Your first visit
Seven steps, and none of them should surprise you.
People put off getting seen because they do not know what they are walking into — whether they will be pressured, what it costs, whether somebody is going to crack their neck without asking. Here is the whole thing.
- 01
Arrival
Your intake forms were emailed ahead, so there is no clipboard. Average wait in reception is six minutes. Coffee is decent and nobody will sit you in front of a video.
- 02
History
Fifteen minutes of questions. When it started, what makes it worse, what you have already tried, what you need to get back to, and your general medical history. Most diagnoses are made here rather than on the table.
- 03
Examination
Orthopedic tests, neurological screening (reflexes, sensation, strength by nerve root), segment-by-segment motion assessment, and a movement screen appropriate to your complaint.
- 04
Imaging, only if indicated
Digital X-ray on site when a specific finding calls for it. Not routine. If your presentation warrants MRI or specialist assessment we arrange the referral instead.
- 05
Findings
We sit at a screen together and go through what we found. You get a working diagnosis in plain language, an estimated visit count, a re-examination date, and the criteria for discharge — in writing.
- 06
First treatment
If the exam supports it and you consent, we treat the same day. If it does not, you get a referral. That happens for roughly one in twelve new patients and it is a good outcome.
- 07
Home with a plan
Two or three things to do before your next visit, a description of what should change and by when, and the signal that means call us sooner.
New patient special
$59 New Patient Visit
$285 value
Book your visitCall (614) 555-0148Offer excludes Medicare, Medicaid, and personal-injury cases per federal guidelines. No obligation to continue care.
Come prepared
Six things to bring with you.
None of these are mandatory. All of them make the first visit more useful.
Your insurance card
We verify benefits beforehand, but bring it so we can confirm.
Photo ID
Standard for a new medical record.
Existing imaging
Discs, printed reports, or a portal login. We will read it with you.
Medication list
Including supplements — some affect which techniques are appropriate.
Clothes you can move in
Or borrow ours. We need to watch you move, not just lie still.
A list of questions
Genuinely. People forget them and then remember in the car.
Consent
Nothing happens to you that you have not agreed to.
A lot of people are nervous about chiropractic, and specifically about having their neck manipulated. That nervousness is reasonable and we treat it as clinical information rather than something to talk you out of.
If you would rather not have a technique used, say so. Instrument-assisted and mobilisation-based approaches produce comparable results for most presentations, and we use them routinely.
- We explain what we are about to do and why, before we do it — at every visit, not just the first.
- You can decline any technique without explanation and without it affecting your care.
- There is a low-force alternative for every region of the spine. Choosing it costs you nothing in results.
- You can ask us to stop mid-treatment at any point.
- You can bring someone into the room with you.
Questions
Everything else people ask.
Do I need a referral to be seen?
No. Chiropractors are primary contact providers in Ohio, so you can book directly. Some insurance plans require a referral for coverage — we check your benefits before your first visit and tell you where you stand.
Will it hurt?
The adjustment itself should not. Most patients describe relief rather than pain. Some people experience mild soreness the next day, similar to after a workout, and it settles within 24 hours. Soft tissue work and shockwave therapy are more uncomfortable, and we tell you that before you agree to them.
How long is the first visit?
About 50 minutes. That covers a full history, orthopedic and neurological testing, a movement screen, a walkthrough of the findings, and treatment where appropriate. Follow-up visits are typically 15 to 25 minutes.
How many visits will I need?
Most new complaints resolve in 6 to 12 visits. You will get an estimated visit count and a re-examination date at the end of your first appointment, in writing. If the numbers have not moved at the re-exam, we change the plan or refer you elsewhere rather than continuing.
Do you take my insurance?
We are in network with Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Medical Mutual, and several others. We verify your specific benefits before your first visit and give you a written estimate, so nothing arrives as a surprise afterward.
What if chiropractic is not the right treatment for me?
Then we tell you and help you find the right provider. Roughly one in twelve people who come here for an initial exam leaves with a referral instead of a treatment plan. We would rather do that than treat something outside our scope.
Is neck adjustment safe?
For most people, yes, and serious adverse events are rare. We screen for vascular and structural risk factors before any cervical work. If you would prefer not to have your neck manipulated, say so — instrument-assisted and mobilisation techniques produce comparable results and we use them routinely.
Can I come in the same week?
Usually yes, and often the same day. We hold slots for acute pain and collision injuries specifically. Average wait time in the reception area is about 6 minutes.
New patient special — $59 New Patient Visit
One visit tells you what is actually wrong.
A full diagnostic exam, the findings explained on screen, and a written plan with an end date. Same-week appointments.
Columbus, OH · Same-week appointments · Most insurance accepted