More often than I would like, new patients present to our office for a different approach to Chiropractic Care. What I find is a patient has been seeing another practitioner for some time, but then something happens. The allure and magic of care has vanished, and it is replaced by a doctor/patient approach similar to a fast-food encounter.
Many patients initially seek out Chiropractors for pain relief of neck and lower back pain-then routinely discover the benefits of the Chiropractic adjustment. When patients are suffering and want quick relief, they may at first overlook the speed at which care is rendered, especially if its helping.
Naturally as chiropractic visits start to reduce in frequency, something shifts. The pain relief is still occurring, but its replaced with a feeling of dissatisfaction. This process may take months or years in my experience, and not everyone feels this way. There are thousands of busy chiropractic practices that follow this model with loyal patients who come month after month for the same service-others want more from their providers.
Chiropractors are not primary care providers but spend a lot of time with patients (or they should) helping them out of pain at first- then guiding them towards a more natural approach to health.
The statement that I commonly hear from patients is “I just feel like a number now,” or it’s the same service without change each visit. No discussion of their overall health, or other health concerns that they may have--- just “snap, crackle, and pop.” Every visit the same as the last, no discussion of what is wrong, or how patients can help themselves outside of a Chiropractic office.
As health care providers, we have a responsibility to do more for the people who trust us with their care- not just run an assembly line to make more money churning people in and out.
I have had healthy disagreements with many of my fellow colleagues, who insist they care for their patients-- they are just more efficient and have systems in place to see more people per day. I can justify this to a point- as I have staff that aides me also; but people know when personal attention has gone away.
If you are feeling like a number, rest assured there are Chiropractic providers who don’t practice in this fashion, but finding one is getting harder. I always tell my patients that I work for them, and If they ever feel like this to speak up so that I can discuss their feelings and rectify the matter immediately.
