Freedom (OEF)/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veteran to gain meaningful employment is the best part of my job. These seemingly small outcomes can have a huge impact on the patient’s mood, life purpose and overall perception of their pain and functional outcomes long-term. Additionally, I have had the opportunity to rotate through many different departments and with many different physicians with varying exposure to chiropractic. Being able to interact with other specialties, explaining what we can do for patients, and witnessing as physicians refer their patients to chiropractic care while I am sitting in the room, shows the progress we have made as a profession.
HOW DOES THE INCORPORATION OF CHIROPRACTIC CARE AID IN REDUCING A PATIENT’S PAIN? We provide a non-pharmacological, non-invasive treatment option through manipulation and mobilization, flexiondistraction and lifestyle changes for musculoskeletal complaints. Chiropractic is still fairly new within the VA system, so patients may come to us as a first-line treatment option, or after the patient has trialed many other therapies. The care can be done in isolation, but many times is provided as an adjunctive therapy alongside interventional procedure or psychological interventions.
HOW DOES YOUR WORK ALIGN WITH THE UWS PHILOSOPHY ON INTEGRATING DISCIPLINES? Every time I interact with a patient, I try my best to keep their best interest in mind. What is best for them may be the care I am able to provide. However, it also may mean referring them for a surgical intervention, a more in-depth rehabilitation program or further work-up from a different department. My training at VA Connecticut has allowed me to rotate through different departments, interact with residents, fellows and attending physicians, and understand how we all function together as a health care team to provide the best benefit to the veterans we serve. UWS provided me the foundation for which this lens was built; every management plan is developed with the good of the patient in mind.
CONTACT DR. HALLORAN Learn more about Dr. Halloran’s VA experience on the next page. Have questions or comments for Dr. Halloran?
shalloran5@gmail.com
61