Last week I commissioned a study from MBA students to provide data on how I might do better. They developed a brief anonymous questionnaire, which I sent out to all the patients I’ve seen this year. We got back over 10%, which is pretty good and within a normal return rate. While there are a couple things I can work on changing (e.g., more available hours, adding stretching and nutrition services), the big take-away was everyone seemed to be pretty happy! If you’re curious, read below to see the findings with comments from my patients.
Findings
According to the survey, before coming to me, 90% of my patients tried to resolve their issue(s) using traditional medicine, other chiropractors, acupuncture, podiatry, physical therapy, pain management specialists, drugs, and massage. In other words, I was their last shot.
While I am glad I could help them, this highlights the prejudice against chiropractors in our society. I’m convinced this stems not from chiropractors hurting people, but instead from what is typically a long, drawn-out treatment plan, which requires 3-5 treatments a week for the first 2-4 weeks, and incrementally decreasing the visit frequency. Too many offices even require the patient to sign a contract to promise to keep coming. I DO NOT DO THIS TYPE OF CARE!
70% of my new patients are only seen a handful of times, some just once or twice. Now, I’m a huge advocate for wellness care, like going to the dentist 2x/year, and many of this 70% elect to continue wellness care anywhere from 1x/month to twice a year (everyone has different needs).
Like it or not the human body is a machine with moving parts and any engineer knows that machines with moving parts will need to be tuned on occasion. The human body is an incredibly complex and dynamic machine, so expecting all our moving pieces to work perfectly all the time is fantasy. Some of us humans need more tuning than others, but with the right adjustments, appropriate exercise and stretching, good stress management, and decent nutrition, humans should be very functional into our 90s (this will be a topic for another blog).
Over 1/3 of my patients only come 4-6 times a year. This is great!
I don’t want to see ANYONE 20-50 times a year, as so many other chiropractic offices require.
Other Insights
Over 60% were referred to me by other patients. My desire is that ALL my patients are referred to me by patients who have seen me before. I have countless new patients referred to me from patients I haven’t seen in years! I’m not a salesman so love it when others can explain how I work and that my goal is to get them fixed as fast as possible, not make them sign contracts to see them several times a week for weeks on end. If you are like me, your guard goes up when you see a doctor.
Over 50% had been dealing with their issue (usually pain) for over 6 months. Unfortunately, this means that most people think their pain is either a normal product of aging (I hear that a lot), or that chiropractic care can’t address what they perceive to be more serious than it is, or they were specifically told NOT to go to a chiropractor (usually from an MD). Countless patients have come to me after first going to orthopedists, worried their pain is surgical or that chiropractors don’t really do anything. The orthopedist will either suggest surgery, drugs (pills and/or injections) or physical therapy. For neck and low back pain, a (good) chiropractor should be the first option.
The New England Journal of Medicine did a study that concluded, for acute low back pain, “Satisfaction was greatest among the patients who went to the chiropractors [instead of orthopedists].” Additionally, the costs associated with orthopedic visits was far higher than a chiropractor. “. . . analysis showed that the patients who saw orthopedic surgeons were somewhat more satisfied than the patients who saw primary care providers but were less satisfied than those who saw chiropractors. The higher level of satisfaction among the patients who saw chiropractors persisted. . ..” (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199510053331406).
The sooner I can get to someone with joint pain, the better and faster the outcomes.
In short, the responses were overwhelmingly positive. The biggest reasons patients sought me out were referrals from patients and my positive online reviews (Google, Yelp, Facebook). Location was a minor factor, but cost and referrals from other medical providers were not significant.
Patient Comments
The following comments were provided by some patients. I did not censor or delete any comments, all are here in their entirety. These comments were not required.
I am so grateful I found Dr. John! I feel better and have never felt any judgement or pressure.
Dr John is amazing! He’s the reason I’m not in pain all the time.
I was in serious back pain after I fell and fractured my lumbar spine in January of 2023. After the fracture I visited Orthopedic physicians several ; tried physical therapy; Neurologists; Family practice physicians; and a special spine and pain management doctor. doctor who gave me ten lidocaine trigger point injections every week for several months as well as performing a right and left nerve ablation to try and relieve my pain which would last or lessen my pain for only 24-48hours.?The ablation helped ed for about a week tops. Only since I’ve been coming to Dr John Dandelski have I gone days and days without back pain…he is a very skilled physician and a real life miracle worker..thank you so very much I really appreciate you!
Dr John listens, understands how to adjust and is always pleasant.
I absolutely love coming to you! I have been to so many chiropractors over the years in many states and you easily are the best!
I have been to many chiropractors over the past almost 40 years and Dr. John is by far (!) the best.
I always receive so much tension and pain relief from my visits with Dr. John and am always amazed that he can diagnose and treat my symptoms within the 15 minutes scheduled time!
Great care is provided and appreciated!
Dr. John is wonderful and I recommend him constantly. He’s the most knowledgeable chiropractor I’ve ever been to and I appreciate his expertise. His kindness, concern for others & compassion make this practice a home run. I will only see Dr. John for anything chiropractic related.
The knowledge and good care and the real gold and the main reason I come. I don’t love thought of supplements and lots of extras. A nutritional counsel and exercise/training would be a great edition. I wouldn’t care for being sold products on site.
I used to go to another great chiropractor, but his office staff was rude and I often had to wait nearly an hour after my appointment time. Dr. J is always just 5 minutes or so. Love Abi’s massages too.
Love how I don’t have to wait 20+ minutes for appointment. I get in and out quickly.
Dr. John has provided complete and helpful chiropractic adjustments.
No pressure, friendly and knowledgeable
He’s been a game changer. He kept us safe during pandemic. So friendly, helps recommend other doctors when necessary.
