CAPP Physician Group: HENRY FORD MEDICAL GROUP
Project: Auto Manufacturer Care Innovation Collaborative: Chronic Back Pain Program

Summary: Utilizing complementary and alternative medicine techniques, such as acupuncture and chiropractic treatment, and group classes at the workplace, Henry Ford helps reduce chronic back pain for GM employees.

In 2006, Henry Ford Medical Group created an innovative workplace-based program to address chronic back pain among the employees at the General Motors headquarters in Detroit. The program was particularly innovative in two respects: Utilizing complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) techniques; and group classes versus the more traditional “one-on-one” treatment model.

Participants were identified through a confidential online survey at Chrysler Headquarters. Patients who reported having back pain for at least 3 months with pain level of 2 or > on a 0 -1 0 scale were accepted into the study. Classes took place at the worksite. Health Plan quality grants provided funding for the research project through an “Quantum Leap in Quality” grant.

In the study, CAM interventions were found to be between three and five times more effective than physical therapy in resolving back pain. The CAM protocols that were tested included chiropractic, needling acupuncture, electrical stimulation of acupuncture points, St. John Neuromuscular Therapy, movement re-education, and mind-body therapy.

Specifically, the percentage of individuals reporting zero average pain in the last treatment week was 55 percent (35/63) for the group class approach versus 5 percent conventional physical therapy (2/37) and zero patients in the control group. Results for the group class approach also significantly exceeded those resulting from one-to-one CAM interventions with individual patients. Generally, all CAM approaches were more effective than physical therapy.

Cost savings or absenteeism rates are not yet available. However, traditional PT would cost $100,000 for 100 people and yield a 5 percent resolution (defined as pain-free). In this study, pain resolution is 55 percent and about $60,000 in cost savings are anticipated.

For more information about this project, contact Dr. Robert Levine, PhD, Henry Ford Medical Group, (248) 342-7555; Matt Walsh, Health Alliance Plan, (313) 664-8103; Bruce Bradley, General Motors, (313) 665-1817.

Integrating Services for Low-Income Seniors Shows Health Care Benefit, by Claire Sowerbutt, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today, December 11, 2007.

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 11 -- For low-income seniors, the likelihood of providing the recommended standard of health care services could be enhanced by integrating home-based and institutional services, found researchers here.

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“From High Tech to Soft Touch: The Everett Clinic uses innovative ways to control health care costs,” by Bryan Corliss, Washington CEO, November 26, 2007.

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“CAPP’s 35 MSMGs [multispecialty medical groups] share a common vision as learning organizations dedicated to the improvement of clinical care. Their features include physician leadership and governance; commitment to evidence-based care management processes; well-developed quality improvement systems; team-based care; the use of advance clinical information technology; and the collection, analysis, and distribution of clinical performance information. These features are congruent with the [Institute of Medicine’s] recommendations on key elements needed to redesign delivery systems.”

From Chapter 5, “Developing the Test Bed—Linking Integrated Service Delivery Systems: Council of Accountable Physician Practices,” by Michael A. Mustile, MD. The Learning Healthcare System: Workshop Summary (IOM Roundtable on Evidence-Based Medicine), edited by LeighAnne Olsen, Dara Aisner, and J. Michael McGinnis, National Academies Press, 2007.

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“A shift from the current care model to a more coordinated care model centered on primary care is one potential way to help stave off the healthcare dilemma.”

“It's too expensive to be a primary-care doctor,” by Debra A. Geihsler, president and CEO of Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates & Atrius Health. Boston Globe, July 25, 2007.

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