OK, it’s time to get personal – in the best possible way – to help you live a healthy life.
The NHS mantra says that “personalised care takes a whole-system approach, integrating services around the person including health, social care, public health and wider services.
“It provides an all-age approach from maternity and childhood right through to end of life, encompassing both mental and physical health and recognises the role and voice of carers. It recognises the contribution of communities and the voluntary and community sector to support people and build resilience.”
That’s like music to my ears because chiropractic is perfectly placed to offer and advise on all kinds of personalised care. Indeed, I was taught about versions of this when I was at university back in 1998.
We learned about patient-centred care, the biopsychosocial model of healthcare and the importance of integrating this into the community – and this has only strengthened under today’s university curriculum.
So, as a practising chiropractor, with all the evidence to hand, what does personalised care mean to me? Why is this the best type of care and why is chiropractic so well suited to help deliver it?
In my opinion, one of the most important aspects is to be seen quickly by a healthcare professional. Chiropractic clinics can broadly offer an initial consultation for a new patient within a week and often on the same day. This helps reduce the stress and anxiety that any one of us would feel when we have a concern or are in pain.
Early intervention is also one of the primary preventors of chronic conditions. We know from experience that a small simple problem can turn into a large complicated one if not addressed soon enough. A huge number of patients who have to wait months for care are often given long-term pain killers and anti-depressants just to survive day to day. Sometimes these medications are helpful but they can also hinder an individual’s progress.
During this frustrating waiting list time, patients are often off work, adding to their emotional and financial stress – in turn, that can lead to more personalised mental health support care. I believe it’s better to prevent this rather than react just because we have been too slow to help.
In chiropractic, we recognise how the four pillars of health affect everyone. Simple back pain, like all musculoskeletal conditions, is aggravated by lack of sleep, poor nutrition, stress and not enough exercise. I can’t think of any patient with whom we do not address these wider issues.
Take this a step further – who else can support the patient?
Their tennis coach, a personal trainer, a mental health worker, their GP, occupational health at work, community social clubs and even physical aids. We will work with anyone to help our patients live a healthy life.
And this is what it all comes down to. As a chiropractor who has grown with experience and, of course, aged a little myself, I understand what most people want above all things… healthy living for them and their loved ones.
We all want to live a long healthy life. For me, in a perfect world, I would drop down when my time is done and I’m super old, laughing with friends and family on a mountain walk in France. So, with good quality, holistic and personalised care – combined with a little bit of luck – there’s hope for all of us to live a long and healthy life.
Chiropractors are trained, compassionate professionals who treat all musculoskeletal conditions. I consider each patient as though they are member of my family and I look forward to helping everyone in a personalised way.
Photo by dada_design on Unsplash
