PUBLISHED MAY 10, 2019
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
STUDY OBJECTIVE
To evaluate clinical and economic outcomes associated with integrating physical medicine in employer-sponsored health centers.
METHODOLOGY
Using retrospective cohort analysis, the authors compared healthcare claims and clinical outcomes data of Crossover Health patients with musculoskeletal complaints to the largest national database of outpatient physical medicine outcomes, provided by Focus On Therapeutic Outcomes, Inc. (FOTO).
STUDY RESULTS
For patients treated for musculoskeletal pain by Crossover Health with integrated services—such as physical therapy, chiropractic, behavioral health and acupuncture—versus patients receiving the same treatments in the community (traditional healthcare providers), the following outcomes
were identified in the research:
| Clinical Outcomes | Economic Outcomes |
|---|---|
| 8 fewer visits per patient episode; plus, decreased wait times (2-4x faster access) | $472-$630 savings per patient episode (67% reduction) |
| 52% fewer imaging services | |
| 1/10th of typical opioid prescriptions | |
IMPLICATIONS
Musculoskeletal complaints are among the most common reasons for outpatient visits among adults in the US. Employees with these conditions are typically subject to over-use of high-cost imaging procedures, orthopedic and neurosurgical specialist visits, and prescription pain medications, including opioids. Employers are actively seeking innovative healthcare solutions to care for employees with musculoskeletal complaints, representing the second largest cause of short-term work disability.
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