Why Do Chiropractors Sell Packages?

Why do Chiropractors sell packages? A question we are commonly asked by patients of upper cervical chiropractic in Singapore is if they can do a trial or pay by session to see how the adjustments feel and if they can do less than the plan set out by their practitioner. Read on to find out why Chiropractic doctors set a plan and how this is important for your case.

What happens first?

When attending a Chiropractor the first appointment will be a consultation. This is a fact finding mission to find out more about your case, how your life is affected and what your health goals are. You may need to have some patience as your Chiropractor may ask a lot of questions, even some that may seem a bit strange but are very relevant to your overall health; such as asking about sleep, stress and symptoms from other conditions, like digestive or immunity issues. After this conversation they should do a physical assessment and then thorough tests for your nervous system. These tests address your complaint while also finding out any other underlying problems. If at this point if the Chiropractor believes it is a case appropriate for their practice they will send for specialised x-rays to assess if it is safe to adjust and how to adjust you properly. The next appointment will be the results, explaining the cause of your problem, how it has affected your body and where to go from there. At this point, if it is a case they take on, the doctor will set out a plan tailored for you.

Why a plan?

The plan is formulated based on your condition, the results from the tests, evidence-based research and the doctor’s professional experience. This plan is to correct the physiological changes to the body, as well as the symptoms you are experiencing. It would be negligence on behalf of the doctor if they did not set out a plan for you, instead trying to just relieve the symptoms or allowing patients to pick and choose their appointments.

It is unethical and unprofessional to not set out an honest and realistic plan. Logically a 10 year problem cannot be fixed within a few appointments.

This would be the equivalent of a surgeon allowing their patients to decide which parts of the surgery they want to have done! If only part is done it may give some relief of symptoms but not fix the problem, leading to further problems in the future.

What about pay per visit?

At Vitality Chiropractic we don’t have a pay per visit option. We care about our patients and want them to achieve the best health possible that truly lasts long term. Unfortunately we have seen cases in the past where other practitioners (including medical doctors, massage therapists and other Chiropractors) have helped a patient ‘feel’ better then ceased care. The patient is ok for a time, then the symptoms come back because the underlying problem has not been corrected.

This leads to a cycle of ‘up and down care’ where the patient improves and worsens continually, not allowing them to reach higher health goals beyond symptom relief, such as improved immunity, better sleep and increased mental clarity.

Think of this set out plan like getting braces, nobody sees an orthodontists and tries out braces for a week to see if this is adequate. To make a real lasting change it requires frequency, time and frequent checks to ensure you are going in the right direction. This is the why Chiropractors sell packages.

What if I’m not improving?

Your Chiropractor will conduct regular re-examinations, usually at every 12^th visit, to assess your progress and judge how your care should proceed. Much like the example of braces, if it was not being helpful the orthodontist would remove them. The same is for Chiropractic, if the results aren’t coming the doctor should re-assess where you are and decide if it may be appropriate to refer to another practitioner.

“I don’t think I can pay it all upfront“

That is no problem, discuss this with your doctor and they should be able to offer you a payment plan or another way to make paying easier. Everyone should have the access to healthcare and there should be ways to facilitate this. At Vitality Chiropractic we offer plans for every case to make finances more manageable. A lot of our patients utilise their insurance to claim for Chiropractic. We can help by providing invoices and a letter if needed. Read more about Health Insurance in Singapore, here.

How big should the package be?

The package should be tailored to YOUR specific case. This means that if the doctor has told you that you need 36 appointments over the next 4 to 6 months, the package should be for 36 appointments for upper cervical care, or very close to this number (such as 40). Any surplus appointments can be used for check-ups after your initial corrective plan.

If I start care do I have to come forever?

Not at all. After the initial corrective phase (the plan the doctor will set out on the results day) they should schedule regular check-up appointments to assess your nervous system, preventing problems in the future. This is similar to a dental or medical check-up, it is to determine problems BEFORE they cause symptoms so you can continue living a full and healthy life. This will be more spread out than initial appointments.

At Vitality Chiropractic our check-ups are 1 to 3 months dependent on the patient (Dr Shaan currently has only been adjusted 3 times in the past 6 months!)

Since 2013, Upper Cervical Chiropractor, Dr. Shaan Rai helped patients achieve greater health, relocating to Singapore in 2016 and founding Vitality Chiropractic Centres. He has an impressive track record in providing relief and solutions for people who experience nerve system problems, such as headaches, migraines, dizziness, vertigo or neurological conditions. Take your life back. For a Complimentary, no-obligation call with the Doctor or to book a Consultation, call +65 8438 9550 or email help@vitalitychiropracticcentres.com to find out if we can help you at our Chiropractic Clinic in Singapore.