What to watch out for in a Chiropractor

Every profession has good and bad apples.  Chiropractic is no different than any other health care category in that most of the providers went into the field to help people with health problems.  Fortunately, we have more good apples than bad apples in the all health care disciplines.  Unfortunately, sometimes those bad apples can make the entire discipline look rotten and cause some patients to avoid them all, when they really could be helped more by that type of provider than any other. 
Below is a list of things to keep in mind when looking for and or seeing a Chiropractor.  These are just some clues to pay attention to that may make you consider seeking out another Chiropractor.  Some of these clues are universal for all health care providers, and some are specific to Chiropractic.
1) The first and perhaps biggest red flag is a clinic that offers free or discounted initial exam/xrays/treatment/massages or even chicken dinners to come in for the first time.  You pay for what you get in life.  They are either very desperate for patients or plan to get you to commit to a lifetime expensive treatment plan and or over bill your insurance for unnecessary treatment that you do not need or want.  Do not even consider this Doctor, his goals are his, not yours.
2) An initial treatment plan that assumes you want a perfect spine, laying out a program for longer than 6 weeks. 
3) A Doctor that does not ask you what it is you want to accomplish by visiting them.
4) A Doctor that gives you exactly the same treatment plan as every other patient.
5) A Doctor that will not willingly refer or provide a report to your Primary care Doctor or other Health care provider.
6) A clinic that tries to make you purchase tons of nutritional support products, ice packs (frozen peas work well), etc. that you do not want.  One or two things may be appropriate but not a bag full of s.!*&%.
7) An initial treatment plan that assumes you want a lifetime relationship and "perfect spinal hygiene" with a never ending treatment plan.  Initial treatment plans longer than 12 visits is not appropriate for most patient goals and not supported by research.  If you are not getting better by then without a reasonable explanation, you should be referred somewhere else.
8) A Doctor that does not help you learn how to take care of yourself at home.  
9) A Doctor that claims he can treat and or cure anything you may have.
10) If you have an appointment scheduled and have to wait longer than 10 minutes to be seen, this clinic has a total lack of respect for your time or has serious management issues.  They should never overbook, it is not an airline.
11) A clinic that will not be up front about your potential financial obligations with or without your insurance.  You should know exactly (as close as possible) what your getting in to, in writing.
12) A clinic that does not provide you choices for your care and let you choose.  If it is pain treatment only, conditioning or wellness, it should always be up to the patient.
I will likely get a few Chiropractors upset for writing this but so be it.
James D. McLelland D.C.
Chiroworksva.com and Physical Medicine
Chiropractic Centers of Short Pump
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Author: James D. McLelland D.C.
Source: Chiroworksva.com and Physical Medicine
Copyright: Chiroworksva.com and Physical Medicine 2014