Q&A with Engage 2020 Presenters: Dr. Mat DiMond

ACA’s annual meeting becomes ACA Engage in 2020. The new name is part of the association’s ongoing efforts to position members for success by bringing them advocacy and leadership-development opportunities, networking events and cutting-edge education programs (many of which feature CE credits).

One of Engage 2020’s education program presenters is Mat DiMond, DC, DACRB, assistant professor of clinical services at the University of Bridgeport. His presentation, “Functional Outcomes: Meeting Documentation Standards for Today’s Insurance Guidelines,” takes place Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, at 2 p.m. For complete conference information and schedules, click here, and learn more about Dr. DiMond’s presentation in our Q&A with him below:

How is your topic relevant to today’s chiropractor?

The emphasis on data-directed outcomes is altering how insurance companies make payment decisions. Doctors can adopt proactive, instead of reactive, approaches to assessment and documentation that demonstrate the patient improvements needed to show medical necessity. Functional outcomes are metrics that will represent patient improvement. What better way to assess outcomes than by seeing improvement in the activities people enjoy?

How can knowing more about this topic help chiropractors be successful now…and into the future?

For those who accept insurance payments, the trend of defining medical necessity is not likely going to change. Using current outcome assessment tools is failing to show meaningful improvement in our patient’s response to care.

As our profession advances, we are seeing more evidence supporting matched-treatment interventions based on psychosocial models and multimodal management strategies specifically aimed at improving quality of life metrics. People are more than a pain scale number. We’ll broaden our impact and authority on neuromusculoskeletal conditions as we work to adopt important changes for our patient’s outcomes.

Who should attend your presentation and why?

Patient-centered outcomes and educating on self-reliance will be the focus of the next wave of health care. More and more people are being charged with their personal commitment to participate. We must look to familiarize ourselves with these approaches and learn where our next breakthrough will be as a health profession.

What practical knowledge or skills can attendees expect to take away from your presentation?

There are many actionable points throughout the presentation. Practically speaking, it’s about doctors identifying moments in a person’s history and their assessment that easily lend themselves to drafting outcomes. Chances are that much of this information is being obtained, but what lacks is seeing its value as an outcome and documenting it appropriately. There will also be various comments on how to engage patients in conversations to welcome them as active and participating members of their health team.

What is one piece of information or advice that you want to leave with chiropractors who read this?

Inviting people to have a conversation about their health goals opens up countless possibilities for their care. And while documenting functional outcomes to demonstrate medical necessity may seem like a daunting task, it doesn’t have to be.

To learn more about education programs and CE credits available at Engage 2020 (formerly NCLC) and to register, visit www.acatoday.org/engage.