Recent studies have indicated that there is an increasingly high level of musculoskeletal conditions developing among those in the United States. A majority of this data was delivered by the report known as The Burden of Musculoskeletal Diseases in the US, released by the organization known as the US Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI).
The information released in this report and other studies come as no surprise to those that specialize in physical therapy and other medical-based professions; however, now that the information has been made public and is confirmed, it is important for all those in medical professions to be aware of the increase of these types of medical conditions and the economic burden that they pose.
Basic Statistics
Based on the information derived from the report by the USBJI, at least half of all adult-aged people within the United States were diagnosed with a musculoskeletal-based condition in the year of 2012. At least 6% of the total population officially reported an issue that resulted in the inability to perform a common activity.
Examples of these activities included walking, bathing, and those that are typically performed on a daily basis. In that same year, pain within the back and within the neck accounted for just over 290 million days of absence from work. Based on these basic statistics, it comes as no surprise that musculoskeletal conditions are placing an immense burden on the system that governs health care in the United States.
Intervention is Key
Most of the musculoskeletal conditions that are currently detrimentally impacting the population within the United States could be prevented. Intervention is the key to success in eliminating the burden that these conditions are placing on the health care system. One of the main reasons that patients are not receiving the care that they need is that the current health care system is based on volume-driven health care instead of value-driven health care.
As medical professionals, we must continue to opt for alternate payment methodologies. Volume-driven health care simply provides guidelines that instruct medical professionals to perform the same types of treatments on ALL patients – regardless of their individual needs.
Value-Driven Total Care is Necessary
To reduce the burden that musculoskeletal conditions have on the health care system, value-driven total care is necessary. Essentially, this is a treatment plan that is tailored to each patient. Instead of treating people as a unified group that have a certain symptom or medical condition in one set way, each person should be treated as an individual. That means, each patient’s medical history and unique situation should be treated in a unique way.
Patients should be provided only treatments and services that will aid in their individual recovery. Not only will this lower the amount of costs associated with patients, the individuals that are treated are more likely to successfully recover from the issues that they suffer. Musculoskeletal conditions are on the rise. This means that individualized treatment plans should be on the rise, too!
For more information on value-driven health care, visit: https://coloradophysicaltherapynetwork.com/
