Scoliosis Practice
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Dennis Woggon
As the chiropractic profession continues to develop, it becomes apparent that in order to stand out from the crowd, the doctor needs to develop a specialty that differentiates themselves from the DC down the street.
Insurance companies are dictating who can be seen and how many appointments and how much can be spent. Playing the insurance game can be frustrating and time consuming.
When insurance companies dictate the care that the patient needs, it puts the doctor in a liable situation. When the litigious question arises as to why x-rays weren’t taken or why wasn’t additional care given if it was needed, it is the doctor, not the insurance company that is responsible. Years ago at a meeting between an insurance company and chiropractors in the network, the question was asked, “What happens if I am sued for malpractice for providing only the care that the insurance company authorizes? Will the insurance company support me in court?” The answer was “no.” They went on to point out that they have more attorneys than chiropractors do.
The doctor of chiropractic that charges $20 for a walk-in patient with a free exam is providing a disservice to the patient
■ ^ When insurance companies dictate the care that the patient needs, it puts the doctor in a liable situation 5 5
and the profession. When the patient doesn’t see the results that they expect they blame chiropractic instead of the chiropractor and assume that chiropractic doesn’t work. Quality exceeds quantity. “I love my chiropractor but he is so busy he doesn’t have time to listen to me.”
The patient is the consumer and they will usually pick quality over quantity. Patients aren’t looking for the cheapest plastic surgeon. They have heard the horror stories from that decision and would rather pay cash for quality care they can trust.
Chiropractic spinal corrective care can fill this void. The
‘ ^Finding a chiropractic specialty means finding a void in normal health care, whether it is chiropractic or medical. 5 5
DC who treats symptoms instead of spinal rehab is the same as a dentist compared to an orthodontist. Which one makes the most money?
The question is why would a patient come and see you when the chiropractor down the street is in network or cheaper?
Become a Spinal Expert!
Finding a chiropractic specialty means finding a void in normal health care. The medical treatment for scoliosis is to watch and wait from 11 degrees to 25 degrees. Then at 25 degrees wear a brace and then at 40 or 45 degrees, have surgery.
Scoliosis is found in 4% of adolescents', 12% in college age women1', 48.3% of the general population'1' and 68% of people over the age of 601V. B.J. Palmer said 25% - 30% of
the population hasv scoliosis. There is a huge market.
Unfortunately, chiropractors receive minimal education about scoliosis in the chiropractic university curriculum.
The CLEAR Scoliosis Institute provides a post graduate program through Parker University to allow the doctor of chiropractic to be the spinal expert in scoliosis. This provides the patient with an alternative to waiting & watching, bracing and surgery. Through 3 decades of research and working with scoliosis, Dr. Dennis Woggon has created an effective chiropractic treatment for scoliosis.
For the patient, treatment sessions last approximately two hours, and consist of three phases, informally termed, “Mix, Fix, and Set.”
■ ^Working with scoliosis is not an easy task. It requires a doctor that cares about these children and adults with scoliosis. ÏÏ
Phase 1: Mix.
The first phase is designed to prepare the body for treatment. It includes warm-up exercises, massage, and other therapies designed to relax the muscles and the spine.
Phase 2: Fix.
The second phase involves specialized chiropractic adjustments that do not involve the chiropractor using his hands to rotate or “twist” the patient’s head. Rather, advanced mechanical adjusting instruments are used to provide gentle, precise correction. Adjustments are also performed on the back, hips, and other areas.
The third phase consists of specialized exercises that influence posture, balance, and coordination. They activate specific muscle groups along the spine, as well as specific areas of the brain, to change how the brain and the body work together to achieve a balanced, more natural position.
The Mix, Fix, and Set protocols result in an average clinic time of 2 hours.
Working with scoliosis is not an easy task. It requires a doctor that cares about these children and adults with scoliosis. The doctor needs to be committed to quality chiropractic care. The benefits are amazing.
In regard to their kids, as far as parents go, scoliosis is just below cancer. Bracing costs about $30,000 per year and the average child is supposed to wear the brace for 2 A years. That’s $75,000. When you immobilize muscles, it causes muscle atrophy. Scoliosis surgery costs around $180,000 to $210,000. You are trading one deformity for another deformity. 40% of people with scoliosis surgery are classified as permanently handicapped for the rest of their lives".
Many patients have a high deductible. The average patient with insurance will have over $6,300 in personal expenses™ . The average patient will have over $10,000' " in medical expenses per year.
“At that point in your life where your talents meet the needs of the world, that is where God wants you to be. ” - Albert Schweitzer
The purpose is to help the doctor of chiropractic to obtain objective outcome assessments of the patient based on objective and structural findings.
References
i http.VAvww. srs. org/patients-and-families/conditions-andtreatments/parents/scoliosis/adolescent-idiopathic-scoliosis
ii Francis RS. Scoliosis screening of 3,000 college-aged women. The Utah Study-Phase 2, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, Francis RS. Phys Ther. 1988 Oct; 68(10):
1513-6.
in Vogt MS, Gilbert JW, Windsor R, MickGE, Richardson GB, Storey BB, Herder SL. Scoliosis rates in symptomatic patients as demonstrated with weight-bearing or supine MR imaging. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2013 Mar; 113(3) :210-4.
iv Schwab F, Dubey A, Gamez L, El Fegoun AB, Hwang K, PagalaM, Farcy JP. Adult scoliosis: prevalence, SF-36, and nutritional parameters in an elderly volunteer population. 2005 May 1;30(9): 1082-5.
v Chiropractic Technique: 1920
vi Götze C, Slomka A, Götze HG, Potzl W, Liljenqvist U, Steinbeck J. Klinik und Poliklinikfur Allgemeine Orthopädie des Universitatsklinikums Munster, Germany, chrgoetze a. uni-muenster.de. Z Orthop Ihre Grenzgeb 2002 SepOct; 140(5):492-8.
vii http://kff.org/report-section/ehbs-2015-summary-of-findings/ vi i i http://www. startribune. com/new-peak-for-us-health-care-
spending-10-345-per-person/386683891
For specific questions, you can e-mail Dr. Dennis Woggon at drwoggorificlear-institute.org. For more information regarding the CLEAR Scoliosis classes, please visit www.clear-institute.org. For information regarding the specialized equipment for scoliosis treat-
ment, please visitwww.vibeforhealth.com.
