Article Contributed on: 3/4/2008 10:15:55 AM
No one thinks that all plumbers are equally competent. Even though, all must hold their water, gas or sewage. But they think that all Doctors are essentially interchangeable.
As a result, patients tend not to seek out second opinions or alternative treatments, because they think that one doctor's advice is as good as another.
If one searches hard enough, one can find alternative medical opinions and options. Perhaps, right down at the end of this block, or across town, to Thornton Family Chiropractic.
The chiropractor has to establish credibility and respect on an individual basis, based on his own personality and involvement in the community. Many Doctors of Chiropractic do just that becoming pillars of their states, cities, and towns. Inevitably, Doctors of Chiropractic have to work hard to establish their personal authority and legitimacy.
Times have changed since the 1900's in some respects. We are licensed in all 50 states for over 30 years. Although we are not satisfied by the reimbursement from the various 3 rd party payers (Medicare, HMO, group health, auto insurance) it is a far cry from the cash-only practices of 45 years ago. Chiropractic scientists now find their research accepted for publication. Chiropractor within the Veterans Administration will serve our veterans and those men and women in active duty.
American chiropractors have aquired most of the formal attributes of legitimacy (licensure, accreditation, student loans, insurance reimbursement), and yet, our profession is still held up to ridicule and frequently suffers at the hand of the press and elements of organized medicine. The taint of "quackery" is still with us; we still lack the cultural authority that enables us to be presumed correct.
Yes, we are legitimate, in all the formal ways. But we need to infiltrate the wider health care arena to a greater extent. The isolation of our past should give way to a much broader integration of chiropractic services and individual practitioners. Working side by side creates familiarity, enhances our clinical skills, and breaks down ignorant barriers of old.
As we progress into our 2 nd Century (110 years), we resolve to promote our image as "real doctors." Gone are the days when chiropractors were shunned by other health care practitioners and viewed with suspicion by society who might benefit from our service. Look how far we have come! How far we have to go; one step at a time, one day at a time, serving one patient at a time. "Rome wasn't built in a day."