Here are a few reminders of all you’ll gain when you graduate with a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from some experienced chiropractors who’ve benefited from the same decision you’ve made.
As you already know, following the patient’s comprehensive health assessment, the noninvasive procedures and treatments a chiropractor might recommend could include:
One thing chiropractors like about what they do is how various aspects of their care can help people of all ages. With a chiropractic degree, you’ll:
Overland Park, Kan, based Dr. Justin Grabouski, in his chiropractic practice since 2010, emphasizes that chiropractic care can help a wide range of patients.
Last year, he said the age range of patients coming to his office ranged from three days to 93 years.“Everybody benefits from some sort of chiropractic care, whether it’s for quality of life, pain, dysfunction, or internal conditions.”
Today’s healthcare field centers on specialists – there’s too much about the human body for anyone to know. The human body is a highly complex machine that could benefit from the collaborative care offered by those who specialize in specific conditions.
So, when people find themselves facing chronic back or neck pain, many are first turning to those who’ve earned a doctor of chiropractic degree. The educational curriculum you’re about to begin involves extensive knowledge in diagnosis, anatomy, orthopedics, physiologic therapeutics, bacteriology, and imaging methods.
At the same time, you’ll have up to two years of clinical experience – no need for a post-graduate residency.
Like others who chose to earn a chiropractic degree, Dr. Sammy Somerhalder, practicing since 2018, says the profession attracted him because it’s devoted to discovering the underlying causes of conditions, not merely treating the symptoms.
“Often, symptoms are just signaling an underlying imbalance somewhere else,” Somerhalder said. “I like to see patients do a trial of chiropractic care or try nutrition changes. If they start with that, they might have their problems taken care of without resorting to drugs or surgery.”
In the drive for affordability and better patient outcomes, the healthcare field is embracing multidisciplinary care. As outlined in the report, Multidisciplinary Teamwork Ensures Better Healthcare Outcomes, this approach is defined as “coordinated patient care,” referring to a healthcare team where each member contributes their specialized knowledge for better healthcare results.
Increasingly, this means physician groups are increasingly referring patients to doctors of chiropractic when a condition indicates, and doctors of chiropractic are continuing to refer patients to medical doctors when necessary.
Second-generation chiropractor Dr. Sherri Hays, who launched her practice in 2011, acted on the “what’s best for the patient?” approach in her second month of operating her New York City chiropractic office.
Dr. Hays recalls having a patient with low back pain that could have been caused by a biomechanical dysfunction, but Hays needed to be sure. The patient’s diagnostic exam revealed an urgent need for medical attention. “We X-rayed and saw he had a very large abdominal aortic aneurysm. I said, ‘You need to go right now to the emergency room.’”
Expanding Insurance Coverage, Direct Access to Care
According to research by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), more than 80% of health insurance plans include chiropractic care. This coverage extends to workers’ compensation, Medicare, various Medicaid plans, and Blue Cross Blue Shield plans for federal employees. Active-duty members of the U.S. armed forces and veterans also have direct access.
Like ophthalmologists, dentists, and other physicians, doctors of chiropractic are portal-of-care healthcare providers – there is no need for referrals.
From the viewpoint of having 20 years of as a doctor of chiropractic, Dr. Jon Petrick says a student’s decision to become a chiropractor is a good one.
“There’s never has been a better time to be a chiropractic physician than right now,” Petrick said. “People are thinking more carefully about the best approach for their musculoskeletal problems and pain. Today’s consumer is aware of their options. Many of them say, ‘Wait a second, why would I take that med when I can do this naturally?’”
Overall, attending a chiropractic college means getting a rigorous, comprehensive healthcare education – more than 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory, and clinical experience – and getting it done in less than four years.
Whenever you need a reminder about the wisdom of choosing chiropractic, re-read the rewards of choosing a chiropractic college in this blog series.
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit, healthcare university specializing in the chiropractic and health sciences. Founded in 1922, more than one out of every 10 U.S. chiropractors have earned the Doctor of Chiropractic degree from our College of Chiropractic. The 34-acre CUKC campus is in Overland Park, Kan., a Kansas City suburb of 190,000 people. Overland Park is recognized for its family-friendliness and affordability.
CUKC also offers a B.S. in Human Biology degree, which you can use as a springboard into the College of Chiropractic. The bachelor’s degree coursework is tailor-made for the Doctor of Chiropractic degree. Some CUKC students even choose a B.S./D.C (Doctor of Chiropractic) program. This option can reduce the time in school by up to a year.
Sure, you’re on track for a doctor of chiropractic degree, but perhaps you know someone else who might like this career path, too. If so, connect with a CUKC admissions advisor – you can download this free eBook: Your Comprehensive Guide to the Chiropractic Profession.
