title: Assessment of chiropractic outcomes for low back pain and neck pain: a health plan quality incentive model.
abstract: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota conducted a quality improvement project to quantify and improve the clinical and functional outcomes of low back pain and neck pain patients in a chiropractic network. Improved outcomes were encouraged through a financial incentive for implementation of standard clinical outcome measurement tools, quarterly feedback to individual practices, and a face-to-face meeting to share best practices. Although a large database on baseline neck pain and low back pain and functional disability was generated, and clinically and statistically significant improvements in outcomes were documented, progressive improvement in outcomes over the 4-year project period was not found.
authors.affiliation: MinuteClinic, Inc., Minnepolis, MH, USA. Woody.Woodburn@minuteclinic.com
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woodburn
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Branson
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pavoloni
authors.forename: Chien-Chih
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fritts
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goertz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D026882:Manipulation, Chiropractic; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires