Partnering with Other Health Care Providers

Collaboration with other health care providers can enhance the accessibility, delivery, and continuity of patient care.

Reducing barriers to care via collaboration ensures that patients get the right care at the right time by the right provider.

The health care landscape is changing and chiropractors are often working in various interprofessional environments as a member of the health care “team.” In fact, some chiropractors work in hospital settings, as part of family health teams, community health care centres, and private integrated practice.

Chiropractors are able to effectively support various health care providers, including (but not limited to):

• Medical & naturopathic doctors
• Occupational therapists & physiotherapists
• Social workers
• Psychologists
• Nurses
• Dentists
• Dieticians

Each health discipline brings a unique perspective to the health care team and can improve the patient experience and satisfaction.

By partnering with other health care providers to tackle chronic and complex conditions, professionals are able to address physical, psychological, and social needs of patients — enhancing the coordination of care.

Whether partnering with medical doctors in patient care or receiving referrals from physicians who know their patient would benefit from spine, muscle, and nervous system expertise, there are significant benefits to the patient medical and chiropractic doctors collaborate.

Medical doctors have tremendous knowledge and experience treating systemic and visceral conditions, while chiropractors have vast knowledge regarding the assessment, diagnosis and conservative management of musculoskeletal conditions.

Interprofessional collaboration promotes effective patient-centred care. Chiropractors are trained to actively communicate with other health care providers, including medical doctors, about patient needs, and their extensive academic and clinical training allows them to know when patients need to be referred back to their family physicians or to another health care provider. Chiropractors are well-trained to refer patients who are presenting with non-musculoskeletal complaints and understand when there are contraindications to manual therapy.

Although a referral is not necessary, it is still common for health care professionals to make recommendations or referrals to chiropractors and vice versa. Increased collaboration of health care providers enhances patient care.

Referrals are a good way to expand and establish a network of health care providers for your patients. Chiropractors receiving referrals typically respond with a referral/reply note and/or progress note, if desired. Making a patient referral is simple and quick — ensuring that your patient is receiving the best possible care.