Did you know there are over 70,000 licensed chiropractors in the United States? If you are interested in receiving chiropractic care, it can be challenging to find a doctor that fits your health needs, budget, and lifestyle. Keep reading to discover some tips for choosing the best chiropractor for your needs.
1. Get Referrals
Ask your primary doctor for referrals to chiropractors in your area. You can also ask family, friends, and other doctors for good recommendations. Once you gather a list of chiropractors, it’s recommended that you contact each chiropractic office to see if they are accepting new patients. Any office that is not accepting new patients can be crossed off your list, so you can focus only on the offices that are taking new patients.
2. Review the Chiropractor’s Credentials
To receive the best quality care, it’s important to research a chiropractor’s credentials. A licensed chiropractor has obtained a doctoral degree with over 4,200 hours of hands-on training and passed both state and national exams before they started practicing. This education and training is essential for performing safe, gentle, effective chiropractic adjustments on patients.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to look up any history of malpractice claims or disciplinary actions against them. A reliable, trustworthy chiropractor will not have serious issues like this on their records. You can also look up where a chiropractor went to college, as well as where they did their clinical internships.
3. Review the Chiropractor’s Experience
Regardless of the health issues you have, it’s helpful to know how much experience a chiropractor has treating your specific health conditions. Ask the chiropractor how many patients they have treated with similar conditions. This will give you a good idea of how experienced they are and whether this chiropractor will be the best choice for your health and wellness goals.
4. Check Patient Reviews
Most people read patient reviews before choosing a doctor. Studies show that almost 71 percent of patients read online reviews as the first step in finding a doctor. Patient reviews offer great insight into a patient’s experience at a chiropractic office. You can learn about a patient’s experience with contacting an office, as well as the wait times, office environment, costs, staff friendliness, and quality of services.
Positive or negative, patients will share their opinions about a practice. As you look at each review, pay close attention to reviews that mention how long the chiropractor spends with each patient, how well they listen to patients, and how much they seem to care about patients. Some chiropractors may rush through seeing patients, while others take their time and try to help every patient as much as possible during their appointments. These reviews will help you during the decision-making process.
5. Ask About Their Techniques
With over 100 different techniques used globally, it’s important to ask which techniques a chiropractor uses at their office. This information will help you determine whether the chiropractor is a good fit for your needs. After all, you have probably researched some common techniques used for your health issues. Once you choose a chiropractor and have a consultation appointment, the chiropractor will evaluate your health needs and create a personalized treatment plan, which includes the best techniques for your health and wellness goals.
6. Ask About Costs and Insurance
As you narrow down your list for the best chiropractor, remember to ask about costs and insurance options. Every chiropractor accepts different types of insurance, so it’s wise to ask before the first appointment. This will help you determine whether this office will be the best option for your budget.
If you will be paying out of pocket, ask about the costs for your first and ongoing appointments. Most practices offer a new patient special, which usually includes a consultation, medical exam, and x-rays at an affordable price. Overtime, you will find that chiropractic care is an extremely cost-effective treatment plan because it helps you obtain whole-body health and wellness. In turn, this can decrease or even remove the number of doctor visits needed to refill costly drugs that only treat symptoms or to have invasive surgeries that may not work.
7. Book Your Consultation Appointment
Once you have chosen the best chiropractor for your needs, the next step is to give them a call. If they have a website, you can also schedule your consultation appointment online. This makes it quick and easy to choose a date and time that works best for your schedule. If you are ready to gain victory over your health, contact Keystone Chiropractic today. We would love to become your new Plano and Dallas, TX Chiropractors!
