Wellness patient communication exercise

May 5, 2009

In developing my “table topics” to discuss with patients, I am constantly trying to clarify why everyone should get adjusted regularly (however often that is!!!).

Most Americans and previous chiropractic patients are steeped in “condition based” care. My neck hurt and the chiropractor fixed it and I haven’t needed to go back for 22 years. Meanwhile my neck was wearing away like an eroding hillside but it didn’t hurt so I didn’t go back. Now I have an x-ray because I was in a car wreck and my arm hurts like crazy and the new chiropractor says that it is a case of aggravated degenerative disc disease that could have been prevented by regular care. Why didn’t anyone tell me? My dentist tells me things to keep my teeth from degenerating! Didn’t my old chiropractor care!!!?

The real litmus test for successful communication is the number of patients who bring symptom free children in for regular adjustments. What do they know or believe that other caring, intelligent parents do not?

My suggestion for this exercise is that each person who feels that that they are skilled in this area could state their communication in a nutshell of 1 or 2 sentences.

Something like:

“Mrs. , it is my belief that all people experience stresses including sitting, falling, chemicals, and emotions which lock up their spine which results in interference with essential nerve communication between their brain and body.

Or

“Mrs. , it is my belief that children experience stresses including bumps and bruises which knock their spine out of line which results in interference with essential nerve communication between their brain and body.

It is important that, in addition to diet, exercise, and good mental hygiene you and your children get adjusted regularly (in my clinic weekly is optimum and monthly is minimum). This will help their spine develop healthier and their nervous system operate closer to its natural optimum level.*

* If this care is aimed at enhancing your future health, it would be wrong for me to bill your insurance for this care except with the diagnosis of subluxation which it typically not compensated by health insurance. You should consider this investment in your health similar to your vitamins, health club membership, and bottled water.

OK that was more than 2 sentences.

Thanks for participating.

E. Abrahamson, D.C.

Chiropractic physician

Lake Oswego Chiropractic Clinic

315 Second Street

Lake Oswego, OR 97034

503-635-6246

Website: http://www.lakeoswegochiro.com

May 5, 2009

In

developing my “table topics” to discuss with patients, I am constantly trying

to clarify why everyone should get adjusted regularly (however often that

is!!!).

Most Americans and previous chiropractic patients are steeped in “condition

based” care. My neck hurt and the chiropractor fixed it and I haven’t needed to

go back for 22 years. Meanwhile my neck was wearing away like an eroding

hillside but it didn’t hurt so I didn’t go back. Now I have an x-ray because I

was in a car wreck and my arm hurts like crazy and the new chiropractor says

that it is a case of aggravated degenerative disc disease that could have been

prevented by regular care. Why didn’t anyone tell me? My dentist tells me

things to keep my teeth from degenerating! Didn’t my old chiropractor care!!!?

The real litmus test for successful communication is the number of patients who

bring symptom free children in for regular adjustments. What do they know or

believe that other caring, intelligent parents do not?

My suggestion for this exercise

is that each person who feels that that they are skilled in this area

could state their communication in a nutshell of 1 or 2 sentences.

Something like:

“Mrs. , it is my belief that all people experience stresses including sitting,

falling, chemicals, and emotions which lock up their spine which results in

interference with essential nerve communication between their brain and body.

Or

“Mrs. , it is my belief that children experience stresses including

bumps and bruises which knock their spine out of line which results in

interference with essential nerve communication between their brain and body.

It is important that, in addition to diet, exercise, and good mental hygiene

you and your children get adjusted regularly (in my clinic weekly is optimum

and monthly is minimum). This will help their spine develop healthier and their

nervous system operate closer to its natural optimum level.*

* If this care is aimed at enhancing your future health, it would be wrong for

me to bill your insurance for this care except with the diagnosis of

subluxation which it typically not compensated by health insurance. You should

consider this investment in your health similar to your vitamins, health club

membership, and bottled water.