Chiropractic Care refers to the diagnosis and treatment of spinal and neuromuscular disorders. Such treatment may involve spinal manipulation or other alternative methods aimed at restoring mobility of joints that are restricted by tissue. With regards to chiropractic care, it is essential that the patient seeking treatment fully understands the treatments used at the chiropractic care facility of their choosing. Chiropractors vary widely in the techniques used, as well as methods and philosophies practiced. Therefore, it is imperative that prior to selecting a chiropractic care facility that you fully ensure that not only are you and the chiropractor compatible, but also that you feel comfortable with the methods and chiropractic care techniques employed.
In addition to understanding the chiropractors manipulation techniques, practices, education and overall chiropractic care style, it may be beneficial to consider what payment plans the facility offers, fees associated with treatment, and the business setup of the chiropractic care facility, along with other factors, before you select a chiropractor.
Chiropractic Care Facility Processes and Costs
There are many questions that you should consider inquiring about for any chiropractic care facility of interest to you. One of the most important, monetarily speaking, is with regards to whether or not the practice accepts or works with your insurance provider. Be sure to inquire about their billing process for clients whose insurance is not accepted by the practice. This is a significant question as many chiropractic care facilities will offer a special insurance-denied discount for customers paying cash out of pocket.
Take time to inquire about a free initial consultation, where you will have the opportunity to get to know the chiropractor, their facility and the style of chiropractic care practiced. Also ask about any other adjustment fees and other offered discounts, such as a family-volume discount. When questioning the facility about discounts and fees, be sure to request information about whether or not the chiropractic care facility offers a guarantee. Many practices will offer a satisfaction guarantee where they warrant the complete satisfaction of their patients or the services will be free of charge.
When it comes to business practices you might consider inquiring about how long the average wait time in the waiting room is. This is an important question to ask of any medical facility, but particularly for chiropractic care facilities, since some are notorious for extensively long wait times. Selecting a chiropractic care facility that will reliably fit into your schedule will have a large impact on how satisfied you are with the services provided to you. It may also be important to you to consider whether or not the chiropractic care facility provides their customers with a written treatment plan. Many patients prefer that their chiropractors use this approach so that they may further research any treatments that are recommended for their benefit.
Lastly, it is always important to request a list of professional references from your potential chiropractic care facility of choice. Upon request the practice should provide you with a list of healthcare professionals in the area with whom they work – medical doctors, physical therapists, naturopaths, massage therapists and acupuncturists.
Potential Red Flags That Could Indicate a Questionable Chiropractic Care Practice
It is considered a beyond reasonable practice to be weary of certain types of marketing approaches aimed at producing new patients or encouraging existing ones to return for long-term treatment, with regards to chiropractic care. Some potential red flags to watch out for include recommending spinal manipulation based solely on posture, as well as long-term contracts based only on a brief exam.
If a patient visits a chiropractor for care due to poor posture, but has no other complaints, a competent chiropractor would likely recommend an exercise strengthening program, ergonomic modifications or a stretching program and perhaps suggestion routine checkups to ensure that the prescribed exercises are proving effective. Automatic manipulation would not be warranted.
Beware of free spinal exam offers, such as those that are offered in a shopping mall, through coupons or at a health fair. This is a common marketing practice among chiropractic care facilities and is aimed at getting patients in the door, at which point they will undergo an incomplete examination, where long-term care will then be recommended by the chiropractor. Any type of long-term treatment of this nature is unwarranted as a patient’s treatment length will vary depending on their unique response to the practices in use. Generally speaking, what should be expected is a trial treatment plan with an examination scheduled within a 4 to 6-week period, which will serve as an opportunity to evaluate the patient’s response to the chiropractic care.
Additionally, beware of chiropractors who request lump-sum payments for long-term treatment plans. You should never be required to pay for your chiropractic care services until the day that you receive the treatment.
There are millions of Americans who have found not only relief from chronic back pain, but also a pathway to wellness trough the drug-free, natural approach to healthcare that chiropractic care has to offer. As the second most common neurological ailment in the nation, exceeded by only the headache, back pain is a common concern to individuals that requires proper treatment to manage. Chiropractic care offers exquisite benefits to the patient when performed properly.
Learn more about the benefits of chiropractic care contact Epic Healthcare & Physical Medicine today.