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Health services research
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242, USA.
Current Opinion in Rheumatology
|March 1, 1997
Summary
Arthritis care delivery is shifting from rheumatologists to primary care providers, influenced by insurance and managed care. Chiropractic care offers a cost-effective alternative for some patients.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Rheumatology
- Healthcare Policy
Background:
- Rural populations face challenges in arthritis care access and specialist distribution.
- Managed care organizations in the U.S. increasingly influence arthritis treatment providers and patient access.
- Arthritis care is shifting towards primary care providers, with varying generalist knowledge of treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine trends in arthritis care delivery and associated healthcare policy.
- To understand the impact of managed care on rheumatologist and primary care provider roles.
- To explore patient utilization of alternative therapies like chiropractic care.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent studies on arthritis care delivery and patient outcomes.
- Analysis of trends in specialist distribution and primary care involvement.
- Examination of cost-effectiveness of chiropractic care compared to traditional treatments.
Main Results:
- Higher osteoarthritis incidence in rural areas impacts care delivery and specialist availability.
- Insurance coverage and managed care significantly influence access to rheumatologists.
- Chiropractic care is a common alternative therapy, showing cost-effectiveness in certain back pain management scenarios.
Conclusions:
- Arthritis care delivery is evolving, with a notable shift towards primary care.
- Healthcare policy and insurance significantly shape patient access to specialist rheumatologic care.
- Alternative therapies, such as chiropractic, represent an important area for future arthritis management research.