in Chiropractic Practice (2008) This is an Adobe Acrobat file (1.34 MB). Outcome Assessment starts on page 154 of 318.
	Outcome Assessment Guidelines for Chiropractic Quality Assurance and Practice Parameters(1993) ~ a.k.a. The Mercy Conference   Refer to Section X
	Chapter 3: Commonly Used Outcome Assessment Measurements Wisconsin Chiropractic Association (1996) Pain is the primary complaint for 80% of all office visits to physicians each year in the U.S. [National Center for Health Statistics, 1986]. It is important to use the proper measurement device in order to get meaningful data of a patient’s baseline status. The measurement must then be reapplied to get meaningful data of a patient’s improvement. The testing device must be comprehensive enough to give a reliable clinical picture, simple to understand, easy to score, and able to be administered at a low cost. The devices listed in bold are used very commonly within the chiropractic profession, and it is recommended that you become familiar with these outcome assessment devices. Unfortunately, copyright restrictions do not allow for the reproduction of these materials within these Wisconsin Chiropractic Association recommendations. Generally, you may access the original articles and use any of these devices in your office for the treatment of your individual patients.

Articles About Outcome Assessment

	The Outcome Assessment Section A Chiro.Org article collection This section provides copies of the Neck Disability Index (NDI), the Oswestry Low Back Pain Questionnaire, the Headache Disability Index, the Visual Analogue Scale, Roland-Morris, and a questionnaire to Assess Psychosocial Yellow Flags.
	Applying Outcomes Management into Clinical Practice J. Neuromusculoskel. System Summer 1997;  5 (2):   1–14 The paradigm shift in health care from case management to cost contained, outcomes management (OM) has vaulted the study and use of valid and reliable outcomes tools . OM, when used appropriately, can measure progress, or the lack thereof, in three critical areas which include pain management, physical capacity (impairment), and disability.
	An Introduction to Outcome Assessment Dynamic Chiropractic – November 16, 1998 The design of this article is to give the chiropractic profession an introduction into the value and usefulness of clinical outcome assessment procedures. Using outcome assessment methods of case management gives the chiropractic profession an effective way to document the need for care. This results in receiving the compensation for services they rendered.

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Since 2–18–2001

Updated 12-25-2023