PATIENT AREA
(This area is for our Active Chiropractic Patients to help
them understand our office procedures and protocols)
Welcome to Axis Chiropractic Family Wellness Centre.
We are pleased you have chosen us for your health and wellness
needs.
Since we schedule to be ready for you at your specific time, we
ask that you please be on time for your appointment. A routine office visit is
10 minutes in length. We understand that some circumstances require more time;
for example, a new injury or extreme pain. If you think you may require a longer
appointment, please ask the office staff to schedule accordingly. Occasionally,
we need to treat an emergency that takes longer than we have anticipated. If we
are running behind, we ask for your patience and understanding.
Our
holistic approach to healthcare includes awareness that, in some cases, you may
need a specialty that we do not offer. We can refer you to physicians with a
like-minded commitment to consider you as the whole person you are. In some
cases, to facilitate your recovery or optimal health, we may determine that
co-management of your cases is the best choice. We know you have a choice in
health care and we are committed to exceeding your expectations. Please let us
know if there is anything we can do to make your visits with us more
comfortable.
Our
Goals & Objectives:
Our goal is to
provide you with the best possible care. When a patient seeks chiropractic
health care and we accept a patient for such care, it is essential for both the
doctor and the patient to be working towards the same objective. Chiropractic
has only one goal. It is important that each patient understand both the
objective and the method that will be used to attain it. This will prevent any
confusion or
disappointment.
Vertebral Subluxation: A misalignment of one or
more of the 24 vertebrae in the spinal column which causes alteration of nerve
function and interference to the transmission of mental impulses, resulting in a
lessening of the body's innate ability to express its maximum health
potential.
Adjustment: An
adjustment is the specific application of forces to facilitate the body's
correction of vertebral subluxation. Our chiropractic method of correction is by
specific adjustments of the spine performed manually with the use of a specific
table with drop away sections or with the use of a hand-held
instrument
Health: A state of
optimum physical, mental and social well being, not merely the absence of
disease or
infirmity.
We do not offer to diagnose
or treat any disease or condition other than vertebral subluxation.
However, if during the course of a chiropractic spinal examination, we encounter
non-chiropractic or unusual findings, we will advise you. If you desire advice,
diagnoses or treatment for those findings, we will recommend that you seek the
services of a health care provider who specializes in that
area.
Regardless of
what the disease is called, we do not offer to treat it, nor do we offer advice
regarding treatment prescribed by others. OUR ONLY PRACTICE OBJECTIVE is to
eliminate a major interference to the expression of the body's innate wisdom.
Our only method is specific adjusting to correct vertebral
subluxations.
Patient Visit Procedures &
Protocols:
To help accommodate the high volume of
practice members we may see, and to make your visit experience more comfortable,
we ask that you please follow our office visit procedures and protocols,
especially during peak times.
- All practice members are
required to Sign-In upon entering our health centre.
- Please remove any outerwear
(i.e. Jackets) and hang on the hooks provided at the front.
- On rainy/snowy days, please
remove your soiled outdoor footwear at the front. Slippers will be provided at
the front for your comfort.
- Any new complaints/injuries
must first be reported at the front
desk. You may be required to schedule a new partial exam to update your
current file.
- When you are required to fill
out any necessary paperwork, or you are waiting to see another therapist, we
ask that you please sit and wait in the front seating area.
- When called upon, please
proceed into the designated adjusting area and lay face down on the adjusting
table prior to the doctor entering. (This will allow your joints and
muscles to decompress from weight bearing before receiving your
adjustment.)
- Before lying on the table,
please tie back long hair (hair ties provided) and/or loosen tight
collars/ties/belts.
- When your adjustment is
complete, please refresh your face paper before leaving.
- Please handle your accounts
and schedule and/or confirm your next appointment(s) after your adjustment.
(Please remember and follow your recommended treatment plan)
- If you wish a Statement of
Services to submit to your insurance, please notify the Chiropractic Health
Assistant of the dates required. Your statement will be provided to you at
your next visit.
Office
Policies:
Keeping Appointments
Your adjustment schedule may be designed for:
Corrective Spinal Health Care, Palliative Care (Pain Relief) or ongoing elective
preventive care.
An initial care plan that the doctor recommends
needs to be closely adhered to in order for you to reach optimum improvement.
Missing Or Changing Appointments (New/Initial Patients)
The doctor has prescribed a specific course of
treatment for you. A certain number of treatments in a set amount of time are
necessary for the results you desire. It is expected that all missed or canceled
appointments are to be made up later during the same day as the original
appointment. If this is impossible, then the appointment will be automatically
rescheduled for the next business day at the same time. If scheduled visits are
missed and not made up within that same week, you will need to schedule for your
regular appointments and your make-up appointment(s) for the following week.
It is imperative that a certain number of
adjustments are delivered repetitively over a certain period of time in order to
reach optimal improvement.
Missed / Cancelled Appointments
If you are unable to keep an appointment
(for any service in our clinic), we require a minimum of 24 hours advance
notice (unforeseen circumstances accepted), so we may be able to
reschedule your visit, and to accommodate another person who needs our services
into that time slot. All it takes is a phone call!
If you call after
hours, please be sure to leave a message for us. As a courtesy to others, please
notify us if you will be late for your appointment. If you miss appointments or
you do not follow your recommended treatment schedule, you will not receive the
most benefit from your chiropractic care. All missed appointments and less than 24 hour notice
cancellations will be charged the
regular visit fee.
Reminder Calls
It is NOT our policy to make reminder calls for scheduled
appointments, However, this may be performed as a courtesy. Appointments are
confirmed at the time of booking. (reminder
cards are issued when appointments are booked in person). It
Payment Of Services
- We request payment at the time of services
rendered.
- Our office accepts
cash, cheques, interac, VISA, and MasterCard. (Cheques are payable to Axis
Chiropractic Family Wellness Centre.)
- Late fees will be
applicable if payment is not received on the same day as service.
- Returned checks will be assessed a $25.00 fee.
- A 5% interest charge will accrue and be
assessed monthly to accounts 30 days past due. Accounts are delinquent at 45
days and are subject to a continuing compounded interest each month and sent
to collections at the end of the year.
- We do not bill 3rd parties (insurance plans) on your
behalf. Fees for all services are the responsibility of the patient/client.
Statements/receipts will be issued to patients upon request.
- We have many individual and family pre-payment plan
options available at discounted rates (chiropractic care only).
- Services of pre-payment plans must be rendered
during the period of the designated treatment plan and/or prior to the end of
the calendar year. No banking and carrying-over of credits.
- Payment plan discounts are only
applicable by completing the Pre-Paid Visit Block. If you choose to terminate
your care before the end of a Pre-Paid Visit Block, any outstanding balances
to you will be returned after all the previous services rendered have been
adjusted back to regular fees. Furthermore, any outstanding balances payable
to Axis Chiropractic will be due and paid in full
immediately.
- Pre-payment plans are to be cancelled with a
notice of one month.
- We expect all patients to honor any and all financial agreements you make with our
office. If you find that you cannot fulfill the agreement you have with us,
please advise our staff immediately so new arrangements can be made.
Adjusting
Area
Many successful practices
are designed where the patients share "the stage" with the doctor in the
"adjustatorium." Our semi-open adjusting area plan supports efficiently
answering patient questions and educating in a mass, while controlling office
traffic, maximizing volume, and reducing the time the chiropractor has to spend
playing psychologist. While it may appear initially awkward, many patients
quickly adapt to this modern "non-medical" concept as they receive, and share
their adjustment. Remember, we are a family wellness centre and the goal of the
chiropractic adjustment is to help normalize spinal and nervous system function
which can have a positive and often profound impact on a patient's health,
regardless if you are in a private room or not. If you wish to speak to us about
private health matters, please ask to use one of our closed rooms. A special
appointment may be required to accommodate your
request.
Patient Concerns
We pride ourselves on providing the exceptional
chiropractic experience. If you should have any questions or concerns during the
course of your treatment, it is expected that you inform the doctor or a member
of our staff. However, any questions or concerns will not be discussed during
adjustment visits. A special time/appointment will be scheduled to discuss your
concerns. We value your privacy, and ask that all personal questions, concerns
or financial matters be addressed with the doctor in our private consultation
room. We welcome your comments or suggestions.
Hours
The doctor has specific office operating hours.
The receptionist will schedule your appointments during the preferred hours for
the services you will be receiving. Consultations, new patient examinations, and
progress evaluations are scheduled only during specific hours each day. Walk-ins
are welcome, but you may have to wait until all of our scheduled patients have
been seen.
Our office has two
booking times for Chiropractic Care - Adjustment
Time and Assessment
Time.
Adjustment Time: For adjustments only
(Prime time is between 5:30pm-7pm.)
Assessment
Time: For evaluating new concerns, injuries, to re-assess
progress or for a consultation. (Not performed between
5:30-7pm)
When booking
your chiropractic appointment, please keep in mind what service you are booking
so we may accommodate you accordingly.
If an emergency arises
during off hours, Dr. Saclamacis will make himself available to his regular
patients by calling 647-407-4966.
Progress/Update Examinations And X-Rays
During your intial care in our office, progress
evaluations and radiographic follow-up evaluations will be performed to
determine your overall level of progress, and need for future care.
Initial
patients on Relief/Corrective Plans are required to perform a mandatory Progress
Exam (PE) every 12 visits. (up
to 3 PEs can be performed). Maintenance patients are required to perform a
mandatory Wellness Update Exam (WE) every 24 visits. All patients who
experience a new or different health complaint may require an update
assessment.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Our office does accept Motor Vehicle
Accident Cases.
Workers Compensation
Our office does not accept Workers
Compensation cases.
Children
We welcome and strongly encourage children to be checked for
Subluxations and receive regular chiropractic care. Because we care for the
safety of your children, we ask that they do not enter the adjusting areas (unless
they are to be adjusted) and refrain from handling any chiropractic
equipment.
Active & Inactive
Patients
- An active
chiropractic patient is one who maintains a regular office visit/check-up.
(at least 1x per 1-2 months)
- An
inactive chiropractic patient is one who has not received any chiropractic care
for at least 3 consecutive months*.
* Files/Records will become inactive when there
is no activity for at least 3 consecutive months. A Re-activation exam and
charge will be required before resuming any care.
Website, E-mails, News Updates
We pride ourselves in continually educating our patients and
re-affirming the principles and philosophy of chiropractic. In today's
technological age, we do not send or mail information/literature through
standard post, but through e-mails. Every month we send a monthly patient health
newsletter and clinic news/special announcements pertinent for that month. If
you wish to be on our e-mail list, please tell our staff.
We also ask that you please visit our website regularly for more
information about chiropractic, spinal care tips, other services provided,
monthly newsletters, clinic news updates and special
announcements.
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