The 10 questions you must ask before choosing a
Chiropractor
1. "What techniques do you practice?" – The correct answer is: It depends on what is wrong with you. Some chiropractors are only proficient in only one technique. The problem with this is that not every condition that chiropractic care can help responds to just one technique. You need to know that there are many wonderful chiropractic techniques that can be used to successfully treat, and relieve your condition. For example, I have training in 8 different techniques, and use them all depending on the patient’s specific condition. I have many natural ways to relieve my patients’ pain…and restore their optimal range of motion, flexibility, and function!
2. “Do you take x-rays when necessary?” – Be sure to seek a Chiropractor and Back Pain Specialists who takes x-rays to rule out fracture or a gross pathology (English translation – some other serious problem) as indicated by the consultation, health history and exam. Caring for a patient without x-rays is like flying in the dark without radar. Unfortunately, there are some life and death conditions that can first express themselves with back, neck, or bone pain. X-rays also help me determine the health of your joints and discs, an estimate of how long it will take to get you better, as well as what specific chiropractic techniques will likely do the most good for you. If the Chiropractor and Back Pain Specialists you’re consulting doesn’t take x-rays before recommending treatment, you should consider talking to another doctor.
3. “Will you give me your recommendations in writing?” – This is very important. This allows you to go home and think about it before making a decision. Plus, it gives you an explanation up front of what the care will consist of, how long it will last, and how much it will cost.
4. “Can you furnish me with references?” - Ask for five references. Three of these references should be current patients, and the other two should be other health care professionals like an orthopedic doctor, and a medical doctor. There are three reasons for getting patient and professional references. First, any person in practice should have at least three satisfied patients they can provide you with. Secondly, if a chiropractic doctor cannot produce two other professionals that will attest to his or her ability as a chiropractor, he or she may not be respected by his or her peers. Last, outside professionals in the community see all kinds of things, will usually be aware of what kind of care is available, and what kind of quality is provided by different folks.
Feel free to call the references you receive. Many people ask for references, but never use them! Call all five people. You can never learn too much about the person you are considering using for your chiropractic needs. Take the few minutes to talk to these people. It will be worth it!
5. “Do you have payment plans available?”- Successful Chiropractor and Back Pain Specialists practices usually allow patients to make payments. For example, I allow both my cash and insurance patients to spread out their entire care, deductibles and co-pays into low monthly installments. This allows them to get the care they want without financial stress. Any successful practice will be able to work with you on the payments, whether you’re covered by insurance or not.
6. “Will you guarantee my satisfaction?” – You should receive a 100% guarantee of unconditional satisfaction. By law no Chiropractor and Back Pain Specialists doctors can guarantee results. But, for example, an office that offers the following guarantee: “You’ll be totally satisfied with each office visit, or that visit is FREE!” shows you that they are putting their money where their mouth is. In my office, every patient knows that if they feel rushed or don’t get the attention they think they deserve, or aren’t satisfied with how they are treated that day…will get that visit FREE. And in the 9 years we’ve had this policy, I’m proud to say we haven’t had one patient express dissatisfaction. Make sure the doctor you choose is willing to stand behind their care.
7. “Do you have a no waiting policy?” – A recent patient survey revealed that what irritates patients the most is when the doctor and the staff do not respect their time and make them wait excessively in the waiting room. Now most doctors claim their patients don’t have to wait excessively. But, in our office, our policy is that no patient waits longer than five minutes in our reception area for an appointment.
8. “Do you have a criteria for determining how many visits I need?” Some Chiropractor and Back Pain Specialists do not have an objective method to determine how many visits are necessary to relieve your pain, and to maintain your newly found state of excellent health. They make subjective guesses about your initial treatment and progress. I do progress exams along the way to make sure we are on track that include equipment that will tell both of us how you are doing. This procedure tells us exactly when we are done with the initial pain relief care, and how we are doing in maintaining the relief…so your dysfunction doesn’t come back. That way you don’t get even one more visit than you actually need. Make sure to find out how the doctor you’re talking to measures progress, and whether it’s routine or not.
9. “Will you show me ways of preventing what you are treating?” – I saw a sign the other day in my dentist’s office that read, “Support your dentist, eat more candy”. Although I know he’s joking, I spend a considerable amount of time customizing simple and easy ways for you to stay healthy…no matter what caused your problem to begin with. You’ll be thrilled to find out how quick and easy it is to prevent your pain from coming back without drugs or surgery. This prolongs the benefits of the care you’ve received; and helps prevent you from re-injuring yourself. Any competent Chiropractor and Back Pain Specialists would want you to avoid future problems.
10. “Do you offer free consultations?” – There’s no way a Chiropractor and Back Pain Specialists should expect a patient to choose him or her without first visiting the office to see if the office, staff and doctor is for them. This will also give you a chance to talk to any of our patients while they are coming in and going out.
Initially, I provide a FREE, NO OBLIGATION, consultation to determine if I can help you and answer any questions you may have about your condition or my treatment. Noone in my office is going to pressure you into care or anything. This is simply a chance for you to meet us, and see if our services can benefit you.
If after your free consultation, you decide you do not want to proceed, you simply leave and that is that. If however, you do find that you could use our help, we will discuss the details of how we proceed from there.
Well, I hope this information will give you the confidence in taking the first step to regaining your health by experiencing the benefits of chiropractic care.
1. "What techniques do you practice?" – The correct answer is: It depends on what is wrong with you. Some chiropractors are only proficient in only one technique. The problem with this is that not every condition that chiropractic care can help responds to just one technique. You need to know that there are many wonderful chiropractic techniques that can be used to successfully treat, and relieve your condition. For example, I have training in 8 different techniques, and use them all depending on the patient’s specific condition. I have many natural ways to relieve my patients’ pain…and restore their optimal range of motion, flexibility, and function!
2. “Do you take x-rays when necessary?” – Be sure to seek a Chiropractor and Back Pain Specialists who takes x-rays to rule out fracture or a gross pathology (English translation – some other serious problem) as indicated by the consultation, health history and exam. Caring for a patient without x-rays is like flying in the dark without radar. Unfortunately, there are some life and death conditions that can first express themselves with back, neck, or bone pain. X-rays also help me determine the health of your joints and discs, an estimate of how long it will take to get you better, as well as what specific chiropractic techniques will likely do the most good for you. If the Chiropractor and Back Pain Specialists you’re consulting doesn’t take x-rays before recommending treatment, you should consider talking to another doctor.
3. “Will you give me your recommendations in writing?” – This is very important. This allows you to go home and think about it before making a decision. Plus, it gives you an explanation up front of what the care will consist of, how long it will last, and how much it will cost.
4. “Can you furnish me with references?” - Ask for five references. Three of these references should be current patients, and the other two should be other health care professionals like an orthopedic doctor, and a medical doctor. There are three reasons for getting patient and professional references. First, any person in practice should have at least three satisfied patients they can provide you with. Secondly, if a chiropractic doctor cannot produce two other professionals that will attest to his or her ability as a chiropractor, he or she may not be respected by his or her peers. Last, outside professionals in the community see all kinds of things, will usually be aware of what kind of care is available, and what kind of quality is provided by different folks.
Feel free to call the references you receive. Many people ask for references, but never use them! Call all five people. You can never learn too much about the person you are considering using for your chiropractic needs. Take the few minutes to talk to these people. It will be worth it!
5. “Do you have payment plans available?”- Successful Chiropractor and Back Pain Specialists practices usually allow patients to make payments. For example, I allow both my cash and insurance patients to spread out their entire care, deductibles and co-pays into low monthly installments. This allows them to get the care they want without financial stress. Any successful practice will be able to work with you on the payments, whether you’re covered by insurance or not.
6. “Will you guarantee my satisfaction?” – You should receive a 100% guarantee of unconditional satisfaction. By law no Chiropractor and Back Pain Specialists doctors can guarantee results. But, for example, an office that offers the following guarantee: “You’ll be totally satisfied with each office visit, or that visit is FREE!” shows you that they are putting their money where their mouth is. In my office, every patient knows that if they feel rushed or don’t get the attention they think they deserve, or aren’t satisfied with how they are treated that day…will get that visit FREE. And in the 9 years we’ve had this policy, I’m proud to say we haven’t had one patient express dissatisfaction. Make sure the doctor you choose is willing to stand behind their care.
7. “Do you have a no waiting policy?” – A recent patient survey revealed that what irritates patients the most is when the doctor and the staff do not respect their time and make them wait excessively in the waiting room. Now most doctors claim their patients don’t have to wait excessively. But, in our office, our policy is that no patient waits longer than five minutes in our reception area for an appointment.
8. “Do you have a criteria for determining how many visits I need?” Some Chiropractor and Back Pain Specialists do not have an objective method to determine how many visits are necessary to relieve your pain, and to maintain your newly found state of excellent health. They make subjective guesses about your initial treatment and progress. I do progress exams along the way to make sure we are on track that include equipment that will tell both of us how you are doing. This procedure tells us exactly when we are done with the initial pain relief care, and how we are doing in maintaining the relief…so your dysfunction doesn’t come back. That way you don’t get even one more visit than you actually need. Make sure to find out how the doctor you’re talking to measures progress, and whether it’s routine or not.
9. “Will you show me ways of preventing what you are treating?” – I saw a sign the other day in my dentist’s office that read, “Support your dentist, eat more candy”. Although I know he’s joking, I spend a considerable amount of time customizing simple and easy ways for you to stay healthy…no matter what caused your problem to begin with. You’ll be thrilled to find out how quick and easy it is to prevent your pain from coming back without drugs or surgery. This prolongs the benefits of the care you’ve received; and helps prevent you from re-injuring yourself. Any competent Chiropractor and Back Pain Specialists would want you to avoid future problems.
10. “Do you offer free consultations?” – There’s no way a Chiropractor and Back Pain Specialists should expect a patient to choose him or her without first visiting the office to see if the office, staff and doctor is for them. This will also give you a chance to talk to any of our patients while they are coming in and going out.
Initially, I provide a FREE, NO OBLIGATION, consultation to determine if I can help you and answer any questions you may have about your condition or my treatment. Noone in my office is going to pressure you into care or anything. This is simply a chance for you to meet us, and see if our services can benefit you.
If after your free consultation, you decide you do not want to proceed, you simply leave and that is that. If however, you do find that you could use our help, we will discuss the details of how we proceed from there.
Well, I hope this information will give you the confidence in taking the first step to regaining your health by experiencing the benefits of chiropractic care.
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