December 16, 2014 — The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the value of chiropractic care, applauded The Joint Commission, a not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies healthcare organizations and programs in the U.S., for revising its pain management standard, “Provision of Care, Treatment, and Services Standard PC.01.02.07.”
Effective Jan. 1, 2015, the new guideline states that pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic methods, including chiropractic care, both have a role in pain management.
“As a nation, we are facing an epidemic of prescription drug abuse, and it is vital that influential entities educate the public about all appropriate and available options for pain management,” Gerard Clum, DC, F4CP spokesperson, said. “Unlike pharmacological treatments, which pose risks of dependency, addiction, and abuse, non-pharmacological choices often deliver proven outcomes with minimal risk.”
According to The Joint Commission, clinical experts in pain management provided feedback on the revisions and guidance on the future direction of pain management. Collectively, they agreed with the updated standard, and further noted that prior to prescribing medications to treat pain, all benefits and risks to the patient must be considered.
“All stakeholders in healthcare stand to benefit from a conservative approach: chiropractic first, medicine second, and surgery last,” Clum said. “Mounting evidence confirms that the initial use of chiropractic care is connected to positive outcomes, including cost reduction, clinical improvements, and avoidance of precarious measures, such as drugs and surgery. By revising its standard for pain management to include non-pharmacologic strategies, The Joint Commission has taken a significant step in the right direction for our nation’s healthcare system, and I expect that it will result in more individuals receiving safer, appropriate care.”
