Choosing a Chiropractor in Jacksonville, FL

Whether you just moved to the area or are simply looking to switch things up, it can be stressful to find an office or a great doctor that's a right fit for you. We have patients who admit that finding the right clinic for them was a tough journey and that it was difficult simply knowing where to start. Other patients who are moving away and are looking for other chiropractic offices that can provide them with the same amazing experience often ask if we have any tips or things to look out for when searching for a new doctor.

Whether you're looking for a new chiropractor in Jacksonville, FL, or any other location, here are our top 4 tips for managing this process!

1. Find a clinic that's the right fit for your needs:

The first thing that we recommend you consider when choosing a chiropractor is if the office specializes or is able to handle your particular case.

For example, if you are pregnant and looking for chiropractic treatment, consider finding a chiropractor that specializes in prenatal and postnatal care. In this case, you might want to call and ask the clinic whether the doctors are Webster Technique certified or if they have additional educational hours for treating pregnancy. If you want to get your baby or child under chiropractic care, make sure that the office you're looking into is familiar with care for little ones. There are multiple sources that provide continuing education hours for pediatric chiropractic care, one of the most notable being the ICPA (International Chiropractic Pediatric Association). Similarly, if you want to come in with the whole family, including children and grandparents, consider a family chiropractor who's accustomed to treating people from all stages of life.

Remember that this holds true for all sorts of other cases too: patients who want a neurologically-based chiropractic technique, patients who are athletes, stroke patients, wheel-chair bound patients, non-English speaking patients, patients with specific health issues, or patients who want a multi-disciplinary approach (an office that practices chiropractic combined with physical therapy, massage, nutrition, acupuncture, or others).

In summary, figure out what you are looking for in a chiropractic office and use that information to start to find the best chiropractor for you!

2. Investigate further with referrals or reviews:

Let's say that you know what type of care you need and you found an clinic that seems to fit the bill. The next step is to research the office and assess whether what they advertise matches people's experience with them.

If a friend or family member recommended the office, ask detailed questions about any concerns that you might have and ask them to share their past experience with you. This can help you feel more comfortable and confident as you move forward and schedule an appointment. You can also look up online reviews to get a better idea of what patients love about the office, as well as what they possibly didn't love as much.

3. Logistics:

To further narrow down your search of chiropractic offices, question yourself on what are some convenient -or deal breaking- aspects when it comes to the office you're looking into.

For example, while many people are willing to make long drives to get quality care, others require an office that is within 30 minutes of their home or work. A second element to consider is the work hours of the chiropractic clinic. Do they open on the weekends? If not, are you able to make it in during their hours on the week days? If insurance is an important factor for you, ask the clinic if they take insurance and verify whether the office is in-network with your insurance plan.

4. In-Person Visits:

Once you picked an office and you go in for the first time, listen to your gut and pay close attention to the details.

As you go through that first day consult, see if you're able to answer the following questions: does the clinic have friendly staff? Are there systems in place so that patients are moving in and out efficiently? Do the wait times seem reasonable? Does the atmosphere of the office give you a positive vibe? Do you feel comfortable around the doctors and staff? Do the doctors seem passionate and excited to help you? Did you feel that your needs and case was heard? Was the evaluation of your case thorough?

Your first in-person visit is crucial to determining whether the office is a right fit for you or your loved ones. In this case, your gut feeling is usually there to give you that last definitive feel on whether you are in the right place or not.

With these 4 tips you should be able to make an informed decision that you're more than happy with when it comes to looking for a new chiropractor!