In my practice I get questioned on a fairly regular basis about how to find a good chiropractor. My immediate response is “you’re lookin’ at ‘im” (shameless self promotion). But, a patient often asks because he or she will be moving out of town or has a friend or family member living out of the area who wants to try chiropractic.
The first myth to bust is that although chiropractors hold what I consider a special bond (forged through the challenges we’ve faced from more powerful, well-funded organizations), we don’t all know each other on a personal basis. I don’t know a chiropractor in Omaha, Nebraska.
The largest or slickest ad in either print or online does not make one a good chiropractor nor does it make one a bad one. So advertising isn’t of much help.
Being a member of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) or the state association does not make one a good chiropractor. It only means you pay your yearly trade association dues. Though, in my opinion the ACA is a great organization and every chiropractor practicing in the USA should be a member. The same holds true with the Ohio State Chiropractic Association (OSCA) for those docs practicing in Ohio. There is some value to the consumer in knowing your chiropractor is a member of his national and state association. A lot of clinical as well as insurance info is disseminated through the associations and at the very least the chiropractor you’re choosing is in this information pipe line.
Next time, two tried and true methods for finding a good chiro.
Your local chiropractor,
Dr. Z.
at Main St. Chiropractic
For Part 2: click here
For Part 3: click here