Choosing the Right Chiropractor for You

Many people have heard about chiropractors for years. We’ve even wondered if they can help with some of the pain that we’ve been in, but until now, something has been holding you back from scheduling an appointment. This can often be the case for many first-time patients. Understanding some of the things that you should look for when “shopping” for a new medical provider can help relieve some of your apprehension. There are a few components that we suggest you consider before scheduling your first appointment.
 

Check the Reviews

This doesn’t mean that you should simply do an online search and trust everything that you’ve read. Ask around some of your friends, family or neighbors to see if they have any suggestions or cautionary tales about chiropractors in your area. These suggestions can be valuable because they want you to receive the best care possible, while they won’t hold back on letting you know if there are any issues either.

Additionally, you should check online reviews too. While these aren’t always accurate, and often overrepresent negative aspects, they can be helpful to see if similar issues occur and to see how responsive that office is to their patients’ needs.
 

Check with Your Insurance

Chiropractic care is often a covered practice. This doesn’t mean that all providers are covered by all insurances though. You can ask the chiropractic office if they cover your insurance, but it’s also important to verify that information with your insurance carrier. Additionally, many insurance companies will identify all the covered providers in your area. This can help you narrow your search.
 

Research your Condition

While it isn’t wise to depend entirely on your internet search to understand your condition, it can be helpful to gain some insight. If you think that you can identify what issue you think you are having, it can be helpful to investigate the potential treatments and causes. As you continue your research, make sure to write down some questions for your chiropractic office. This can help ensure that you receive the care that you want and that the office has experience in your specific concerns.
 

Call the Office

Now that you’ve gathered your background information, it’s time to make some phone calls. When you call the office, you can ask some of your specific questions and get a general feel for the professionalism of the staff. Are they attentive to your needs? Do you feel like they took the time to adequately address your questions? Were they competent? Does the chiropractor have experience dealing with your specific issues?

If you feel like the office is a good fit, you can also see about scheduling. While many offices are busy, you’ll also want to make sure that you can be seen in an acceptable amount of time.
 

Analyze Your Appointment

Now that you’ve had your first appointment, it doesn’t mean that you should be locked into that provider if the visit just wasn’t good. Continue to evaluate your care to make sure that you’re receiving everything that you need. There are a few questions that you can ask yourself to make sure that your chiropractor remains a good fit.
 

• Was the office environment suitable?

• Did your chiropractor spend the time to answer your questions and explain your treatment?

• Are the treatments helping your condition?

• Is the treatment comfortable?

• Does your chiropractor seem invested in your health?

If you continue to answer these questions you can be confident that you’re receiving excellent care. If you do have concerns, it’s also a good time to discuss those with your chiropractor so that they can correct the issues.

Overview

If you’ve been holding off on scheduling a chiropractic appointment, now is the time to book your first appointment. Many people don’t get the help that they need and continue to live with the pain. Many patients talk about their hesitations to call, and that they wish they had made an appointment sooner.