Whether an accident injured your back or you want migraine relief, you might want to visit a chiropractor. Florida’s Dr. Brad Kern understands that not everyone lives within his practice area, but as an experienced chiropractor in practice for more than 30 years, he offers this advice on locating a good chiropractor near you.
What to Look for in a Chiropractor
First, let’s address the qualifications of a doctor of chiropractic (DC) medicine. Like all other types of doctors, a DC also attends medical school. Like doctors in other areas of medicine, they must earn a license by passing a national board exam.
When you create your short list of potential DCs to visit, check each doctor’s background. Beyond certification and licensing, you can use review sites like Google My Business to ascertain their bedside manner. This lets you know what their actual patients think of visiting them. Reviews should include notes that reflect a caring attitude, respectful nature, a trustworthy person, and medical knowledge.
Where to Look for a Chiropractor
Ask your friends and family for recommendations. Someone you know probably had to visit this type of doctor at some point.
Ask your medical doctor. Your general practitioner can offer a referral. Check your insurance, which may require a referral.
Search a website like Healthgrades.com to locate local licensed chiropractors. Websites such as this one pre-check each doctor’s qualifications. Many doctor databases also allow patients to leave reviews of their doctor. Think of them as Angi’s List of the medical profession.
Develop a short list of options. Choose at least five doctors to phone. Why so many? Some doctors may not be accepting new patients, so you need a list that offers you more than one option.
Phone Interview Each Doctor
Phone each DC to ask a succinct set of questions that will help you decide if they’re the doctor for you. These questions include:
- Are you accepting new patients?
- Can you treat the problem I’m experiencing?
- What experience do you have treating my problem?
- What kind of treatments do you recommend?
- How many visits do they estimate treatment requires?
- What signs will let me know that the treatment works?
- Do you accept [name of your insurance plan]?
Making an Appointment
Once you’ve selected your new chiropractor, make the first appointment. When you set it up, inquire whether you’ll undergo treatment at the initial appointment or if it will consist only of paperwork to set up your account and baseline tests. Some medical issues require a battery of tests before the DC can formalize a treatment plan and begin.
