Intrigued about becoming a chiropractor? Today, a Doctor of Chiropractic – a D.C. – is often the choice of patients because of the chiropractic profession’s focus on non-pharmacological, non-invasive treatments. Other desired qualities can be expressed by these six “C’s” – comprehensive care, communication, capability, community, confidence, and credibility.
Examining the 6 C’s of Chiropractic Care
1. Comprehensive Care
Doctors of chiropractic look for ways to optimize patient health in many different ways. Chiropractic care emphasizes a biopsychosocial approach instead of a more narrow biomedical one. When you’re in chiropractic school, you’ll want to make sure you adopt a patient-first attitude toward treatment options. You’ll want to learn all you can about chiropractic care and how to also educate your patients about:
In doing this, you’ll find yourself providing more effective treatment solutions as a chiropractor and be prepared to work collaboratively with medical doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, radiologists, and other medical specialists for the patient’s long-term health and wellness.
2. Communication
Doctors of Chiropractic are focused on diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the spine and other parts of the musculoskeletal system, so an essential part of becoming a chiropractor is learning how to do a comprehensive health examination and explaining the findings clearly to patients of all ages and backgrounds.
According to a study by the American Journal of Small Business, the top-ranked characteristics among successful people were oral communication and active listening. Your chiropractic education includes gaining competencies in communicating effectively with patients, other health care professionals, regulatory agencies, and insurance or other third-party payors.
3. Capability
The Doctor of Chiropractic degree is equivalent to medical school, encompassing a minimum 4,200 hours of class time, lab work, and learning patient care skills. You’ll have more in-class hours in basic sciences and clinical sciences than the typical medical school student, and you’ll apply that knowledge in patient interactions during your first year in chiropractic school.
Aim to do your best in class so you’ll progress from the practicing your skills in a student-clinic setting to serving patients from the community in a school’s public health clinic.
4. Community
More than half of all chiropractors are owners of their businesses, so they are focused on improving the health of the community where they live. For chiropractors, satisfying the health care needs of friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens is their primary responsibility.
While some people think chiropractors primarily treat existing conditions, remember that doctors of chiropractic are health care leaders who are knowledgeable about the keys to long-term health. Chiropractic care will have a positive impact for everyone in the community, from office workers to members of youth sports teams to senior adults facing age-related difficulties.
5. Confidence
Millions of people in the U.S. and around the world already know chiropractic is effective for diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders of the spine and other parts of the body’s musculoskeletal system.
In a 2017 survey included in the report Chiropractic: A Safe and Cost-Effective Approach to Health, 97 percent of people turned to chiropractic care said they would use it again for musculoskeletal-related conditions.
Every aspect of your chiropractic education is designed to build your knowledge and skills, and your confidence, as a health care practitioner. In many classes, you’ll be taught by licensed chiropractors with years of experience with patients. Hands-on experience will grow your confidence, as will the use of technology like the new Force-sensing tables, and supervised patient experiences.
6. Credibility
While you’re in school, commit to becoming a lifetime learner. Expand your abilities by joining student chapters of professional chiropractic associations and participating in special interest student clubs. Read chiropractic journals and explore the latest evidence-based research about chiropractic.
Do all that, and you’ll see the ways becoming a chiropractor offers plenty of advantages in today’s changing health care environment. Chiropractic care fits the public’s desire for effective, safe, and cost-efficient options for improved health. If you haven’t seen what’s happening in the marketplace, check out these examples:
Becoming a Chiropractor at CUKC
There’s a place where all these “C’s” really come together: Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC). CUKC is a private, nonprofit, health care focused university specializing in the chiropractic and health sciences. Our chiropractic history started in 1922, and today more than one out of every 10 chiropractors in the United States have earned a 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. Overland Park is recognized for its livability, family friendliness, and affordability.
CUKC also offers the B.S. in Human Biology degree, which you can use as a springboard into the College of Chiropractic. This bachelor’s degree coursework is tailor-made for those who plan to pursue the Doctor of Chiropractic degree. Some CUKC students even choose a concurrent B.S./Chiropractic degree (Doctor of Chiropractic) program that can reduce the amount of time in school.
Learning about becoming a chiropractor starts with good information. You can see why chiropractic care is an excellent fit for today’s health care environment by downloading a free ebook right now:Your Complete Guide to the Chiropractic Profession.
