NEW PATIENTS
Initial Visit
- All new patients are requested to fill out all four pages of the confidential Patient Health record.
- New patients should schedule a consultation with a doctor to discuss your health problems.
- The diagnostic chiropractic examination procedures help to determine if chiropractic care is appropriate for your condition.
- The Doctor will review x-rays (if they are brought with you), or take an x-ray to advise proper procedures.
- If your case requires immediate attention at this time, every effort will be made to administer temporary relief.
- You will be advised as to a time you can return for your “Report of Findings” when your doctor will inform you as to your examination results and whether or not your case has been accepted. If accepted, your recommended treatment program will be explained to you. You will also be advised concerning financial arrangements and insurance coverage, as appropriate. It is vital that your spouse, guardian or family member be present.
- Treatments will begin and continue as scheduled until your condition has been fully corrected or until maximum possible improvement has been obtained.
Forms
We want to make your first visit as easy a process as possible, so that we can concentrate on your care and not paperwork. We have provided the forms below for your convenience.
Physical Therapy New Patient Form
Vehicle Accident Information Form
Payment Options
Most major insurance plans are accepted. Insurance carriers are looking for ways to promote wellness and good health, and First Choice Healthcare office staff is happy to work with you on filing your insurance as well as call for pre-certifications, if necessary. Co-payments and uninsured portions of your care are due at the time of service. For your convenience, First Choice Healthcare accepts cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard, or Discover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn More About What We Do!
What is Chiropractic Care?
How long will it take for my pain to go away?
Quite often the patient actually means, “How long will be before my pain goes away?” There are two types of care, relief care and corrective care. Relief care takes less time, but the results are less permanent. Corrective care, on the other hand, is an extension of relief care, meaning that once your pain is gone, care is extended with the goal of getting rid of the cause of the problem. This type of care takes longer. It is important to understand the stages of chiropractic care because they are unique relative to those of other health-care disciplines. Because chiropractic addresses core physiological and biomechanical aspects of the body, the process to correct problems without drugs or surgery can take some time.
How does Chiropractic Work?
Like other health-care professionals, we follow a standard method to gain information about the you. However, unlike other health-care professionals, chiropractors also conduct a careful analysis of the your structure and pay particular attention to the spine. We also ask you questions about your life- Do you eat well? Exercise? What do you do for work? Do you have children? How do you deal with stress? Etc. After gathering this information, a diagnosis is made. It is important to understand that chiropractors seek the origin of the illness in order to eliminate it-we do not simply treat your symptoms. For instance... If the migraine headache you’ve had all week is being caused by misaligned vertebra and an irritated nerve, do you continue to take pain killers indefinitely, or do you realign the vertebra to prevent the pain? Chiropractors have a word for misalignments: subluxations. A subluxation is a misalignment of the bones that protect the spinal cord. It’s a a kink in the wiring of your nervous system. The severity of the subluxation can vary, and there are a number of potential contributing factors that can be physical, emotional, mental, or chemical. The subluxation can be caused by a number of reasons, from birth trauma to an auto accident to simple repetition or over-use. When a subluxation occurs, a chiropractor can correct the misaligned bone and allow it to return to its proper position. This procedure is appropriately called an adjustment, and the adjustment enables the body to heal. To maintain your wiring, several adjustments over a course of time may be necessary, in addition to stretching exercises or strengthening exercises. Keeping the problem fixed and preventing its re-occurrence is just as important as the initial remedy. An important component of chiropractic care is this: Your improvement is the responsibility of both the doctor and the patient. You will be active in your own care.
What types of care are offered?
Relief Care – The majority of patients consult a chiropractor because they have an ache or pain. In the first phase of care, the main objective is to eliminate or reduce your discomfort and stabilize your condition in the shortest amount of time. During this phase, progress is usually rapid.
Rehabilitative Care – Here the objective is to correct any underlying injury or cause of discomfort, strengthen the muscles, and improve neuromusculoskeletal function. The frequency of office visits is reduced over a period of two to six weeks. Care may be supplemented by rehabilitation exercises, nutrition, and modification of daily habits. It is important to remember that many of the conditions for which people seek care have developed over many years; therefore, correcting these problems is a true rehabilitative process. It helps to understand that it takes time to correct these conditions.
Wellness Care – You then “graduate” to the wellness phase, which is designed to maintain your improved health, encourage normal spinal function, prevent the return of the original condition, and catch small problems before they become serious. Few things as complicated as your body can be “fixed” and then ignored. Think of your car, your teeth, or your relationships. They take time and effort to maintain, but you know it’s worth it in the long run.
Our Friendly and Knowledgeable Staff is Here to help
Ongoing chiropractic maintenance care may offer significant health benefits, including but not limited to:
- Back and Neck Conditions
- Leg Pain (Sciatica)
- Knee, Foot and Ankle Pain
- Shoulder or Elbow Pain
- Arm or Wrist Pain
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Migraine and Tension Headaches
- High Blood Pressure
Have a Question?
We are happy to answer any questions you may have or schedule your next appointment.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
334-358-0320
550 McQueen Smith Road, Prattville, AL 36066
MONDAY
2PM - 5:30PM
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
2PM - 5:30PM
THURSDAY
2PM - 5:30PM
FRIDAY
