Management of low back pain. Current assessment and formulation of a blueprint for the health care delivery system of the future.
This article outlines the authors' recommendations for future health care delivery to patients with low back pain and presents one potential blueprint for a modified delivery system. A group of multidisciplinary physicians and support staff that functions as a unified team with common goals is best positioned to overcome the challenges of providing quality care in a managed care environment. The burden on those who manage patients with spine disorders is to define and prove that high quality medical care results in genuine cost savings and better value for the health care customer.
Boden
S D
SD
Emory Spine Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Decatur, GA, USA.
Dreyer
S J
SJ
Levy
H I
HI
D017046:Cost Savings; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D017146:Models, Organizational; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D014481:United States