Are chiropractors Primary Care doctors?
Actually, chiropractic doctors are PRIMARY PORTAL OF ENTRY doctors and cannot be accurately classified as primary care by definition. However, most persons writing legislation and insurance use the terms interchangeably and do not know the difference, therefore for THEIR defininition we are primary care doctors. This means that patients can come to us directly for care, without being referred by any other physician. The true reason we cannot fall into the classification of primary care is that the definition includes care for life threatening situations.
Actually, chiropractic doctors are PRIMARY PORTAL OF ENTRY doctors and cannot be accurately classified as primary care by definition. However, most persons writing legislation and insurance use the terms interchangeably and do not know the difference, therefore for THEIR defininition we are primary care doctors. This means that patients can come to us directly for care, without being referred by any other physician. The true reason we cannot fall into the classification of primary care is that the definition includes care for life threatening situations.
Actually, chiropractic doctors are PRIMARY PORTAL OF ENTRY doctors and cannot be accurately classified as primary care by definition. However, most persons writing legislation and insurance use the terms interchangeably and do not know the difference, therefore for THEIR definition we are primary care doctors. This means that patients can come to us directly for care, without being referred by any other physician. The true reason we cannot fall into the classification of primary care is that the definition includes care for life threatening situations.
I would have to respectfully disagree with my colleagues in the answers listed previous to mine.
While the intent to distinguish a portal of entry from primary care is admirable, I fear it may sow more confusion than solve the question posed.
Chiropractors are by law primary care physicians who do not prescribe drugs (by choice) in most states (although in some states they do.)
A Chiropractor is a physician, in that they are required to diagnose and prescribe protocols of treatment including the correction of the vertebral subluxation complex, (VSC), acute and chronic injuries and yes Chiropractors receive extensive training in pathology and diagnosing of various diseases and are taught when to refer to the appropriate clinician.
SPECIALTIES
Chiropractors can specialize as well which takes and extra 3 – 5 years of training depending on the specialty. These specialties may include:
(1) American Chiropractic Academy of Neurology (DACAN – Diplomate
American Chiropractic Academy Neurology)
(2) Fellow of the American College of Clinical Neurology
(3) American Chiropractic Neurology Board (DACNB – Diplomate
American Chiropractic Neurology Board)
The American Chiropractic Neurology Board maintains recognition of the
following sub specialty neurology certifications
(1) American Board of Electrodiagnostic Specialties (FABES-Fellow of the
American Board of Electrodiagnostic Specialties)
(2) American Board of Vestibular Rehabilitation (FABVR- Fellow of the
American Board of Vestibular Rehabilitation)
(3) American Board of Childhood Developmental Disorders (FABCDD
Fellow of the American Board of Childhood Developmental Disorders)
(4) American College of Functional Neurology (FACFN- Fellow of the
American College of Functional Neurology)
Chiropractic Sports Physician: (DACBSP) program administered by the American
Chiropractic Association Council on Injuries and Physical Fitness.
(1) Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician – CCSP program administered by
the American Chiropractic Association Sports Council;
(2) Certificate in Chiropractic Thermography – CACBT program administered
by the American Chiropractic Association Council on Thermography;
Other Designations:
DACBOH – Diplomate American Chiropractic Board Occupational Health
Other Therapeutic & Diagnostic Approaches –
Besides the correction of VSC and the utilization of a myriad of physiotherapeutic and nutritional supplements, Chiropractors typically employ a myriad of imaging methods such as plain film radiography, fluoroscopy, tomography, ultrasonography, radioisotope imaging, computed tomography, digital radiography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Many Chiropractors utilize Functional Diagnostic Medicine as well. More on this methodology can be found here (as it is beyond the scope of this answer):
1. http://www.yourmedicaldetective.com/public/department50.cfm
2. http://www.functionalmedicine.org/about/whatis.asp
Actually, chiropractic doctors are PRIMARY PORTAL OF ENTRY doctors and cannot be accurately classified as primary care by definition. However, most persons writing legislation and insurance use the terms interchangeably and do not know the difference; therefore, for THEIR definition we are primary care doctors. This means that patients can come to us directly for care, without being referred by any other physician. The true reason we cannot fall into the classification of primary care is that the definition includes care for life threatening situations.
