Are you still looking for a reason to add laser therapy to your practice? Here is what you need to know about adding this advanced laser therapeutic technology to your treatment plans in 2024.
According to a Gallup poll, a record-high 38% of the population put off necessary medical treatment in 2022. That’s up by 12% compared to 2021. This means practitioners may treat more advanced, complicated conditions in patients with more pain than before. Many healthcare providers are switching to laser therapy to promote healing and reduce pain in their patients.
Once thought of as futuristic, laser therapy technology is essential for most medical practices for a variety of reasons. Here are ten motivations for medical professionals to add laser therapy to their services in the upcoming year:
1. Laser therapy for pain is a drug-free approach
Laser therapy is a non-pharmaceutical approach to alleviating pain. Out of concern for the side effects analgesics can cause, many patients prefer to avoid using painkillers whenever possible.
This is particularly true for prescription opioid pain relievers, which had often been the first course of treatment for pain until the opioid epidemic swept the nation. Of all patients prescribed opioids, between 3% to 19% develop an opioid abuse disorder. Laser therapy helps alleviate acute and chronic pain without the use of dangerous pills.
2. Laser therapy works
This innovative treatment uses a high-powered therapeutic laser that delivers red and near-infrared light wavelengths deep into the affected tissue. Energy from these wavelengths stimulates cellular energy production by targeting the mitochondria of the body’s cells. This stimulation promotes circulation and increases the levels of inflammation-resolving mediators in ways that help repair damaged tissue and remove waste from the affected area. Clinicians use laser therapy to provide long-term pain relief for arthritis and tendonitis, promote the healing of wounds, and repair damage from acute muscle injury.
3. Laser therapy is highly customizable
Laser therapy is customizable, so you can treat large, curved areas of injured tissue as easily as you can treat small, flat areas. This allows you to treat a wide variety of conditions, from subacromial impingement syndrome in the shoulder to plantar fasciitis in the feet to arthritis affecting nearly every joint in between. It also treats the underlying cause of those conditions while promoting healing, thereby helping more patients feel better faster.
4. Use fewer pieces of equipment
Because laser therapy is customizable to fit almost any patient’s needs, you can treat a wider variety of conditions with fewer pieces of equipment. This helps your practice save money and make better use of space inside your practice.
5. Safer practice
Older equipment is also more prone to malfunctioning, increasing the risk to your patients and your staff. Malfunctioning equipment can overheat, for example. Old equipment can also become challenging to control, which can make treatment less effective.
Laser therapy uses new, state-of-the-art equipment that is more reliable and, therefore, safer. Because it uses light energy, laser therapy presents fewer side effects than surgery or prescription pain relievers too, so it is safer for your patients.
According to MedlinePlus, lasers provide a precise beam that allows professionals to target specific tissue. That means fewer injuries associated with treatment.
6. Competitive advantage
Adding laser therapy to your practice means offering something the competition does not. Lasers are advanced technology that shows patients how progressive your practice is and supports your brand.
7. Improved aesthetic
Advanced laser equipment also has a sleeker design that fits better with this decade’s aesthetic trends. Patients will likely notice your new equipment and feel more confident that your practice delivers high-quality care.
8. Laser therapy is an investment that generates income
While they can be costly, purchasing medical laser equipment is an investment that will pay for itself over time. Having laser therapy as an option in your practice means you can expand your services and drive in new patients for additional revenues.
9. Insurance may cover the cost of laser equipment
For example, some insurance providers cover the cost of laser therapy, so you can offer to bill the providers. In cases where insurance providers do not provide coverage, you can offer a cash-based program separate from your other services. This saves your office from the time-consuming tasks of additional billing, and you will also benefit from immediate payment rather than waiting for reimbursement from insurance companies.
10. Improves outcomes of other treatments
You can optimize patient outcomes by combining laser therapy with physical therapy and other treatments to reduce pain and restore range of motion.
More clinicians are integrating laser therapy into their practices as a growing number of patients seek alternatives to traditional treatments for pain and inflammation. Adding a laser therapy system to your practice this year will be a valuable investment in your patients’ health and your practice’s bottom line.
Learn & discover the power of laser therapy with in-person seminars hosted by Aspen Laser.
This article was originally published December 21, 2020, and was last updated on March 5, 2024.
