Chiropractic Patient Education From Patient Media

Chiropractic patient education has been the focus of chiropractic patient and advocate William Esteb since he was first introduced to chiropractic back in 1981. Since then he has been instrumental in bringing quality, simplicity and relevancy to the patient education tools – including natural health solutions - used by chiropractors around the world.

If you are here to obtain the research citations that back up the various chiropractic patient education materials created by Patient Media, simply click on the thumbnail:

Why is Chiropractic Patient Education Important?

Ultimately, patient education is for the benefit of the patient. Adjusting the spine, without simultaneously adjusting the cerebral cortex is like feeding a man for a day, rather than teaching him how to fish. Here are the six reasons your chiropractor makes the investment in your mind, while attending to your spine:

1. Set Appropriate Expectations

Most chiropractic patients begin chiropractic care after a lifetime of being steeped in the medical model of symptom treating. Accustomed to "fast-fast" relief from ingesting the latest concoction from the pharmaceutical industry, natural methods usually take longer.

That's because doctors and drugs don't heal. Healing is an inside job that we each do for ourselves. As your chiropractor reduces interferences to your inborn ability to heal, your body begins the process of recovery.

Effective education explains this and many other distinctions and make chiropractic care different from medical treatment.

2. Better Satisfaction With Their Care

With more reasonable expectations, chiropractic patients are generally more satisfied with the care they receive. Patient education should explain the nature of the problem (subluxation), its causes (physical, chemical or emotional stress) and the primary way chiropractors resolve the problem (adjustments). Accomplish this simple task and most can see the wisdom and rationale of their chiropractic recommendations.

3. Greater Respect for Chiropractic

Chiropractic patient education is essential if patients are to see chiropractic as the revolutionary approach to health that it is. In the past, chiropractic has been relegated to back pain and headache relief from "cracking the back." Those days are gone. In fact, chiropractic is showing up as an important foundation for the growing interest in prevention and wellness. Turns out, virtually every other attempt at improving health and increasing longevity is enhanced by having an optimally functioning nervous system--which is the true focus of chiropractic care.

4. Obtain Faster Results

Science is just now recognizing the importance of the mind-body connection. Treating the physical manifestation of a health condition, without attending to its underlying intellectual and emotional components, is not only naive, it overlooks the self-healing capacity of the body. Giving patients a new meaning and interpretation of their ache or pain not only offers hope, but enlists the healing power of the mind. Chiropractic patient education offers a new way to understand and interpret the most common health problems, whether headaches and back pain or indigestion and asthma.

5. Remain Under Care Longer

While the old, tired "once-you-go-to-a-chiropractor-you-have-to-go-for-the-rest-of-your-life" myth makes many wary, the fact is, chiropractic care is a lifestyle choice (like brushing your teeth), not merely a short-term diet for pain relief. Effective patient education explains that more lasting healing occurs with continued chiropractic care after symptoms subside.

Naturally, this runs counter to the mindset of the insurance industry and the medical-industrial complex that pays lip service to prevention and maintenance, but is entirely consumed with symptom treating and suppression.

6. Better Equipped to Tell Others

The investment in educating chiropractic patients not only enhances the patient's response to chiropractic care, it better enables them to enjoy the soul-satisfying act of helping others. Equipped with the language and understanding to tell others, commitment is deepened and they can help others see chiropractic as a possible solution to their health issue.

In fact, it has been largely due to excellent results and the endorsement of delighted patients that has allowed chiropractic to survive and thrive in the shadow of mainstream medicine. Since chiropractic doesn't benefit from the approximate USD $1,000,000,000.00 spent each month marketing drugs, patient referrals are essential.

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Patient Education Websites

Chiropractic websites are the way more and more chiropractic patients find a chiropractor these days. Look for a website that not only has information about your particular health problem, but also reveals the chiropractor’s practice philosophy and mission. Look for authenticity, a chiropractor who will listen, won’t nag and who will honor your individual health goals.

Patient Education Brochures

Chiropractic brochures and pamphlets are the most common educational tool. These "tangible artifacts" help explain chiropractic concepts and the health complaints that prompt patients to consult a chiropractor. Usually consisting of 300 words or less, written at the 8th grade reading level, the combination of words and pictures can help interested patients grasp what makes chiropractic different.

Patient Education Charts

Since the integrity of the nervous system is the focal point of today’s chiropractic care, wall charts and posters are used to communicate the brain-body communications essential for optimal function. The most effective wall graphics feature very few words, simple graphics that support one key point. Naturally, anything placed on the walls of a professional practice are properly mounted and framed.

Patient Education Videos

Since 1981 when the first professionally produced chiropractic education video was created, video has been an important tool for communicating chiropractic principles. Not only has video reduced the number of repetitious explanations and offers consistent explanations, it saves valuable time. Videos should be short, relevant and to the point.

Patient Education Report Documents

Probably the primary patient education is performed when the chiropractor reviews the examination findings and lays out a course of care. The danger is bombarding the patient with too much information during the course of the 10-15 minute report. That’s why report handouts are so important—especially these days when the patient’s spouse is often not present for the actual report.

Learn more about today's state-of-the-art, patient-relevant chiropractic patient education by visiting the chiropractic blog.