What the MD learns about Chiropractic

 

In a recent Members consultation, I wrote about how most MDs learn about chiropractic care.  This is a very interesting point to make because it can lead to misinterpretation of what we do and what our outcomes are.   Most MDs incorrectly learn about chiropractic from their patients NOT the chiropractor.  In a recent conversation with a MD in my area, he mentioned that he only hears about chiropractic when the patients tell him that it didn't work!  He also said that he knows chiropractic is beneficial to his patients, but the ones that feel better don't come back to see him for that problem.  When he looks in the chart often there is no report or indication of what the chiropractor did and why the care trial failed.  This is one of the many reasons most chiropractors do not received as many MD referrals as the patient population would indicate. 

Approximately 85% of the population will have lower back pain at some point in their lives.  Chiropractic care has been shown to be effective in treating lower back pain in the acute, subacute and chronic phases.  Chiropractors treat approximately 7%-15% of the population which is far lower that the US population with just back pain, not to mention the myriad of other conditions chiropractic can help.  So, for chiropractic to be properly  integrated we need to be better communicators.  For more information, please visit www.teachchiros.com.



Respectfully,


William J Owens Jr DC DAAMLP