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A recent issue of the ACA News, the journal for the American Chiropractic Association, displayed the headline "Chiropractors Are Uniquely Qualified to Advance Public Health Objectives by Preventing and Treating Workplace Injuries, Encouraging Wellness." This headline says it all. Many health care disciplines work with occupational injuries but the chiropractic, musculoskeletal, perspective is unique in the health care indurstry. By looking at the biomechanics of the spine, natural, low cost approaches to treatment, and changes in the work place, chiropractors can help prevent injuries, lower costs per injury, and often times get the worker back on the job sooner with less cost to the employer.
“Eighty percent of all health problems come from the work environment. It's a matter of addressing what's causing these problems in the industry -- whether it be nutritional, physical or emotional -- and changing the environment, not just changing the injury rates."
Dr. Scott Bautch, DC, DACBOH
"Involvement in occupational health is important because of the current crisis in health care. We offer practical solutions to employers."
Joseph Sweere, DC, DACBOH, DABCO
"No one is better suited than chiropractors to specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of neuromusculoskeletal injuries. These problems make up 60 to 70 percent of workplace injuries."
David Thorpe, DC, DACBOH, President of the ACA Council on Occupational Health
Prevention Program
Preventing injuries on the job is our number one priority. When we come in to your business, we will spend some time watching your employees work and getting an idea of the types of jobs they do. As we are doing this, we will make notes of how that employee can change their routines or positioning to make the job easier on their joints, ligaments, and backs. When the job is easier, the worker is usually more productive and has fewer days missed due to injuries.
We won't ask you to make large, expensive changes in the set-up that will take thousands of dollars in re-manufacture of production lines. We will ask if the worker can change a position or use an assistive device. We may make recommendations that you won't like. It's entirely up to you and your company managers what protocols are implemented.
The prevention program is available to your company on request. We seek to serve the needs of the employer and the employee.
What is a Spinal Screening?
A Spinal Screening takes between three to five minutes to complete per patient. We start with a brief history of physical complaints, surgeries, etc. Then we place the employee on the Spinal Analysis Machine and check for postural changes. With the results of this analysis and the history, we are then able to make some preliminary diagnostic suppositions. Using this information, we can make some recommendations for additional tests or for a follow-up visit in the office. If there are no problems observed in the posture of the employee, it would be reasonable to assume the employee would have fewer health related absenses from work and the potential for fewer worker comp type injuries.
Why Screen Employees?
1. Screening employees for spinal problems can help establish a baseline for each employee. If that employee has a work comp claim in the future, comparisons can be made to the previous condition using objective findings. The treating physician can then determine more precisely when the employee has been returned to the pre-accident state.
2. Screening employees can help to determine if there are any pre-existing conditions which might need attention to prevent that employee from having a work comp claim.
3. Screening employees can be seen as a benefit for the employee. By allowing your employees to participate in these spinal screenings, you tell them that you are concerned about their health and wellbeing. If there are problems found, you want them to care for them before they lose time at work. Plus, if conditions are found, the employee can then take care of them during non-working hours with regular health insurance (less expensive than work comp dollars).
How is this set up?
To hold an employee screening in your office, call Brookfield Family Chiropractic and Dr. Roy Lubkeman at 515-963-9715. The doctor will need a small room in your facility and a space for patients to wait. The cost for this screening is $20 per employee for the first 14 employees. Group rates are: $300 for 15-20 employees, $350 for 21-30 employees, and $400 for 30 - 40. Ask for quotes on larger groups.
"Brookfield Family Chiropractic is a full service chiropractic clinic serving patients from infancy to the elderly. Our growing clinic seeks to help people achieve the maximum benefits from a long healthy life.
We offer a variety of programs including the employee screening program, injury prevention program for employers, and retirement health planning for people wanting to improve their odds of being healthy, far into retirement.
Our treatment plans are geared toward health, longevity, and prevention rather than pain masking protocols. We see the difference and get the results that most physicians only dream about. There is no doubt that patients under life-long chiropractic care do better over the long term. I've seen the benefits myself.
Please consider offering your employees this benefit and let us help your company increase profits and decrease injuries. I believe that we can help you and I want you to experience these benefits."
Dr. Roy Lubkeman
