Education is a central tenet of evidence-informed clinical practice. It is the least spoken about when patients refer others, or simply talk about chiropractic. Yet, it is, perhaps, the most impactful component of the care I provide my patients. Educating the patient in my office about all aspects of their visit is vital to a good doctor-patient relationship and sets the patient up for success. Understanding why I perform certain orthopaedic tests, but not others, why I emphasize functional movement assessments in my examination is key to trusting the diagnosis I arrive at when the history and examination process is complete. Understanding which treatment techniques, and why I’ve included them in a patient’s treatment plan also helps educate the patient regarding the approach to their outcome goals, whether it be pain relief, rehabilitation of an injury, or overall wellness.
When it’s all said and done, a typical question I get after a visit or after a rehabilitation treatment plan has been finished is “When do I come back?”
The answer to said question is unique to each patient and their goals. For simplicity, I’ve narrowed down my patient population into four categories: Pain-Relief, Supportive Care, Rehabilitation, Wellness
Which chiropractic patient are you? And, before you answer, please understand that you’re welcome to be in any of these categories and sometimes you’ll find that you’re in more than one category, depending on the circumstance. If there was a scientifically proven type of care that led to the best outcomes, I would tell you. There isn’t. Everyone has a unique circumstance and many variables play a role in determining which type of chiropractic care is best for you. Often, variables that have nothing to do with your diagnosis play just as big a role in the model of care you pursue. For instance: health insurance, finances, availability, a pandemic(!), all factor in when figuring out which model of care makes sense for your situation. Taking all of the relevant variables into play before establishing a treatment plan is integral to ‘Patient-Centred Care’.
I will always give you my best advice when helping you through an injury, pain, or seeking wellness.
Without further ado, here are the four categories:
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Pain-Relief Patient
You are my patient that typically visits me when you’re in pain, seeking pain relief from one of my various treatment methods – spinal manipulation or joint mobilizations, cold laser therapy, soft tissue techniques and the like.
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Supportive Care Patient
You are my patient that visits me on a regular or semi-regular basis, based on an established history of needed chiropractic care. You have established a routine or timeline for when your body needs or wants treatment to keep you and your pains from getting worse. Your timeline/routine is unique to you, and ranges from a visit every 1-2 weeks to a visit every 1 – 3 months. The supportive care timeline typically takes time for you and I to establish, but once we figure it out, it’s a routine that can bring you peace of mind and comfort.
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Rehabilitation Patient
You are my patient that saves all your visits for the time when you really hurt yourself and require multiple visits in a shorter period of time to help you with pain, tissue repair, and rehabilitation advice and support.
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Wellness Patient
You are my patient that is not often injured or in a lot of pain, but visits me on a regular or semi-regular basis for wellness and physical health optimization.
Need help figuring out what model of care is right for you? Let’s talk about.