Primary Spine Care Services: Responding to Runaway Costs
and Disappointing Outcomes in Spine CareThis section was compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
Send all comments or additions to: Frankp@chiro.org
FROM: Rhode Island Medical Journal 2014 (Oct 1); 97 (10): 47–49 ~ FULL TEXT
Donald R Murphy, D.C.
Rhode Island Spine Center, and Clinical Assistant Professor,
Department of Family Medicine,
the Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
Efforts are underway to reform our health care system to improve efficiency, outcomes, patient satisfaction and costs. In no field is this more critical than that of spine- related disorders, where escalating costs combined with decreasing clinical benefits for patients has reached a breaking point. Traditionally, practitioners have grouped together based on their specialty (orthopedics, otolaryn- gology, etc.). There has been a recent movement to restructure health care delivery into a patient-centered model that teams professionals based on their ability to serve specific patient needs. This article introduces a new service line - primary spine care services - led by a new type of professional - the primary spine practitioner (PSP). This new practitioner type requires a refined and focused skill set and ideally functions within an integrated spine care pathway. The challenges and opportunities presented by primary spine care services are discussed. This service line has already been implemented in a variety of settings.
KEYWORDS: Low back pain; health care reform; health policy; neck pain; primary spine practitioner.
From the FULL TEXT Article:
INTRODUCTION
It is widely held that our health care system is far too expensive in relation to the health status of our citizens. [1] Nowhere is the disparity between cost and patient benefit more stark than in the area of spine-related disorders (SRDs). Between 1997 and 2005, expenditures related to SRDs rose 65%, adjusted for inflation. [2] Spending is particularly problematic for advanced imaging and invasive procedures. For example, between 1994 and 2004, costs to Medicare rose 629% for epidural steroid injections, 423% for opioid medications, 307% for spine MRIs and 220% for lumbar fusion surgeries. [3] Perhaps the largest drivers of per capita cost increases are inpatient hospitalizations (increased 37%), emergency department visits (increased 84%) and prescription medications (increased 139%). [2]
During this period of rapid growth in costs for SRDs, there has been a corresponding decrease in health outcomes for patients. For example, the percentage of individuals with SRDs who self-reported limitations in physical functioning rose from 20.7% in 1997 to 24.7% in 2005. [4] The number of disabled workers also rose during this period. [3] As more patients are seeking care for SRDs than ever before (from 12.2 million in 1997 to 18.2 million in 2006), innovative solutions to the problem of rising costs and diminishing benefits in spine care are imperative.
Spine care in the US has been likened to a “foreign supermarket.” [5] The patient with a spine problem is faced with a nearly endless array of treatments, products and services offered by a variety of professionals, with no ability to discern which service and which professional is right for them. Often the choice is based more on marketing, salesmanship or simply the cultural authority of the professional offering the service rather than on sound science and patient-centeredness.
In response to the current health care “crisis,” there has been increased emphasis on bringing value to health care. Value has been defined by Porter and Teisberg [6] as outcome per dollar spent. This is expanded upon by the “Triple Aim” of health care reform – improved patient health, improved patient experience (i.e., patient satisfaction) and decreased per capita cost.
One innovation that has been introduced to the health care system is one in which groups of primary care physicians (PCPs) are brought together into “patient homes” or “Accountable Care Organizations,” responsible for the comprehensive care and management of a designated patient population. However, there is a projected gap between the availability of PCPs and societal needs in the near future, especially as the Affordable Care Act becomes fully implemented. [7] As a result of this, “physician extenders,” such as nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants, as well as other health care professionals are being utilized as part of a team to provide comprehensive care at the primary care level. [8] Making full use of this team approach will in some cases require a “refitting” of the existing health care work force to function in innovative ways.
Bringing the management of patients with SRDs into the “patient home” model presents significant challenges. Currently, low back pain (LBP) is the second most common reason for symptomatic physician visits. [9] Increasing the number of SRD patients seeing PCPs will serve to further exacerbate the problem of under-availability of these physicians. What is more, recent studies have shown that PCPs are not well trained and do not have great interest in the differential diagnosis and management of SRDs. [10] Thus, in the area of SRDs, a different approach to primary care is needed. One way in which this “refitting of the existing workforce” can be applied to the care of patients with SRDs is the establishment of primary spine care services. This involves, in part, the institution of a new type of professional – the primary spine practitioner (PSP). [11–13] The PSP is a primary-level health professional specially trained to provide initial and ongoing diagnosis and management of patients with SRDs. The PSP can be seen as a form of “physician extender” who can take on a significant portion of the caseload of the PCP. Important in the efficient utilization of health care resources is for the PSP to be able to manage the majority of patients with SRDs without the need for referral. However, primary spine care services involve more than just the PSP. It involves the coordinated activity of all those involved in the care of the SRD patient.
To be maximally effective, the PSP does not function in isolation but rather helps move spine care from the present “silo” orientation to a team orientation by being a key part of a spine care pathway. Only two such pathways currently exist in the spine field, [14] one of which has been developed by a team that includes this author. [15] A spine care pathway involves a community of practitioners who are involved in the management of patients with SRDs, including primary care personnel (such as the family medicine and general internist physicians as well as nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants), specialists, both surgical and non-surgical, emergency department personnel, physical therapists and ancillary professionals such as psychologists, occupational therapists and others.
The concept of primary spine care services responds to recent calls for the health care system to transition away from individual practitioners acting as “cowboys” to the creation of teams of professionals functioning like a “pit crew.” [16] In the pit crew model, it is the coordinated action of all the players involved in the care of patients with SRDs that will ensure maximal efficiency. The PSP functions as both “Crew Chief” and “Pit Crew Coach,” serving as the “primary care practitioner” for spine patients. This role requires a well-defined and unique skill set. [13]
REQUIRED SKILLS OF THE PRIMARY SPINE PRACTITIONER
A wide-ranging understanding of the biopsychosocial nature of SRDs: Most of spine-related disorders (SRDs) are multifactorial, involving somatic, neurophysiological and psychological factors, all occurring in the social context in which the patient lives. These factors are patient-specific; the degree to which each factor contributes to the overall SRD experience is unique to each patient.
Skills in differential diagnosis: Diagnosis in the area of SRDs is challenging because;1) in most cases the problem is multifactorial;
2) the contributing factors can involve biological, psychological and social dimensions and;
3) for most of the contributing factors there are no definitive, objective diagnostic tests. [17]Thus, SRDs involve multidimensional clinical diagnoses and the PSP has to be comfortable with relative uncertainty. In addition, while signs and/or symptoms suggestive of serious pathology only occur in approximately 1-3% of patients with SRDs, [18, 19] the PSP must be adept at recognizing these cases and taking the appropriate action. Skills in evidence-based management approaches: This includes physical treatments such as manipulation and manual therapy, neural mobilization, the McKenzie method and various exercise strategies, as well as the application of the psychological principles of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
An appreciation of minimalism: It has become increasing recognized in the spine field that the less treatment that is “done to” the patient and the more the patient is trained to provide self-care strategies, the better the outcome. [20] The PSP requires skills in decision-making regarding when, what and how much direct treatment is needed in each patient and, equally important, when no treatment is necessary.
An understanding of the methods, techniques and indications of intensive rehabilitation, interventional treatments and surgical procedures: The minority of SRD patients require these approaches but the PSP, as the primary care practitioner for spine patients, must know how and when to make referral decisions in those cases in which intensive or invasive procedures are necessary.
Skills in managing disability: Much of the cost of SRDs, both in terms of human suffering and dollars and cents, results from the related disability. [21] In many cases, prolonged disability is unnecessary and the PSP must sow the seeds of return to normal activities from the very beginning. This involves effective communication as well as effective treatment.
The ability to coordinate the efforts of a variety of practitioners: In some cases, a “team effort” is required to help patients overcome SRDs. The PSP will often need to serve as the “captain of the team” in order to ensure maximum consistency and effectiveness.
The ability to manage SRD patients over the “full cycle”: [6] SRDs often take on a chronic-recurrent course. [22] This can often be frustrating and debilitating for patients. The PSP requires skills in helping patients navigate through this course, teaching them how to understand and self-manage the majority of recurrences and to determine when professional services are required.
CHALLENGES TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PRIMARY SPINE CARE SERVICES
Educational changes: No health care profession’s education currently provides all the knowledge and skills required to adequately train practitioners to function as PSPs. However, graduates of doctor of chiropractic programs and doctor of physical therapy programs (all physical therapy programs in the US are now doctorate level) currently are the best candidates to be “refitted” to become PSPs by obtaining additional training. A training program, led by this author, has been developed for this purpose (www.primaryspinepractitioner. com [accessed 7 May 2014]).
Incentivizing value: For a value-based care pathway to be effective, the health care system has to provide appropriate incentives. This is already underway with bundled payment, pay-for-performance and shared savings models.
Overcoming prejudice and bias: It may well be that the bulk of primary spine care services will be performed by non-allopathic providers who traditionally have not enjoyed the cultural authority of medical physicians. Specifically, doctors of chiropractic medicine and physical therapists, nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants will likely play a strong role in the provision of these services. It will be important that the health care system welcome this innovation and place patient benefit above all other concerns
IS IT POSSIBLE TO IMPLEMENT AN EFFECTIVE SPINE CARE PATHWAY
THAT INCLUDES PRIMARY SPINE CARE SERVICES?
Primary spine care services as described here have been implemented in several varying environments, including hospital spine centers, [15] accountable care organizations, community health clinics as well as a community-wide program associated with a large insurer in upstate New York. By coordinating the efforts of a variety of individuals, focusing on communication and pathway development and, most important, making the patient the focus of the entire process, it is possible to satisfy the “triple aim” of improving clinical outcomes, maximizing patient satisfaction and reducing costs. Those organizations who can successfully respond to the “triple aim” are most likely to thrive in our evolving health care system.
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