Many more patients are now starting to choose a D.C. as their primary care provider rather than going the traditional M.D. route.
With the U.S. physician shortage growing* many are choosing their chiropractor to serve as their primary care physician. But how is this possible?
Chiropractors are trained extensively in school on the matters of the human body. Not only are we rigorously tested and trained on conditions and treatment of the spine, but also on system pathologies, biochemistry, radiology, and more. D.C.'s focus on spinal conditions, but can also do general screening exams (temperature, pulse checks, etc), in-office examinations like neurologic and orthopedic tests, and school/sports physicials. Chiropractors are trained to be portal-of-entry physicians. This means that we can triage patients between conservative and allopathic care, referring patients to other providers if/when needed. Here in Florida, the law defines chiropractors, as well as MDs, DOs, and nurse practitioners, as "primary care providers" and "primary care services" as:
"...screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a patient conducted within the competency and training of the primary care provider for the purpose of promoting health or detecting and managing disease or injury."
Chiropractors are held to the same high standards as MDs and DOs under HIPAA and other governmental guidelines. Chiropractors examine, diagnose, and create treatment plans for whatever condition the patient presents with, on a daily basis. A DC's primary job is to triage patients into groups of those we can help, and those that we cannot help. When we are unable to help a patient, we make the referral to other providers and/or co-manage the patient's case. While our scope of practice may not include pharmacological or surgical interventions, we can serve as a supplement in such cases because of our integrative and holistic approach.
Chiropractic care is now included in programs like Medicaid, Medicare, COVID-19 care, the VA, and offered on many military bases. The Joint Commission, responsible for overseeing and improving public health care, has even issued that non-pharmacological pain treatment options be made available within health care facilities. Combined with the opioid epidemic, this has increased awareness in the community of alternatives to common treatments.
*https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/us-physician-shortage-growing
Comments