Every second of life, about 40 trillion cells in your body are hard at work seeking to maintain a natural, healthy balance. There’s no shortage of examples of the body’s natural biologic ability to heal itself. Yet, it’s easy to forget when it comes to low back and neck pain. When you’re intrigued by the body’s ability to heal – consider all that a chiropractic college can offer.
The Doctor of Chiropractic: Accepted in Today’s Healthcare
In today’s world of medical specialists, it’s reassuring to know doctors of chiropractic are specialists in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal conditions and diseases. The number of multi-disciplinary, collaborative medical offices continues to grow. This improved type of doctor’s office elevates patient care by promoting referrals among chiropractors, M.D.s, and other physician specialties.
It’s no coincidence that chiropractors are designated as physician-level providers in most states and with federal healthcare delivery systems, including
According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), more than 90% of U.S. medical plans include a chiropractor’s care when medically necessary.
Many Natural Options to Improve Health and Wellness
In addition to a minimum of 4,200 hours of study, chiropractic college students must complete internships while in school and pass a series of four national board exams before receiving the Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree.
Students master the patient-care skills they need during their time in class, the hours spent in a techniques lab, and guided instruction in clinic settings. As a result, chiropractors can recommend a wide variety of non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical approaches to preserve and restore health, including:
What Patients Say About Doctors of Chiropractic
The public’s acceptance of chiropractors continues to be high. A 2016 report in the medical journal Spine compared family physician care with manipulative treatment by chiropractors. The results showed significantly greater improvement in specific function with chiropractic therapy.
In the 2017 report Chiropractic: A Safe and Cost Effective Approach to Health, a national survey showed 97% of people who used chiropractic care over the past year said they would use it again for neck, back, and other musculoskeletal pain. The reasons for high patient satisfaction scores include receiving detailed information on the cause of pain, ways to recover from pain, and instructions on exercise, posture, and self-help modifications.
Chiropractors are the highest-rated choice among healthcare practitioners for low back pain, ranking higher than physical therapists (PTs), physician specialists such as neurosurgeons, and M.D.s with family or internal medicine practices, according to a Consumer Reports study.
Is the Chiropractic Profession for You?
For many, one of the most appealing things about becoming a chiropractor is owning a business. Unlike M.D.s, more than 50% of those who earn their chiropractic degree will start a new practice or join an existing one. They like being part of a community and improving residents’ healthcare for generations.
And, there’s a common theme that emerges when chiropractors talk about what they do. It’s the focus on high-level patient care.
Dr. Justin Grabouski, a 2009 chiropractic college graduate, agrees.
“I’m happiest when I’m in my practice helping people,” he says. “People come to us for a certain condition or issue, and we have the opportunity to make their day better than when they walked in. There’s no better feeling at the end of the day.”
Becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) at CUKC
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit, healthcare-focused university. Our history goes back to 1922, and today more than 11,000 alumni have their Doctor of Chiropractic degree from our College of Chiropractic.
The CUKC campus is in Overland Park, Kansas, a Kansas City area suburb of 190,000 people. Year after year, Overland Park is recognized for its family-friendliness and livability.
While most of our College of Chiropractic students complete their D.C. degree in 3.3 years (10 trimesters), some students choose a concurrent B.S./D.C. degree program. It’s an attractive option that can effectively reduce the amount of time in school by up to a year.
Find out more about attending chiropractic college here, and get many more answers with this free eBook: Your Complete Guide to the Chiropractic Profession.