How to Choose a Chiropractor
The chiropractic hands-on approach to health care that promotes healing without medications or surgery has become a mainstream health option.How do you find the best chiropractor? Here are eight steps to start your search:
Step 1: Get referrals
Start by asking your primary care physician for a referral list of chiropractors. Also, ask family and friends for recommendations. Research the chiropractors’ credentials and experience online. Call prospective offices to see if he or she is accepting new patients. Ask for an appointment to meet and interview the chiropractor.
Step 2: Research credentials
Licensure is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a chiropractor. You’ll find the chiropractor’s medical school, training hospital, certifications, malpractice and disciplinary history on healthgrades.com and state websites.
Step 3: Consider experience
The more experience a chiropractor has with a condition or procedure, the better a person’s results are likely to be. Ask how many patients with a specific condition or procedure has he or she treated. What are the complications?
Step 4: Consider gender
It’s important for a patient to feel comfortable discussing personal information with a chiropractor. Chiropractors are also becoming more skilled in caring for women and men uniquely because of their gender.
Step 5: Research hospital quality
Some chiropractors are affiliated with certain hospitals, so patients need to consider the quality of care at that particular hospital, when making a decision..
Step 6: Evaluate communication styles
Choose a chiropractor with whom you feel comfortable talking and who supports your need for information. Does he or she welcome your questions and answer them in a way you can understand? Your chiropractor should be interested in getting to know you, consider your treatment preferences and respect your decision-making process.
Step 7: Review patient satisfaction surveys
Reading about what other people have to say about a chiropractor can provide insight as to how he or she provides care and how the practice is operated. You’ll learn about scheduling appointments, wait times, office environment and office staff friendliness.
Step 8: Insurance matters
To receive the most insurance benefits and pay the least out-of-pocket, you may need to choose a chiropractor who participates in your plan.
Source: http://www.tctimes.com/
