As part of the Counseling Department’s ongoing Career Spotlight series, Bethel Park brought in Michael McCort on Thursday, Nov. 14, to discuss the career of a chiropractor.
The wonders of a chiropractor are seemingly endless. They help relieve arm pain, neck pain, back pain, and even headaches.
But the best part is there are no invasive surgeries, which, in some ways, make seeing a chiropractor safer than a medical doctor.
The responsibilities of a chiropractor are as follows. They are responsible for administering exams of patients, running tests, such as X-rays, making adjustments, and muscular evaluations.
Mr. McCort also discussed the usual hours of chiropractors.
Hours for a practice owner can be pretty flexible, usually an early morning to late afternoon shift. But it is really all preference.
A regular chiropractor’s hours are at the mercy of his or her owner.
The salaries of chiropractors vary by position.
A regular employee can expect $30,000 to $60,000 per year; contractors’ salaries vary by job, and an owner’s salary all depends on the success of the business.
The atmosphere of this career is fairly relaxed and clean. A chiropractor can work in a clinic, an exam room, or an office building.
To be successful, Mr. McCort encourages an outgoing and “Type A” personality in order to have good interactions with patients. If the person is interested in running a practice, business knowledge and job shadowing are recommended.
The outlook of chiropractors, according to Mr. McCort, is pretty good. He said, “It has been growing for a long time. It is the second largest healthcare field behind medicine.” And he also said, there is always room for advancement. “You can always start your own business, no matter how late in life.”
Now in regards to education, an aspiring chiropractor can expect some extra schooling beyond college. Most chiropractic schools require a four-year Bachelor degree, with a GPA anywhere from 2.5-4.0.
Mr. McCort recommends good studying skills and the ability to multitask in order to succeed in that kind of school.
Back to the work aspect, there are many responsibilities for a chiropractor.
They have to find out what is wrong with a patient and if they can help that person. They also have to issue a proper diagnosis and submit it to third-party payers, such as insurance companies.
A chiropractor has to have a positive attitude, according to Mr. McCort. “You want to treat every patient like you would treat a family member, or how you would want a family member to be treated.”
The difficulties of this career are mainly due to the business aspect, juggling both a business and patient care. But being a chiropractor is also very physically demanding.
The rewards of a chiropractor are changing the lives of people for the better. “Seeing people crawling in [to the practice], and then, after their treatment, seeing them walk out a happy and healthy person again is extremely satisfying,” Mr. McCort said.
Whether it’s a foot, back, neck, or leg, chiropractors can fix it. A growing outlook and positive atmosphere should draw new and aspiring young people to the exciting career of chiropractors.
