Standards of Care is the term we use to encompass basic values you should look for in a health care professional.  So many of my new clients have shared with me past health care experiences, across various models of medicine, that are staggeringly negative in so many ways.  I have been at this for a long time, and have been trained by some of the most forward thinking, talented minds at the helm of medical and natural healing arts today.  I have seen the best and worst standards of care. It is my sincere intent that everyone has a positive and healing experience with their health care teams. Health care should be healing. Much of it is not, but if you ask deeper questions and are willing to do some research, you will have the ability to build a strong health care team for you and your family. The standards of care you receive are ultimately up to you; based on your needs and willingness to advocate for yourself. 

Is your current practitioner, chiropractor, doctor, physical therapist, massage therapist, etc. genuinely serving YOUR needs? Evaluate your experiences by asking yourself questions like these:

Is this therapy or practitioner actually improving your overall level of health?

A therapy can feel good while you are receiving it and this is great for a whole host of reasons, but if your goal is to improve your health in a tangible, specific way, the time, money, and confidence you are investing should produce lasting benefits that are building with each session.

If you stopped going to your practitioner, chiropractor, doctor, physical therapist, massage therapist, etc. would your symptoms simply return?

If the answer to this question is, “Yes,” then in the interest of your time, money and confidence, I would suggest to you that something important is missing in your treatment plan. You are designed to heal.  If your goal is maximizing your body’s healing potential and raising your overall level of health, take the time to do a good inventory with yourself, keep a health journal (containing pain levels 1-10, etc) and really speak openly about this with your healthcare team.

If it is your intent to raise your level of health and if work you’re doing is really in your best interest, generally, you could expect to see some good improvement consistently within three sessions as long as you are doing what your practitioner is asking you to do outside the office. At the very least, a stabilization followed by a steady improvement in your overall health should be evident to you. Ideally treatments attained via object testing, is customized and based on body priority.   Seek a skilled practitioner that understands training is a foundation and the toolbox we draw from, it is not the miracle cure.  You're the miracle, going to your body directly and using objective, unbiased measures is the most efficient and effective path to healing.

Are the professionals you seek both intelligent and skilled?

There are a lot of intelligent people in the medical, natural health and wellness fields.  You deserve someone who is also skilled.  Someone who can take the concepts they have learned and set them aside long enough to come to you and learn.

Often those who rely on their immense intelligence allow their egos to take over. When this happens, they stop seeing you. Their value to you is greatly diminished. The only way a professional can get at the necessary information to guide you on a healing path is by asking you, listening to you, seeing you, encouraging you and waiting humbly and thoughtfully for the response. The only way to access your information is if you boldly bring it, willingly, unapologetically and powerfully. It is within this mutual space of contribution, cooperation, and communication you’re both positioned for success.

I genuinely believe it is often a better bet to work with someone who has a solid education and skill set–maybe less initials–is more humble and willing to serve and is truly inspired to do so.

Do they talk at you or to you? Do they see you? Hear you?

If you get the sense from your practitioner, chiropractor, doctor, etc. that you will never know more than them and feel they go out of their way to make sure you know it, this is not the right person to be working with.  Often these professionals have quite a following and are very charismatic. They generally charge a lot of money for very little time and you will not feel seen, heard, or validated. This is not how it is meant to be. Make sure you are seen, heard and respected; that your needs and concerns are addressed in a timely, effective and respectful manner.  Keep these as your standards and you will thrive. If these standards are not being met, I say, move on.

Are they doing what they do for the love of doing it and the opportunity of sharing what they know with the world?

When this intention is present, healthcare, regardless of its orientation, becomes healing: effective, honest, co-creative, dynamic, joyful and spontaneous.

Do you feel happy going to your appointments?

You should.

Do you feel respected and validated?

Healing is a co-creative process based on a skilled practitioner and client communicating with honesty, intelligence, willingness, humility, and personalized service.  Yes…service.  You are paying this person.  They should be nice to you, listen to you, and address your questions and objections thoughtfully and with integrity.

Do you learn inspiring or empowering things at appointments?

Professional and effective practitioners will always seek to educate and empower you with a deeper understanding of what is going on with your body, the changes that they are seeing and why they are doing/recommending what they are.

There are reasons that you are sick or in pain. There are reasons that you are tired. Is your practitioner informing you about the deeper causes of these challenges? Based on what your practitioner has told you, do you actually understand why you are here and how you are progressing on a healing path?

Do you leave feeling better?

You should leave feeling better, at least emotionally, and armed with a clear, understandable, and common sense treatment plan that is doable and meets your needs.

Is it fully addressing your chief complaints and concerns?

Don’t, under any circumstances, let yourself be talked down to by being told, “Oh don’t worry about that.”  If you’re worried, and you know yourself to have a good head on your shoulders, don’t settle. You are the one who needs to live with the consequences.  You should not feel intimidated to speak up because they are the “experts”, or feel pressured surrender your power to the authority and judgment of another.

A professional’s knowledge or expertise is only half of the equation. You are the vital other half, the expert in you. Are you okay with how things are going?  If not, move on.