How To Be A Good Patient Following A Baltimore Car Accident

How To Be A Good Patient Following A Baltimore Car Accident

As a Baltimore Chiropractor that spends the majority of my time treating patients injured in Baltimore auto accidents that have developed Baltimore whiplash, headaches, neck pain, mid back pain, and/or lower back pain, I have spent a lot of time in this blog discussing the appropriate management of patient’s condition. I have implored patients to ask good question and to hold their medical team or providers accountable for the very best care. Recently I had a patient ask me what THEY could/should be doing to help mitigate their pain and to be the best patient possible. I found this to be a refreshing idea. As a treating provider all I can do is give patients my best intention, care and treatment. It really is up to a patient to be the best patient possible. After all, a patient and a doctor form a team, and how good is a team without proper communication?

I have assembled a list of things that Baltimore auto accident patients as well as Baltimore chiropractic patients can do to help be good patients so that they can make a complete and speedy physical recovery.

1). Have a good attitude – Having neck and back pain is not a fun thing and very few patients “want” to have to come to treatment. It is a stressful time in your life, as it is in mine as your provider. Take a deep breath, answer my questions to the best of your ability and trust that my staff and I want to help you. In previous blog posts we discussed that having expectations of a quick and complete recovery can actually lead to positive outcomes. With this in mind, please be optimistic about your recovery.

2). Be disciplined – Following an initial evaluation and diagnosis a treatment plan will be given to you. It will detail how often you should be seen in the office, any other doctors that I want you to follow up with, and any home-based activities that I expect. Please keep in mind these recommendations are for your benefit. Patients that follow our recommendations to the “t” end up doing well. We do not make recommendations just to make them, but rather, they are based on sound science and my personal experience having treated thousands of patients in Baltimore with Chiropractic joint pain and/or whiplash injuries.

3). Be committed – Alert your employers and your family to your injury and your desire to recover. Having other people hold you accountable will help you stay committed during the dark times. Explain that you may need to spend time taking care of yourself and that it may temporarily alter your normal schedule. They will understand.

4). Be consistent – Even as you feel better with treatment (and you will!) don’t rush back into all of your pre-injury activities. I want you to resume your activities at 25%, then 50% then 75% then 100%. The key is slow and steady progress so that I can monitor your complaint and so that you don’t suffer from any setbacks while you heal.

5). Be flexible – At Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic we offer some of the most flexible office hours in Baltimore for providers that treat Baltimore auto accident patients. We offer morning hours so patients can come in before work, we offer lunch time hours so patients can get treatment during their lunch breaks, and we offer evening hours so patients can receive treatment after work and before heading home for the evening.  Additionally, we offer some Saturday hours for those patients that just can not make it during the week. While these hours are long it is our commitment to help our patients reach maximum physical recovery that drives us to accommodate everyone’s complex schedule. Don’t be afraid to shake up your normal routine in order to help your body heal and feel better following your injury.

In general, just remember that we want to help you recover from your Baltimore auto accident injuries and/or your Baltimore neck pain and Baltimore back pain. We are committed to being here and being ready to serve you. In order to make a complete physical recovery from your injuries, patients need to commit to their treatment as well. It is unrealistic to expect to be “fixed” overnight or without committing to the treatment plan provided for you. Patients and healthcare providers must effectively work together as a team to reach the best clinical outcomes.

If you, or someone you know has been injured in a Baltimore car accident and has suffered from Baltimore auto accident injuries, please contact Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic at (443) 842-5500. We would be happy to help!

Dr. Gulitz