Dr. X was fortunate to own and practice in various multidisciplinary clinics working alongside MDs, PTs, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. The referrals of patients from the medical side were always constant and allowed patients to experience chiropractic care that might not otherwise have the opportunity to do so.

It also allowed Dr. X to have many bittersweet moments knowing he helped alleviate chronic pain symptoms, but bitter in the realization that if the patient had only started chiropractic care first, he or she may have avoided numerous rounds of pain medications, spinal injections, or even surgery.

This all could have been avoided with the proper patient and MD education.

Ineffective education

In the many years of chiropractic practice, and the myriad methodologies of patient education on the market, chiropractic as a profession is still not seeing more than 8 percent to 10 percent of the current population.

Most often, patients with a musculoskeletal condition present to their family physician for care, who then refers them to the physical therapist. For the most part, chiropractic is not included in this referral pattern across the nation.

Why is this still happening with all the advances in scientific research that indicates the efficacy and cost-containment advantages of chiropractic care? Chiropractic has been focusing its educational activities on the wrong sources.

Turf wars must end

Patient education is important, but in order to see and help more patients that should start with chiropractic care, you need to educate MDs. To begin this process, chiropractic has to cease the turf wars that have existed between mainstream medicine and chiropractic for decades.

There will always be MDs and DOs that will never refer to a chiropractor; however, chiropractic must rise above this pettiness and move forward for the sake of the patients. Chiropractic must be the bigger person and begin to break down the barriers that are ultimately keeping patients who need your services away.

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