Patient Forms
Upon entering our office, our receptionist will welcome you as a new member of our chiropractic family. We will request that you complete our new patient forms, which are just paper copies of those located in the New Patient Center. This paperwork provides us with your health history and information on your condition, as well as the regional functional capability of the various areas of your body. We will take a copy of your photo identification, and any insurance card(s) you may have.
Our front desk staff will be standing by to guide you and answer your questions, and though our office is small, give you the "grand tour". We have restrooms for patients, and you can ask the front desk for the key. Our reception area has filtered water, and tea standing by ready to steep.
Vitals and Videos
Next, our friendly front desk staff will take you to the exam room for your height, weight, and blood pressure. She will also take a scan of your feet using our Foot Levelers scanner, which must be done on your bare feet (try to avoid stockings or pantyhose on appointment day). The feet are very important to the position of your spine, and how you stand and walk can be vital information for the doctor. This, combined with your basic vitals, gives Dr. Baastrup a good starting point as to your overall health.
This is a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the rest of your visit or about chiropractic. Once this brief time is concluded, you'll be left for a few minutes to watch a video giving you more detailed information about chiropractic and how it works.
Examination
Once the video has concluded, you'll get to meet with Dr. Birger Baastrup and discuss your problem and whether chiropractic may be right for you. The doctor will perform a complete chiropractic examination. He'll be testing your reflexes and flexibility, along with range of motion and other things. Many standard neurological, orthopedic, postural, and physical tests will be performed to figure out the nature and root of your problem, and to rule out other more serious conditions. However, nothing will be done in our office without your consent.
The muscle and nerve scans done as part of the exam will require you to remove your shirt and bra, if worn, so that the device used for the scan can contact your skin along the spine. You'll want to avoid restrictive clothing that is difficult to move in or to remove. The time spent in the medical gown is brief and your privacy is very important to us. We just want there to be no surprises!
Diagnostic Imaging
Depending on your specific condition and other factors such as the results of orthopedic testing or things that come up in your medical history, we may take x-rays as well. These images can help us develop the most effective treatment plan for you in some cases, and alert us of any serious spinal conditions that may require a referral or present a contraindication to treatment. We want to avoid exposing you to radiation unnecessarily, and so we will only take x-rays when the doctor feels it is necessary to do so. Your safety is very important to us.
If you have already had x-rays performed at another doctor's office, we may ask you to sign a release giving us permission to ask that office for your images. You may be asked to pick them up and bring them to us, if it's a local office here in town, or they may send us the images in the mail.
Your Adjustment
At the conclusion of this initial appointment, if everything indicates to the doctor that it is safe and correct for you to do so, you can choose to experience your first spinal adjustment with Dr. Baastrup. He will use a very precise, very safe electronic instrument called the Impulse IQ to perform controlled adjustments to your joints and muscles, using the Activator technique. Treatment is interactive, and we ask that you please share any questions, comments, or concerns you may have with the doctor as they arise, so that we can help you get the most from your time with us.
Wellness Program
Prior to leaving, the doctor will suggest a wellness program to incorporate outside of treatment. If you are in pain when you first come into our office this may include: ice or heat application instructions, certain activities or positions to avoid, and at home exercises and/or stretches. If you desire, our wellness team will work with you also to create healthy habits and routines for your lifestyle. Every person is unique, therefore everyone requires a customized wellness plan. The purpose of our wellness program is for you to achieve good spinal alignment, have a healthy diet, exercise, and maintain a positive mental state.