With over 70,000 licensed chiropractors in the U.S., it can be challenging to find a chiropractor that fits your budget, lifestyle, health goals, and needs. As more people are becoming aware of the health benefits of chiropractic care, this alternative health care is becoming more in demand. If you are looking for a chiropractor, keep reading to discover some helpful tips to help you choose the best chiropractor for your needs.
1. Ask for Referrals
Call your primary care doctor to request referrals to chiropractors in your local community. You can also ask friends, family, and other doctors for good recommendations. Once you have a list of chiropractors, this is a great time to call up each one to see if they are currently accepting new patients. If they are not taking new patients, you can easily cross them off your list and move on to the next step for offices that are taking new patients.
2. Research the Chiropractor’s Credentials
To ensure that you receive the best quality chiropractic care, it’s essential that you research a chiropractor’s credentials. A licensed chiropractor has received a doctoral degree, over 4,200 hours of hands-on training, and passed national and state exams before they started practicing. This education and training is necessary for them to perform safe, gentle, and effective chiropractic adjustments for every patient.
Aside from their credentials, take this time to look up any history of malpractice claims or disciplinary actions against them. A reliable, trustworthy chiropractor will not have issues on their records. You can even look up where the chiropractor went to school and did their internships.
3. Research the Chiropractor’s Experience
No matter what type of health issues you have, it’s important to know how much experience a chiropractor has treating your specific health conditions. You can ask a chiropractor roughly how many patients they have treated with your health conditions. This will give you a better idea of how experienced they are and whether they will be a good fit for your health and wellness needs.
4. Read Patient Reviews
Like any medical service, most people read patient reviews before choosing a doctor. Studies show that nearly 71 percent of patients read online reviews as the first step in finding a doctor. Patient reviews provide great insight into their experience at a chiropractic office. Specifically, you can learn about other patients’ experiences with contacting a chiropractor’s office, appointment wait times, office environment, costs, staff friendliness, and the quality of services.
Good or bad, patients will share what they like or don’t like about a chiropractor. 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 care about patients. Some chiropractors may rush through appointments as fast as possible, while many others take the time to listen and help each patient during their visits. These reviews play a key role in your decision-making process.
5. Find Out Which Techniques Are Used
With over 100 different chiropractic techniques used around the world, it’s important to find out which techniques a chiropractor offers at their office. Of course, it helps to know what your health needs are, so the chiropractor can provide a personalized treatment plan that will help you achieve lasting health and wellness. However, it’s still recommended that you ask what type of techniques a chiropractor uses and whether they are a good fit for you.
6. Ask About Insurance Coverage and Costs
As you narrow down your chiropractor list to the best options, don’t forget to ask about insurance coverage and costs. The type of insurance accepted will vary for every chiropractic office, so ask about your insurance plan and what your co-pay will be before you schedule the first appointment.
If you will be paying out of pocket, ask about the costs for your initial appointment and ongoing adjustment sessions. Most practices offer a new patient deal, which typically include a consultation, medical exam, and x-rays for an affordable price. Overtime, you will discover that chiropractic care is a very cost-effective treatment because it helps you achieve whole-body health and wellness. This can reduce or even remove the number of doctor visits to refill costly medications that only treat symptoms or to have risky surgeries that may not work.
7. Schedule Your Consultation Appointment
Once you have decided on the best chiropractor for your needs, give them a call. You may discover that you can schedule your first appointment online or over the phone. This makes it easy and convenient to choose a date and time that meets your busy schedule. If you are ready to take the next step in living life to your fullest potential, contact West Michigan Chiropractic today. We would love to become your new Portage, MI Chiropractors!