When it comes to your back or any other concern with your joints or connective tissues, you should take it seriously and seek professional help. The good news is that a chiropractor may be able to help you with your concerns and provide you with the treatment you need. But it will help if you have a chiropractor who you can trust, who is experienced and who listens carefully to all of your concerns.
When you think of a chiropractor as a medical professional you’ll hopefully be depending on for years to come, it makes sense to invest time into finding the right one. Here are some tips to help you reach that goal.
1. Ask Around
Which chiropractor do your friends and family see for their troubles? Would they recommend their chiropractor to others? Why or why not? The bottom line is that if your friends and family get along with their chiropractor and find them top-notch, it’s possible you will, too.
2. Research
If you come across a chiropractor you like, it’d be a good idea to do some research on his or her credentials. You need to be assured the chiropractor has the correct and appropriate training from a high-quality institution. You should also make sure that any chiropractor you’re considering has no history with malpractice or disciplinary hearings.
3. Look At Experience
A chiropractor with no to little experience could be just as good as an experienced professional, but do you want to take the chance? An experienced professional will likely get things done far more quickly, with fewer mistakes and less experimentation than someone young. You don’t have to go for the oldest one around, but five to ten years of work in the field may be a more desirable fit than someone with no experience.
4. Consider Seeing How You Communicate Before Committing to Care
It’s important that you like and feel comfortable with a potential chiropractor. After all, you may have to see him or her regularly for quite some time to solve your issues. To do this, narrow down your choices to a couple of candidates and see if you can have a quick consultation with each one to determine if he or she is the right fit for you.
You need someone who communicates in a style that matches what you’re the most comfortable with. Also make sure you can communicate any questions without hesitation, and get a calm, friendly and helpful answer in return. You need a chiropractor who’s interested in hearing what you’re okay with, what treatment type you prefer and who you can easily understand.
5. Listen to Other Patients
A great way to get a grasp of how patients view their chiropractor is by reading reviews. Nobody will tell you more about a product than a consumer, and the same goes for medical professionals. But you can’t just go to one source and read a few reviews. Instead, you should sit down and research reviews for at least 30 minutes.
To get started, look for patient reviews on your chiropractor’s website, on Yelp or on Facebook. For an example of what you can find on Facebook in the way of reviews, look at this chiropractor’s page: https://www.facebook.com/CountyLineChiroLauderhill/.
You can also use your favorite search engine to search the chiropractor’s name with the word “review” after it to locate patient reviews. Don’t just settle for comments that reveal little, such as “great doctor, cured my back pain very fast” or “not bad, cold hands.” Look for reviews that discuss whether the chiropractor listened, whether the office was clean and whether the entire practice and everyone in it was approachable. Other details, such as how long it took for solutions to patients’ problems can also be helpful to know.
Another possibility is to use a resource, such as Zocdoc, which can help you find chiropractors near you and also offers reviews.
7. Consider Insurance Coverage
Everyone knows medical stuff can get pricey. So, consider who and what your insurance plan covers, and find a chiropractor who’s covered by your plan. All the other factors are still important, of course, but this one is just as vital. Paying out of pocket can be costly.
8. Inquire About Telehealth
Not every ailment needs an examination right away. Some patients can describe their symptoms and have their problems diagnosed and treated over email, video call or phone call. If you’re super busy or just don’t feel like going in for a twinge around your sciatic nerve, telehealth communications could be a good first-step solution for you.
