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.
Our practice began over 8 years ago as a Chiropractic practice and has
since expanded to include Massage Therapy.
Complex cases may be co-managed by several practitioners who
consistently communicate with one another regarding your progress.
Our staff works to make your experiences at our office pleasant,
efficient and beneficial. 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 waiting to
see the doctor for an adjustment, we ask that you please have a seat in
our “hot seat” area. This allows us to ensure efficient office flow and
minimize wait times.
- 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).
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.
The Health Centre
has designated hours for the Registered Massage
Therapist and Doctor of Homeopathy. Please inquire at our front desk
or visit our website regarding practitioner’s hours.
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. However, due to our “open concept” office layout, we
ask that you please direct your children to our children’s play area
(whether or not they are waiting to see the doctor) to avoid any
disruption to other patients or therapies performed in the clinic.
Because we care for the safety of your children, we also 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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