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a doctor of chiropractic

Read and learn more about a doctor of chiropractic. For more, visit the Chiropractic website ChiropracticHealthiness.com

Q: What are the top colleges to become a doctor of chiropractic medice? What are the top chiropractic colleges?
I need to know where the best place to go to school would be to get my D.C.

A: At this time graduates of Chirpractic colleges earn the doctor of Chiropractic degree (DC), not a doctor of Chiropractic Medicine degree (DCM). The term medicine is often misleading in that Chiropractic, as is Allopathy (Western medicine), Osteopathy, Naturopathy and other health care forms are each a different form of medicine. I graduated from Cleveland Chiropractic College of Los Angeles in 1991, which had an outstanding out-patient clinic that prepared me for nearly all possible problems I have been asked to evaluate and treate, and feel it is one of the best in the world, not just the USA. All of the colleges which are CCE accredited are professional and have high standards. If you are interested in attending a Chiropractic college, it is important to consider the region you would prefer to live in while at school. If you are most interested in a traditional approach, then Palmer Chiropractic College in Davenport, Iowa, might be best.

Q: How is the job opportunity for doctor of chiropractic? Because I do not see a lot of job listings in the field
What is the basic differences between a physical therapist and a D.C? Which has more job opportunity? Is there a big difeerence in income level?

A: A DC traditionally focuses their practice on the treatment of the spine, but they have been known to see patients for extremity related disorders. A DCs most traditional method of treatment is manipulation, or “adjustment”…meaning they use a high velocity thrust technique to restore the joint to a normal position. However, DCs do focus on wellness and nutrition as well.

PT is much broader, seeing patients for a number of disorder. We see people not just for neck and back pain, but also for recovery after open heart surgery, stroke, knee surgery, etc. We use a much broader scope of techniques include stretching, strengthening, balance, gait training, massage, and manaul therapy. However, even when we consider treatment of the spine alone, the major difference between PTs and DCs is that PTs show the patient how they can help themselves, whereas the DC makes the patient depended on them for recovery. However, the more savy DCs incorperate rehabilitation into the program. We basically seek to do the same thing…restore the joint to a normal position, but how we do it differs.

As far as income, both can have big earning potentials…especially when we consider private practice. However, it is probably more of the norm for a DC to establish private practice whereas most PTs work for a clinic or hospital. I’ve known DCs who were earning about $40,000 a year as they struggled to establish their practice, but then eventually earned over $100,000 a year. Most PTs fall in the category of earning between $50-70,000 a year, but about 15% earn more than $100K.

Both careers are expected to grow much faster than average.

Q: How do you find a MEDICAL DOCTOR (MD) who offers chiropractic adjustments?
I know, it’s an odd request, but it’s a loophole in my medical insurance plan: if I can find a medical doctor (MD), NOT a Doctor of Chiropractic(DC), who offers chiropractic adjustments, the specialist copays are considerably lower in my medical plan. I guess the idea here is to find someone who is a MD, yet also trained as a DC? Yeah, it’s a strange scenario.

The insurance company has no record of MDs who offer adjustments, so the only other alternative is to call EVERY SINGLE MD in the area who’s in the insurance plan and ask if they are also a DC and if they offer chiro adjustments. That’s just ridiculous, but that’s the kind of lunacy I’ve grown to expect from Blue C… er, better not name them here.

Anyone have any other ideas?

A: look for someone with DO after their name and not MD. DOs are doctors of osteopathy which is a doctor that can do all of the stuff that MDs do, but has training in manipulations as well. DOs should be covered by your insurance.

Q: What is the best College for Doctor of Chiropractic in California (moreso southern – Los angeles area…)?
looking at becomming a chiropractor… and focusing on maybe Cleveland Chiropractic College or Southern California University of Health Sciences or life chiropractic college west (though the first two are preferable due to distance).

Just looking for recommendations of college’s and any advice! Thanks!

A: Hi there, good luck and congratulations in advance! I have a few friends that went to Cleveland and are doing great. That is the one that comes to my mind the quickest and am familiar with it because of them. I have also heard of SCUHS and have one friend in San Francisco that attended Life, so I think you are on the right track so far! I myself would probably choose Cleveland….No bones about it LOL! (But that’s just an opinion) However, check them all out before you commit….There are so many. Great profession….Good luck!

Q: Should I go to school to be a Doctor of Chiropractic or Doctor of Physical Therapy? Please help!?
Oh and by the way in response to the smart ass answer, I have done my research. If there are only stupid answers on here then why is this guy responding to everyone’s questions?

A: Asking a question like this on yahoo answers is going to get you a lot of stupid responses about the two professions. If you are really throwing up these two options then I suggest you do some good reading, and maybe visit a couple of each to find out about what they do, because its not really at all similar.

Me personally, I would do to the Chiropractic school, but this is only because thats what helped me with my own personal problem. And thats what most peoples opinions are going to be based on.

Find out some more about the professions and make an educated opinion, not just one based on what other people have told you.

Q: Does the new GI Bill cover Doctor of Chiropractic Degree?
As i see it covers graduate and undergraduate degrees, and vocational/technical training, licensing and certification…. would it cover a 4 year Chiro college?

A: Chiropractic falls under graduate degree or “advanced degree.” Therefore, yes it does.

Q: I am a Doctor of Chiropractic looking for a way to market my holistic type practice, where could I do this?
I am located in the Denver area.

A: I gather you’re a new doctor? Like any other new doc, school didn’t teach you a darn thing about running a business, or they did a poor job at it. Chiropractic and family medicine is pretty much the same thing in terms of marketing. Get new patients. Here’s my experience running my practice in NYC, it may differ from yours.

I recommend that you pick up the book “Startup Guide to Guerrilla Marketing: A Simple Battle Plan for First-Time Marketers” It’s a very good book that tells you how to do proper marketing on a schedule. How to formulate a unique selling point/position. And how to go after these markets. So on and so forth.

Your best source of information would be your local Denver chiropractic association, or your Colorado Chiropractic association. Talk with the president and other board members. Talk with the local members. They have wealth of information on how they conduct marketing. The most important information to obtain is what has the best ROI in Denver, and what has the worst ROI.

Try hooking up with www.SCORE.org they can assign a mentor for you, one who’s experienced with entrepreneurship and marketing.

In general, yellow pages is the worst ROI, so don’t bother buying any space. Same with post cards, or welcome wagon. Ask your local chiropractic association, some local neighborhood newspapers may be a decent/good ROI. Or advertise in a holistic/health newspaper.

Join the chamber of commerce, BMI, Rotary, Lyons, Elk, and any other popular networking group in your area. Again, ask your local chiropractors to see what network group is worth joining and produces good ROI.

Advertise in your local health food/organic supermarket. Or go door to door and introduce to yourself to every local holistic type practitioner. Naturopaths, homeopaths, acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage therapists, medical doctors, Reiki or energy healers, so on and so forth.

Join whatever club or activity that interests you. Introduce yourself. Overtime, let people get to know you and then you can tell them more in detail what you do. People don’t like to be sold, that makes you like a used car salesman. Merely educate the patients. They’ll look up to you, curious and want to learn more, they’ll ask for a business card and come to your practice.

If there’s a volunteer activity, I recommend getting involved. Either through your church or your local chiropractic organization. Volunteering services always brings forth good feeling, brings exposure, and increases your marketing. Just once a month is sufficient.

One more thing. Setup a great website that’s dynamic, informative, and continually updating with latest relevant health information. This is one of your best ROI.

And of course, the best way to market is to do internal marketing. Ask for referrals. Once you’ve developed your marketing skills well enough, you should be able to obtain 3-5 new patients from each existing patient. And never shield away from the very difficult patient, sometimes they turn out to be the best patient. If you can manage to convince them and turn their health around, I wouldn’t be surprised to see 20 new patients.

Q: What is better doctor to diagnose a back pain – MD or DC ?
What is better doctor to diagnose a back pain – Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Chiropractic ?

A: Being a Doctor of Chiropractic, you would think i would vote for Chiropractic.

However, both are just as good as long as they look at all the causes. Your back pain is always a combination of a few minor issues including muscles and joints.

There are 4 main patterns that lead to back pain that arise from various postural changes in your pelvis and spine. All of these you can work out yourself easily (see http://www.back-pain-advisor.com).

If you think it is more severe, then you need to see your Medical Doctor as they can prescribe pain relief or refer to a specialist if they think you have something more serious.

But for 99% of people with back pain, it is minor and either a DC or MD are similar – it just depends on what treatment you wan t – medication or treatment.

Take care
Dr Graeme Teague

P.S But you can diagnose your own back pain easily enough.

Q: doctor of chiropractic degree?
After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree, about how many years would it take to earn a DC?

A: Well all programs are either 4 or 5 academic years. In terms of hours they are usually a few hours more than MD school. Not all the chiro schools require a bachelor’s degree but all require at least 3 years college to apply. You can take no breaks and finish some chiro programs in 3 years to 3 and1/3 years I believe. Here is an excellent program. This school requires a bachelor’s degree.

http://www.nuhs.edu/show.asp?durki=508

Q: Doctor of Chiropractic…?
Is Docotor of Chiropractic a good career?
What is the income…
Could you list some of the common tasks a Doctor of Chiropractic performs…

A: Hi Anna. I am a retired Chiropractor.

The Chiropractic profession can be a wonderful career choice if you have a passion for people, health and healing. Helping others can be very rewarding and Chiropractic education and philosophy can add wonderful insights to your life as well as to the lives of your patients.

Chiropractors perform a variety of tasks. They take patient histories, perform physical examinations, take X-rays, and of course provide Chiropractic spinal manipulation and other forms of treatment. Additionally, Chiropractors may provide nutritional counseling, exercise advice. injury prevention advice, etc. There are many specialty areas for advanced post-doctoral training such as in Radiology, Orthopedics, Clinical Nutrition and Sports Medicine.

Sadly, incomes for many Chiropractors are declining. In many large population areas, managed care dominates Chiropractic reimbursement and controls patient access to Chiropractors. Consequently, incomes of Chiropractors have fallen. In less populated areas like Montana, managed care is not present (yet), so many doctors do well financially. It is unclear what impact any Obama health care plan would have on professional incomes for Chiropractors. Most importantly, Chiropractic is a highly skilled profession. Consequently incomes are highly variable based on the wide variation in individual doctor’s skills (both “people” and clinical skills). Some Chiropractors make more than half a million dollars a year. Some fail completely and have to find other jobs/careers. Most probably make between $50,000 and $100,000 per year (about equivalent to an experienced high school teacher’s salary in a large city when you include the teacher’s benefits package and 10 month work year – most Chiropractors are self-employed so they have no benefits packages, just their net incomes).

So, in summary, if you have a passion for people, are good with your hands and can develop good adjusting skills, are motivated, self-directed and willing to work long and hard hours to build a practice, then the Chiropractic profession can be very rewarding.

Best wishes and good luck.

p.s. when my computer booted up this morning, it brought this page back up, so I was able to read the other responses (and note the 2 thumbs down to my response). These types of irrational and negative attitudes about Chiropractic are quite common and one of the issues all Chiropractors encounter. However, for every negative ‘nut’ there are dozens of happy and enthusiastic Chiropractic patients whose improved lives are solid testimony supporting the value of Chiropractic health care.

Q: Career Advice::Doctor of Chiropractic Care or Doctors of Physical Therapy only please!?!?
I’m a high school Senior going to Berkeley this fall. I need advice on what I should major in and the steps I should take to ensure a successful career to obtain a credential in DC or DPT…activities,volunteer work, employment ect…
Thanks :D

A: If you hope to become a PT, you should examine the requirements for entrance into the specific graduate level program to which to hope to apply. It usually requires several courses that includes chemistry, physics, biology, math, and psychology. Declare a major as an undergraduate (preferrably one that encompasses most of those courses). Begin taking your gen eds, major and prerequisite courses. As you neer completion of your BS, look for a volunteer or employment opportunity in a physical therapy clinic…preferrably one where someone would be willing to write you a letter of recommendation. Strive for a high GPA as admission is selective.

Good luck

Q: Chiropractic a rewarding career?
I am interested in being a chiropractor and I was wondering what are the most rewarding things about being a Doctor of Chiropractic? This is a question for a Chiropractor, so if you are not one, please do not answers.

A: I’m not a DC, but I know that reimb from insurance companies for chiro treatment is not very good . I realize that you only wanted to hear from actual chiros but I have a very close friend who choose that route so I’m going to answer, based on what I’ve heard from her. I hope it can do you some good.

Plan on doing a cash-only practice. Also, don’t limit your patient base to any particular demographic (ie, personal/auto injuries, a specific geographic location/ age group). You might also consider augmenting your education or practice with accupuncture & naturopathy/nutritional experts. If you do find that you’re mostly handling business referrals from attorneys, stay true to your ethics despite their pressure and work to create various sources of patients so you’re never beholden to any one group of patients/insurance companies/ attornies.

I think that helping people feel better has to be a rewarding feeling, but when you have to fight for every penny just to keep the lights on at your office/practice, it can significantly reduce that feeling of goodwill.

Good Luck!

Q: What to do when Shadowing a Doctor?
In the near future I want to shadow a doctor, (a Doctor of Chiropractic) and I was wondering if there is anyone out there who has ever done this, and what to do, like taking notes, when I am observing the doctor.

A: Keep a small notebook and pen with you, but mostly observe what they do. Don’t write down things that you learn in your lectures anyway (aka the actual medical side of things) but more how the doctor treats people, or how they explain symptoms and treatments. In between appointments, ask the doctor any questions you have, and note down the answers – most doctors won’t mind talking to you at all, in fact it can be quite stress-relieving having someone to wind down on during the lull.

Additionally, try using the opportunity to get some hands-on experience with the subjects, and feel things that you’ve only read described in a textbook.

Hope that helps!

Q: Can someone help me out?
I recently bought a dress for Homecoming. Only after did I bought it home and tried it on, I found out that my hip bone is “crooked.” On one side of my hips, the bone stuck out a little bit more than the other side. Does anyone know a doctor (chiropractic) in which I can fix this problem? Thanks.
P.S. It is very very visible….

A: winter snow please go to a doctor first,you need a bone specialist

Q: How much should I get for pain and suffer?
I’ve seen seeing a chiropractic doctor for about 6 months now due to back and neck pain. I have an accident back in September 2009 and the other party was a fault. My chiropractic doctor just released me and sent a released form to the insurance. The totaled of my hospital bill is $2400. How much should I get for pain and suffer?

Add: back in that time, I was 4 months pregnant as well.

A: It all depends on the State Law. Some states require you meet a certain threshold before pain and suffering can be awarded. It can depend on the severity of the injury and whether it is considered long or short term. Also whether there was any broken bones. You need to talk to your local Insurance Agent.

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