• Baird R

• Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

What does the DC provide that the medical physiatrist, orthopedist, physical therapist, or osteopathic doctor does not? Laymen, as well as physicians, hospital administrators, HMO plan directors, hospital medical staff presidents, attorneys, and government health ministers-both domestic and international-ask this question. Sometimes, it's a well-meaning attempt to identify what chiropractors actually do or to determine if chiropractic is duplicative of care provided by other specialties or professions. Sometimes, the questioner wants to discover if there is a real unmet need for chiropractic services at a given facility. And sometimes, these questions are asked less innocently, facetiously, or even as a challenge. Whatever their purpose, questions about chiropractic's uniqueness require an answer that goes beyond the response that chiropractors are the only ones who correct or reduce spinal subluxations, although it's certainly acceptable to point that out, as well. This author's answer always includes two components-the chiropractic approach to care and the chiropractic skill level.

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