How Our Practice Works Scripting
While these tools can be used at the consultation or report of findings, we prefer using it to conclude your initial new patient consultation.
1. It lays the ground rules for joining the practice before accepting a new patient.
2. It preframes your report and establishes the boundaries of your responsibilities.
3. It is a time when you have the patient's full attention.
After the patient has had a chance to reveal the circumstances bringing them to your practice, and they appear to be a good candidate for chiropractic care, offer hope.
“From what you’ve described, it sounds like you’re an excellent candidate for chiropractic care. You’re in the right place.
“However, before we accept you as a new patient, there are some things you need to know about how our practice works.”
Use the poster or insert to review each of the 12 points, giving each one your own spin. Here’s ours:
1. Chiropractic is different from medicine.
“First, let me start with the obvious—chiropractic is different from medicine. They both have different intentions and different purposes. While medical treatment attempts to reduce symptoms, chiropractic care focuses on correcting the underlying cause. It’s this difference that has permitted chiropractic to be licensed as a separate and distinct healing art, coexisting beside medicine.”
2. Health, ease and well-being are normal.
“Second, we believe that health and well-being are normal. So, if you’re not experiencing optimum health and a sense of ease, something must be interfering with your body’s ability to express it. The first place we look is your nervous system because…”
3. Your nervous system controls everything.
“Your nervous system, consisting of your brain, spinal cord and all your nerves, controls and regulates the function of every cell, tissue, organ and every other system of your body. If you’re experiencing a health issue, it’s likely that your nervous system is involved in some way.”
4. Stress can overload your nervous system.
“Fourth, stress can overload your nervous system. There are three types of stress: physical stress, such as might result from slips, falls and car accidents; chemical stress from drugs and alcohol or poor nutrition; and, the most common, emotional stress, which includes fear, anger, resentment, grief and other emotions…”
5. This can produce vertebral subluxation.
“…Which can produce something we chiropractors call vertebral subluxation. Vertebral meaning “of the spine,” and subluxation meaning “less than a dislocation.” The moving bones of the spine can compromise the brain-to-body communications carried by the spinal cord and nerve roots as they emerge from between each spinal joint.”
6. We will conduct a thorough examination.
“If you choose to begin care with us, we’ll conduct a thorough examination to identify the precise location and severity of any vertebral subluxations that you may have. Some say it’s the most complete examination they’ve ever had.”
7. We’ll explain our findings in plain language.
“We’ll explain what our examination uncovered and what our findings mean. I’ll describe what we can do to help you put this behind you and, even more importantly, what you can do between visits to help enhance the healing process.”
8. A series of adjustments will be necessary.
“Our primary form of care will be a series of chiropractic adjustments. Each one on the ones before, creating the momentum necessary for healing and producing healthier spinal patterns. Obviously, missing visits can impair your recovery.”
9. Adjustments do not treat your symptoms.
“It may surprise you that adjustments do not treat your symptoms. Instead, chiropractic adjustments are precisely targeted to reduce the neurological interference of vertebral subluxation. Thankfully, as spinal bones assume a more normal position and proper nervous system function returns, your body will no longer need to express aches and pains or other symptoms.”
10. Consistent visits help retrain your spine.
“To make lasting spinal changes, consistency is essential. Your care plan will be designed to produce the best results in the shortest amount of time. If visits are too close together, you body may still be processing the previous adjustment. If too far apart, or visits are missed, you’ll lose the momentum needed to retrain and strengthen supporting muscles and ligaments.”
11. You control the speed of your recovery.
“You control the speed of your recovery, not me. Healing is a process, and all processes take time. Chiropractic care relies on reviving your innate healing capacity which is based on your age, condition and overall health potential.”
12. Choose wellness care to avoid a relapse.
“And finally, after getting well, many of our patients choose to stay well with some type of regular periodic adjustments. For some, it’s once a week. For others it’s once a month. It just depends upon your stress levels. Maintaining your spine is a lot like brushing and flossing your teeth. But that’s a ways down the track. Our first mission is to address the reason why you’re consulting us today.
“Now, if this makes as much sense to you as it does to us, we’re willing to accept you as a new patient in our practice.
“Any questions? Great! Then shall we get started?”
(Elapsed time approximately 2½ minutes)