A recent study demonstrated that from fiscal year 2005 through 2015, the number of on-station VA chiropractic clinics increased from 27 to 65, and the number of veterans receiving care in these clinics increased from just over 4,000 to over 37,000. VA continues to assess and modify its delivery of chiropractic services to meet veteran demand.

The typical VA chiropractic patient is male, between the ages of 45 and 64, is seen for low back and/or neck conditions, and receives chiropractic spinal manipulation and evaluation and management services. The total number of VA chiropractor employees grew from 13 to 86 (21.3% annually). VA also purchased care from private sector chiropractors starting in 2000, growing to 159,533 chiropractic visits for 19,435 patients.

The use of chiropractic care and the chiropractic workforce in VA have grown dramatically since their inception in FY 2005. A 2001 law remains the only congressional mandate for VA to provide on-site chiropractic services. VA met the minimum requirement of this law in fiscal year 2005; therefore, any expansion or development seen from 2005 through 2015 represents the organic growth of this new service. This growth may be explained by multiple factors, including the natural trend of diffusion of change in any large medical system and/or the successful performance of VA chiropractors. This last aspect may be particularly relevant because historically, chiropractic services were very rarely included in US hospital systems, which presented significant operational and cultural barriers for VA to implement these services. The fact that these services have expanded consistently and substantially beyond the minimum mandated level may suggest that VA decision-makers perceive value in providing chiropractic care.

Presented as a service to the community by: Union County Chiropractic Clinic, 110 Skyline Drive, Maynardville, TN (865) 992-7000 www.unioncountychiropractic.com.