This is a time when the author must dust off their soap box, recharge the batteries in their megaphone, and stand up and speak their mind.
I am a FIRM believer in the major medical profession. Plain and simple- there are things that they can do, that we, as chiropractors, cannot: Emergency surgeries, front-end treatment of traumatic accidents, and even celebrating life with the birthing of children. I will start this post off immediately with balance- IF YOU NEED TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR THE DOCOR… GO!!! This article is not steering you away from seeking emergency care when you need it, but rather challenging the medical profession, as a whole, to raise their standards of treatment and come back to the reasons they started practicing in the first place… TO HELP PEOPLE!
I have run into two instances- in the last two weeks alone- that have made me shake my head in disbelief and my blood boil in righteous anger. Both occurrences where with… the E.R…. and not only that… two occurrences… involving THREE different E.R.s in separate parts of the country. I will start with the first…
My D.C. was visiting his family in Texas a couple of weeks ago, and he was having SEVERE pain in his big toe. (May not sound like a big deal… but for a Chiropractor to seek medical treatment… he was in some MAJOR pain). Upon walking in, he was warmly greeted by the front desk and insurance clerks. When he got to triage, the atmosphere changed drastically. His triage nurse was a nurse practitioner, and she seemed already in a mood of indifference. Hardly looking at him, she ran through the standard questions and rapidly entered the information into her computer… until she got to the question of “occupation.”
“Sir, what is your occupation,” she sighed, and continued to stare at the computer screen in front of her.
Nonchalantly, the patient replied, “Oh, I’m a chiropractor.”
Immediately, the muscles in her arms tightened and her eyes narrowed. Without taking her eyes from the computer screen, she replied, “I see…”
WHAT difference does it make what his profession is?! He is YOUR patient now. As if THAT wasn’t enough to make my point, it gets worse.
The chiropractor was escorted to a bed in the E.R. where he waited until the radiology department called for him. He was warmly accepted by the radiologist and well taken care of, and once the films were taken, he was moved back to the E.R. to wait for the attending physician. Shortly after he was back from radiology, to his surprise, it wasn’t a doctor, but rather the nurse practitioner from triage that he next saw.
Not even stepping into the room, she opened the door, leaned her head in, and said, “There were no fractures or breaks in the films. We are treating this as a sprain/strain, and I have prescribed meds for your pain.” She quickly retreated through the door, and pulled it to a close behind her.
SHE DIDN’T EVEN DO AN EXAMINATION! WHA-?! I’m sorry, but chiropractor or not, he was a patient under her care. It is time find whatever beef you have with your patient and grill it up and eat it! After the doctor finished in the E.R., he went back to the radiology department to look at his own films, and the radiologist gave him FAR more insight into what was going on than the N.P. ever did.
We see SEVERAL physicians in our office as patients, and it NEVER occurs to me to treat them with ANY less resources or kindness than our other patients. I am honored that they have chosen to come HERE to seek our advice… Why on earth would I forfeit the chance for a great professional alliance over something as trivial as an elementary prejudice?
The second story I will share with you was NOT based out of prejudice, or at least not in the same vein. A patient was driving his Harley at 65mph one night, and enjoying the familiar feeling of freedom. Life is good. Being an unfamiliar road, he was surprised when the upcoming turn, came in the form of a surface change from asphalt to gravel. In less than ten seconds, his bike was laid on its side, launching him from his seat. Turning two flips in the air, he landed on his left shoulder and side of his helmet, sending him tumbling across the ground.
He was taken to an E.R. for examination. Obvious that he had done damage to his clavicle, they did an M.R.I of the shoulder. The results came back with a positive fracture of the left clavicle. They prescribed pain medicine and sent him home. In disbelief that they didn’t even check his neck, or run tests that would rule out concussion, the family drove to the next E.R. This E.R. did have the wherewithal to do a C.T. scan of his head, but with no swelling of the brain, they sent him home.
I’m sorry, but if a patient comes into your office after having had a motorcycle wreck at 65mph landing him on his shoulder and neck… SHOULDN’T YOU CHECK HIS NECK FOR BREAKS OR FRACTURES?! Two E.R.s, and they BOTH failed to do the seemingly obvious.
We brought him in, did a series of films, and found that his C1 and C2 were so severely rotated that when the patient was asked to close their eyes and look straight, their head was 45 degrees off center. He had a couple of fractured ribs, and a mild concussion. Sheesh… what would have happened if he hadn’t come to us?
My point is simply this. To my chiropractors and staff: We offer a valuable service that few people are offering anymore. It is simply- caring. Caring enough to take the time to be thorough. Caring enough to connect with the patient and TRULY listen to what they are saying. Caring enough to treat them as an equal patient, as if it were your own family member that you were treating. The patients are not getting that at every office. Sometimes it can be easy to take our day-to-day routine for granted, but you never know. You could be the highlight of someone’s week, month, or year. Do not underestimate the power of caring.
Look at it as an acronym:
Connect
I am a FIRM believer in the major medical profession. Plain and simple- there are things that they can do, that we, as chiropractors, cannot: Emergency surgeries, front-end treatment of traumatic accidents, and even celebrating life with the birthing of children. I will start this post off immediately with balance- IF YOU NEED TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR THE DOCOR… GO!!! This article is not steering you away from seeking emergency care when you need it, but rather challenging the medical profession, as a whole, to raise their standards of treatment and come back to the reasons they started practicing in the first place… TO HELP PEOPLE!
I have run into two instances- in the last two weeks alone- that have made me shake my head in disbelief and my blood boil in righteous anger. Both occurrences where with… the E.R…. and not only that… two occurrences… involving THREE different E.R.s in separate parts of the country. I will start with the first…
My D.C. was visiting his family in Texas a couple of weeks ago, and he was having SEVERE pain in his big toe. (May not sound like a big deal… but for a Chiropractor to seek medical treatment… he was in some MAJOR pain). Upon walking in, he was warmly greeted by the front desk and insurance clerks. When he got to triage, the atmosphere changed drastically. His triage nurse was a nurse practitioner, and she seemed already in a mood of indifference. Hardly looking at him, she ran through the standard questions and rapidly entered the information into her computer… until she got to the question of “occupation.”
“Sir, what is your occupation,” she sighed, and continued to stare at the computer screen in front of her.
Nonchalantly, the patient replied, “Oh, I’m a chiropractor.”
Immediately, the muscles in her arms tightened and her eyes narrowed. Without taking her eyes from the computer screen, she replied, “I see…”
WHAT difference does it make what his profession is?! He is YOUR patient now. As if THAT wasn’t enough to make my point, it gets worse.
The chiropractor was escorted to a bed in the E.R. where he waited until the radiology department called for him. He was warmly accepted by the radiologist and well taken care of, and once the films were taken, he was moved back to the E.R. to wait for the attending physician. Shortly after he was back from radiology, to his surprise, it wasn’t a doctor, but rather the nurse practitioner from triage that he next saw.
Not even stepping into the room, she opened the door, leaned her head in, and said, “There were no fractures or breaks in the films. We are treating this as a sprain/strain, and I have prescribed meds for your pain.” She quickly retreated through the door, and pulled it to a close behind her.
SHE DIDN’T EVEN DO AN EXAMINATION! WHA-?! I’m sorry, but chiropractor or not, he was a patient under her care. It is time find whatever beef you have with your patient and grill it up and eat it! After the doctor finished in the E.R., he went back to the radiology department to look at his own films, and the radiologist gave him FAR more insight into what was going on than the N.P. ever did.
We see SEVERAL physicians in our office as patients, and it NEVER occurs to me to treat them with ANY less resources or kindness than our other patients. I am honored that they have chosen to come HERE to seek our advice… Why on earth would I forfeit the chance for a great professional alliance over something as trivial as an elementary prejudice?
The second story I will share with you was NOT based out of prejudice, or at least not in the same vein. A patient was driving his Harley at 65mph one night, and enjoying the familiar feeling of freedom. Life is good. Being an unfamiliar road, he was surprised when the upcoming turn, came in the form of a surface change from asphalt to gravel. In less than ten seconds, his bike was laid on its side, launching him from his seat. Turning two flips in the air, he landed on his left shoulder and side of his helmet, sending him tumbling across the ground.
He was taken to an E.R. for examination. Obvious that he had done damage to his clavicle, they did an M.R.I of the shoulder. The results came back with a positive fracture of the left clavicle. They prescribed pain medicine and sent him home. In disbelief that they didn’t even check his neck, or run tests that would rule out concussion, the family drove to the next E.R. This E.R. did have the wherewithal to do a C.T. scan of his head, but with no swelling of the brain, they sent him home.
I’m sorry, but if a patient comes into your office after having had a motorcycle wreck at 65mph landing him on his shoulder and neck… SHOULDN’T YOU CHECK HIS NECK FOR BREAKS OR FRACTURES?! Two E.R.s, and they BOTH failed to do the seemingly obvious.
We brought him in, did a series of films, and found that his C1 and C2 were so severely rotated that when the patient was asked to close their eyes and look straight, their head was 45 degrees off center. He had a couple of fractured ribs, and a mild concussion. Sheesh… what would have happened if he hadn’t come to us?
My point is simply this. To my chiropractors and staff: We offer a valuable service that few people are offering anymore. It is simply- caring. Caring enough to take the time to be thorough. Caring enough to connect with the patient and TRULY listen to what they are saying. Caring enough to treat them as an equal patient, as if it were your own family member that you were treating. The patients are not getting that at every office. Sometimes it can be easy to take our day-to-day routine for granted, but you never know. You could be the highlight of someone’s week, month, or year. Do not underestimate the power of caring.
Look at it as an acronym:
Connect
Ask questions
Relate
Encourage
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