Interview with a Professional Chiropractor
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| | Dr. James Wiley |
Chiropractic Clientele
The main reason clients come to see him: pain. "The general public has been educated that chiropractic is good at decreasing pain; in actuality, chiropractic doesn't cure disease or pain but removes interferences to normal functioning spinal passages that affect neurological changes globally." At chiropractic college, he learned to use a wellness and preventative model that involves educating patients and empowering them with the means to maintain an optimum level of health.
Dr. Wiley's practice website has a Thomas Edison quote that communicates this disease prevention philosophy: "The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease." By helping his versatile client base heal their pain, Dr. Wiley is able to then help them focus on maintaining wellness through chiropractic techniques.
Chiropractic Schedule
Dr. Wiley sees between 20 and 25 patients per day and has approximately 500 active patients in his records. A typical appointment lasts between 10 and 15 minutes, depending on the patient's condition. Although he takes appointments a couple of Saturdays a month, on average, he works four days per week for a total of less than 40 hours.
Chiropractic Practice Setting
The Ute Pass Family Chiropractic center operates in a small office that includes separate rooms for exams, x-rays and massage therapy, in addition to a rehabilitation area. Dr. Wiley employs an office manager and rents out one of the rooms in his office to two different massage therapists to use during the week.
Preparing for a Client's Adjustment
Initial appointments involve completing some paperwork to help him get an idea as to how to direct his exam. "The paperwork asks them to list some goals they want to achieve through our sessions, and the first appointment is typically a consultation to learn about their condition." He will perform orthopedic, functional, muscle tests, and/or x-rays as necessary and develop a treatment plan that usually begins with the next visit.
Customizing a Client's Session
In his experience, Dr. Wiley has found it common to revise his treatment plan the more he works with a patient. "Each person is an individual entity from a mind, body, spirit perspective, and you can't separate those perspectives." He tries to educate patients on life style issues that will aid in their rehabilitation, such as diet and exercise, and will soon present seminars titled "Foundations of Health" to promote healthy living habits across his community.
Daily Challenges as a Chiropractor
Along with the challenges that come with running a business, Dr. Wiley faces ongoing skepticism regarding his profession and chiropractic school in general. "Chiropractors are looked at as second-rate doctors, not authorities on health." To promote his practice, Dr. Wiley has built relationships with medical doctors in his community, and they refer patients back and forth to each other, depending on medical need.
Daily Rewards as a Chiropractor
The greatest reward Dr. Riley receives is when a patient tells him: "This is the best I've ever felt in my life." He had a patient recently who had never been to a chiropractor before and was visibly scared in his office. After he treated her, she told him that she had not been able to hear that well in 10 years. "I'd removed the interference that was causing the neck pain she'd come in for and had no intention of impacting her hearing."
He also enjoys the unique rewards and professional freedom that come with owning his own business. "The patients are my boss," he says, "and I'm there for them as much as necessary, doing my best to help them prevent illness and stay healthy."
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2008
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