By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
If you need a chiropractor, keep in mind these questions to ask as you look for a provider.
Janelle Munroe, office manager, Munroe Chiropractic, Williamsville
• “You want a doctor that delivers results.
• “Word-of-mouth references are huge. Some people also look online and seek references, too.
• “There are chiropractic wellness programs as well as spinal adjustment. Ask about what you want as a patient.
• “We don’t want them to have to come in weekly for months. Patients should have a clear representation of their case and we try to educate patients on the course of treatment. We take an x-ray on them so we know what we need to do.
• “Look for quality and experience. On your first visit, we take steps to provide patient feedback.
• “Chiropractors have to be licensed. Look for chiropractors that provide all sorts of techniques.”
Brenda Covell, chiropractor, Covell Chiropractic, Buffalo
• “Ask about the type of practice they operate. There are different types of chiropractors you can seek out, depending upon your need. If you’re looking for sports injury care, there are doctors with advanced training in that field. My expertise is in prenatal pregnancy care, involving mothers who are expecting. There are different techniques for this type of care. Also, there are pediatric chiropractors and many other types of specialties to meet the various needs people have for seeking chiropractic care.
• “One of the best ways to find a chiropractor is word-of-mouth. Ask people you know about the places they have sought care. If your friends and family are recommending a chiropractor and they go back to that one, that speaks highly of that chiropractor.
• “Check with the New York State Chiropractic Association. They are evidenced-based. Doctors that are associated with them are interested in using best practices and the most up-to-date techniques and methods to support their treatment protocols with their patients.
• “I’d be wary of any practitioner that tries to sell you a long, extended treatment plant. Everyone is an individual and each body responds differently to treatment. We’re not fortune tellers. We can’t tell you what will happen six months in the future with a treatment plan or how the body will respond to a particular treatment.
• “Keep in mind that the patient is always in control of their own health. There should be a dialogue between the chiropractor and patient regarding the patient’s goals and the treatment the chiropractor offers. If those two things are not in tandem, it probably will not be a good, working relationship between the patient and the chiropractor.”