Chiropractic Assistants

Medical Assistants Who Apply for Chiropractic Assistant Positions

 While medical assistants work under the direct supervision of a medical physician, the chiropractic assistant works under the direction of a chiropractor. Chiropractors provide natural, drugless, nonsurgical health treatments, relying on the body's inherent recuperative abilities and recognize that many factors affect health, including exercise, diet, rest, environment and heredity. Chiropractors recommend changes in lifestyle that affect those factors. Their work hours typically are Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 12:00PM and resume from 1PM - 5:00PM, no holidays and weekends unless they work in an office with extended hours, or where working on weekends is required.

 A chiropractic assistant must be a positive and caring individual who loves patient care. They assist in a chiropractor's office where they perform tasks based on prescribed goals and progressive treatment plans defined by a medical doctor, licensed clinician, or healthcare provider. It is an opportunity for medical assistants to cross-train into a rewarding new direction.

Role of the Chiropractic Assistant

 A chiropractic assistant's morning will likely start with cleaning the waiting room area, pulling patient charts, opening the office, welcoming patients for their appointment, getting the exam and treatment rooms ready, escorting patients and preparing and monitoring them during their exam and treatments. Once adequately trained they may administer a full range of standard therapy agents to include heat, ice, mechanical and manual resistive exercise, electrical stimulation and other therapeutic modalities in accordance with the chiropractor’s treatment plan and applicable state and local laws. Some of the equipment typically used are infra-red lamps, ice- and heat packs, ultrasound, and x-ray machines; some of which may require a special license (e.g. medical assistants who expose patients to radiographic imaging devices may need a limited x-ray permit). Additional qualifications and skills to ensure the chiropractic office is running smoothly may include:

• customer service
• excellent interpersonal communication
• patient and office safety
• administrative and clinical tasks
• strong Computer skills
• First aid and CPR certified

Duties of the Chiropractic Assistant

 One of the chiropractic assistant’s most important duties will be to monitor a patient’s response and reactions to the treatment plan as specified. At times, this may include lifting, moving and positioning a patient during individual or group treatment activities to achieve the desired effect and goals. Other times the chiropractic assistant may be asked to assist during massage, electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, heat therapy, traction and instruction of exercises; seeking additional assistance when problems arise and must be brought to the attention of the chiropractor.

Requirements and Qualifications

The chiropractic assistant keeps his/her skills current through workshops and continuing education programs, attending department staff meetings and in-service programs, and if certified, e.g. certified medical assistant, by keeping his/her certification status active and up-to-date through their professional membership association who provided the credential.

Some additional specific job requirements may be:

• Chiropractic technologist training through an approved program
• One year experience working for a chiropractor or in a medical office
• Limited x-ray license

Their pay rate is based on location, credentials and years of experience.

Jobs for Chiropractic Assistants

Presently, major job sites, such as Monster Jobs and Indeed.com, are listing open positions for chiropractic assistants in every state. While there are far more job openings for medical assistants in various medical offices, since there are more doctor's practices than chiropractor's offices, jobs for chiropractic assistants still open and close daily. Accepting a position under the employ of a chiropractic clinician is an excellent way for medical assistants to specialize; it brings advancement opportunities along with new duties, responsibilities and rewards beyond the general clinical and administrative medical assistant's scope of practice. Some chiropractic assistants are expected to take radiological images, however, certain states may have special licensing requirements, such as obtaining a limited x-ray license, before they can expose patients to radiological screenings.