If there is one statement that frosts me it is that one. It is usually said by a critic of chiropractic and Dr. James Winterstein recently wrote that it is, “One of the most frequently voiced complaints about chiropractic practice,” and he appears to agree with it. Unfortunately, critics of chiropractic can be found within the profession itself.
Actually, I have never heard any one in my office say this, not even someone who came to my office from another chiropractor’s office and probably half of the over 70,000 people who have been to my office fit that description. What I have seen, and far too often, is that people have come to me because their previous chiropractor had a fee that made it unaffordable for them to come “back over and over.” That is not a fault of chiropractic. That is a fault of his fee system. The very fact that they ended up in my office indicates that they understood the value of chiropractic, would have wanted to stay under care, were even willing to come back over and over, but it just did not fit within their budget.
Of course, the very idea that we keep them coming back over and over is preposterous. How do we do that? Do we tie them to a very long rope? Do we hold their firstborn as hostage? Do we threaten to stick voodoo needles in a drawing of the spine on their travel card? People are free to leave my office, and any other chiropractic office, anytime they so desire.
Further, what chiropractor would bring people back over and over without giving them a reason?
Doctor: “Mrs. Jones, I would like to see you every week for the rest of your life.”
Mrs. Jones: “Why doctor?”
Doctor: “Just because.”
Put that way, it sounds like a silly charge, doesn’t it?
Most of my new practice members do not come back over and over, every week for the rest of their lives. However, if they don’t, it is not because we have not explained why coming back is important and beneficial for them. They may not come because they have rejected the idea that regular lifetime care is important to their health and well-being. It may be because they can not or will not make it a priority in their life. It may be because all they really want is a quick fix for the symptoms of their problem and they can get that in a few visits. There are undoubtedly numerous other reasons. If they don’t come back “over and over,” it’s not because they do not know why they should. They know. I told them. The signs in the office told them. My introduction video told them. The written and audio materials they walked out of the office with told them. They may even have family and friends that are telling them. A chiropractor would have to be stupid to tell people to come back over and over and not tell them why. A chiropractor that dumb would not last long in practice and he definitely would not see enough people to make that the “most frequently voiced complaint.” I am sure many chiropractors out there will agree with me that the most frequently voiced comment after explaining the need for regular care is, “That makes sense!”
I think that the “over and over” comment is made only by chiropractors who do not understand the value of regular care or have rejected the idea for themselves and for the profession. I guess that should not make me angry; it should make me sad, for them and for the people of their community.
If you by chance are a chiropractor telling people to come back over and over and not telling them why or you yourself do not know why, contact us and we will help you understand and give you some tools to help your practice members understand too. V24n4
Once You Go to a Chiropractor They Keep You Coming Back Over and Over.