Wellness patient communication exercise

[Guest guest]

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

[Guest guest]

"If you don't move your joints, you lose your joints... we help keep 'em moving with wellness adjustments so those little once in a while problems don't become major issues down the road."OR"Your spine is like a chain. If you don't move it properly and keep it in good alignment, it becomes kinked and more restricted. That can happen without any pain, then after a while the stress keeps building and all it takes is bending over to pick up a pencil to cause some muscles to strain. Wellness adjustments can help keep this from happening." OR"Your brain requires regular daily input from movement of your spinal joints or else the nervous system gets out of balance - kind of like a computer... bad stuff in equals bad stuff out. Wellness adjustments keep the spinal joints moving better so your brain and nervous system get the input needed to stay more balanced."OR"Sitting to your spine is like sugar to your teeth. If you are sitting more than 2 hours a day, then your spine will begin to slowly breakdown and rot. It usually starts in childhood when kids start going to school, watching hours of tv, and playing video games. Wellness adjustments help reduce the stress of sitting and inactivity, just like dental cleanings reduce the damage of plaque on your teeth. See you next week." That was fun. Thanks .JameyOn May 5, 2009, at 1:38 PM, Abrahamson wrote: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 physicianLake Oswego Chiropractic Clinic315 Second StreetLake Oswego, OR 97034503-635-6246Website: http://www.lakeoswegochiro.com