Although still considered a “complementary and alternative” health care profession, chiropractic is increasingly viewed as an effective and mainstream specialty by those in the medical profession (1-3). Despite a progressive entrenchment of chiropractic into the mainstream, only about 25-50% of physicians have formally referred a patient to a DC, and in most instances, the referral was due to patient request (4, 5). A lack of direct, formalized referral relationships between MDs and DCs ultimately affects efficiency, quality, and patient safety in the healthcare system (6, 7).
One common theme has been identified as a consistent barrier to MD-DC referals; that is lack of communication. To help overcome this barrier, the chiropractors at Able Body health Clinic have provided information on this site to help physicians understand who we are, how we practice, what they can expect from us in the way of communication and how we can help their patients.
MDs should feel confident when refering patients to Able Body Health Clinic, that their patients will recieve high-quality, evidence-based musculoskeletal care from leaders in the chiropractic profession.
PHYSICIAN INFORMATION:
What to Expect If You Refer Patients
Introduction to Chiropractic in Canada
Chiropractic Research
*Note that the full text of any source cited on this website can be made available to medical doctors and other interested parties upon request.
References:
1.Astin JA, Marie A, Pelletier KR, Hansen E,Haskell WL. A review of the incorporation of complementary and alternative medicine by mainstream physicians. Arch Intern Med 1998;158:2303-10.
2.Meeker WC,Haldeman S. Chiropractic: A profession at the crossroads of mainstream and alternative medicine. Ann Intern Med 2002;136:216-27.
3.Furlow ML, Patel DA, Sen A,Liu JR. Physician and patient attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine in obstetrics and gynecology. BMC Complement Altern Med 2008;8:35.
4.Greene BR, Smith M, Allareddy V,Haas M. Referral patterns and attitudes of primary care physicians towards chiropractors. BMC Complement Altern Med 2006;6:5.
5.Busse JW, Jacobs C, Ngo T, Rodine R, Torrance D, et al. Attitudes toward chiropractic: A survey of north american orthopedic surgeons. Spine 2009;34:2818-25.
6.Lee T, Pappius EM,Goldman L. Impact of inter-physician communication on the effectiveness of medical consultations. Am J Med 1983;74:106-12.
7.Mainous AG, Gill JM, Zoller JS,Wolman MG. Fragmentation of patient care between chiropractors and family physicians. Arch Fam Med 2000;9:446-50.