What is the Job of a Doctor?

When I was in my early 20s, I was dealing with a pretty severe case of PTSD. The symptoms of this were making my life more difficult to live.

I was fortunate at the time to be able to see a therapist who had the training to address my problem. At my first appointment, that therapist asked me, “What are your goals for coming in to see me?”

I told him that I was having a hard time dealing with everything happening in my life, and that I felt like I had no control over how I was able to cope. I told him that I had had therapy before, and it didn’t really help me. I was tired of feeling how I felt,  but I also didn’t want to have to be in therapy for the rest of my life just to stay functional.

He told me something that has stuck with me to this day.

He said, “My job as your doctor is to help you deal with everything you’re dealing with right now, but my job is also to give you the tools you need in order to handle it on your own in the future. If, after we get done with the things that you’re dealing with now, you find yourself in a situation where the tools aren’t quite working, or if you just want to have on-going support, then of course you can come in to see me.”

His words helped to shape my belief about being a doctor today.

Our job as doctors is to help our patients with the BIG thing they came in with, but then give them the tools and advice to deal with that thing on their own in the future. We are here to SUPPORT patients.

For my patients, we spend a couple weeks taking care of the BIG thing, then we spend a few more weeks addressing the underlying problem and providing advice on how to deal with it on their own in the future. When we talk about on-going care after that, it’s based on whatever supports them the best.

My goal is always to empower my patients, so if I were to tell them they SHOULD or NEED to come in on a weekly basis to see me (like I used to have to tell patients when I worked at one of those franchise chiropractic clinics), that’s not acting within what I believe my job as a doctor, as a healer, truly is. I don't believe it's empowering to be told you need another person to be healthy.

If my patients WANT to come in and see me every week because it makes them feel good, I’m happy to accommodate that, but I feel proudest when my patients feel like they can go weeks or months without needing that extra support. That means that I did MY job as their doctor. I EMPOWERED them to feel comfortable and capable in living their life.

Scientific data tells us that when someone has had a chronic condition like low back pain, having a check-up every 1-3 months can minimize painful days, maximize functional days, and increase overall quality of life. For all my patients that choose ongoing support, their average appointment frequency is 4-8 week intervals.

One thing you should know about Alameda Chiropractic & Ergonomics: we’re not here to get you to depend on us to function; we’re here to empower you to take control of your life. We maintain tranparency and honesty in how we communicate, and we don't scare you into thinking that we are your salvation. Every one of my patients is powerful, and my job is to help them tap into that.

If you've learned to live with your pain, we want to help you free up some brain space and take back control of your body and life. Contact us today for a free, no obligation discovery visit. We'll talk about your concerns, do a preliminary assessment, and tell you if we're the best place to get you the relief you deserve.