title: Local, national, and service component cost variations in the management of low back pain: Considerations for the clinician.
abstract: In the past two decades, the cost associated with managing low back pain has increased significantly. Improved consciousness of how clinicians utilize resources when managing low back pain is necessary in the current economic climate. The goal of this review is to examine the component costs associated with managing low back pain and provide practical solutions for reducing healthcare costs. This is accomplished by utilizing examples from a major metropolitan area with several major academic institutions and private health care centers. It is clear that there is considerable local and national variation in the component costs of managing low back pain, including physician visits, imaging studies, medications, and therapy services. By being well informed about these variations in one's environment, clinicians and patients alike can make strides towards reducing the financial impact of low back pain. Investigation of the cost discrepancies for services within one's community of practice is important. Improved public access to both cost and outcomes data is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Ashwin N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Babu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Press
mesh_terms: D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000191:economics; D016527:Drug Costs; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D026882:Manipulation, Chiropractic / Q000191:economics; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000191:economics; D014481:United States
keywords: Health expenditure; delivery of health care; low back pain