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Book Reviews
By Steven Eggleston, DC
Title: The Chiropractic Form & Sample Letter Book
Authors: Attorneys Campbell, Ladenheim, Sherman, and
Louis Sportelli, DC
Publisher: Health Services Publications, Inc.
Publication: Hard cover, 557 pages
Category: Administration/office procedures
To order, please call (800) 543-4337 or (610) 826-2811
Have you spent much time designing forms for your office? Have you
bought form after form and each one was not exactly right for you?
Have you ever wondered what to do when a patient gets mad and wants
his money back? Here is the book for you. There are 557 pages of
forms, each page 8 1/2" x 11" and perforated so it can be torn out
and photocopied. Most of the forms have one filled out as a sample
and a blank one you can use to make copies. Since three of the
authors are attorneys and one a chiropractor, there are extensive
explanations as to why, when, and how to use each form.
For example, the Financial Hardship Payment Agreement form is used when
any patient is unable to pay usual and customary fees for your services.
Since dual fee schedules and cash discounts are potentially unethical
and illegal, this form helps protect the practice when a patient truly
needs your care but cannot afford it.
This form contains language like: "I hereby certify that I have been
informed of the usual fees of Dr. Smith for the examination, testing and
treatment he has recommended that I undergo. I am unable to pay those
fees at this time without substantial financial hardship. I have no
expectation of being able to recover those expenses from any third
party. To enable me to obtain his services, Dr. Smith and I have agreed
to a special payment arrangement ..."
Another form is the fax cover sheet. It states: "The information
contained in the facsimile message is doctor-patient privileged and
confidential information intended only for the use of the
individual or entity named above ... and dissemination,
distribution, or copy of this communication is strictly prohibited.
If you have received this communication in error, you are asked to
not read the pages which follow ... notify us by collect telephone
call, and destroy the original message."
Many forms that you use right now in your office can be amended or
updated using the excellent ideas in the forms contained in this
book. From a legal perspective, some of these ideas are invaluable
and many protect you from liability.
Here are a few examples of forms included in the book: a letter
confirming that patient discontinued care voluntarily; patient
re-call letter; collection letters #1, #2, #3; athletic physical
form; no doctor-patient relationship established form; home care
and exercise report; safety belt exemption form; consent to
participate in research release of all claims (settling potential
malpractice claims); credit card payment form; and many more.
There is only one thing that would make this book better. If a
companion software package was available so each of these forms
could be imported into my word processing program, that would be
nirvana. In my office we have customized some forms put onto our
letterhead or put our name on them. This has necessitated me to
have a CA retype them into our computer. I suppose this isn't even
a criticism, just a request for more of the excellent work done by
the authors. Even if or when such a program becomes available, the
book is still necessary because of the explanations about how,
when, and why to use the forms.
In reviewing this book, I believe it to be worth its weight in gold
-- so I weighed it. It weighs in at a solid three pounds and that
makes it worth over $1,000. The actual price is a lot less. In the
next few years, this book will save you at least a thousand dollars
in time and/or liability. Get out your checkbook or credit card
and purchase this book today. Let me repeat that the ACTUAL cost
is NOT a thousand dollars, that is only the value I place on it.
The actual cost is $189.
Eggleston Rating: 10
Title: Radiographic Positioning for the Chiropractor,
Second Edition
Author: Robert Percuoco, BS, DC
Publication: Hard cover, 163 pages
Publisher: Self published (through Palmer College)
Category: Student education, practitioner reference
Please see #T-154 on the "Preferred Reading &
Viewing List, pages XX for ordering information
or call 1-800-359-2289
The second edition of Robert "Bucky" Percuoco's text Radiographic
Positioning for the Chiropractor was a pleasure to review. It is a
well-indexed, comprehensive guide to positioning developed for use
by his students at Palmer College. Radiographic views are
categorized and thereby easily accessed. Categories include:
weightbearing, full spine and sectional series, additional spinal
views, upper cervical specific, extremities, and miscellaneous
axial and soft tissue studies.
The text begins with precautions regarding proper equipment usage,
technical preparation, gowning, and shielding. All of the
precautions are worthwhile, but I question the appropriateness of
including first aid procedures in this section. Obviously, we all
need to be prepared for unexpected patient reactions, in the x-ray
room or elsewhere, but two pages of emergency procedures is hardly
sufficient for these eventualities.
The bulk (120 pages) of the text, dedicated to positioning, is
exceptional in its exhaustive content, thorough delineation of
necessary parameters, professional format and graphics, and value
for cost. All views include data (but are by no means limited to)
film size, marker placement, collimation, and breathing
instructions. Line drawings depicting central ray and patient
placement are provided, along with simulated digitized film results
for each view. These graphics are extremely clear and
instructional, with the exception of areas with many overlying
structures. For these views, such as the skull and face, the
digitized drawings were overly complex for easy interpretation in
the size and format provided.
Additionally, Dr. Percuoco includes valuable sections on artifact
detection and control, specific technique parameters, and an
extensive glossary of terms. Space is provided for the student or
practitioner to make additional notes at the end of each section.
The only other distraction was the five-page index of Huston
classification for subluxation listings. It is included not as an
appendix but rather as an "inclusive, defensible and widely
accepted" method of subluxation classification. Many would find
that point arguable.
In all, the book is wonderfully produced and fills a vital niche
both as a learning tool for the student and an easy reference for
the practitioner for views not routinely used. It would also be a
great reference to supply to RTs and other medical technicians not
familiar with weightbearing spinal views and other specific series
ordered by the chiropractic physician. The cost of this text is
$27.50.
Silvestrone Rating: 8.5
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