The Responsibilities of a Chiropractic Specialist

To provide an expert examination of musculoskeletal (MSK) dysfunction and/or pain.   (Dr. Burton's interest and emphasis is on the lower back.)

To provide an independent assessment, as requested.

To act as a consultant to chiropractic and medical doctors, other health care providers, or third party payers in the investigation, diagnosis and/or management of MSK problems.

To understand the usefulness, limitations, and costs of advanced MSK diagnostic tests, and able to use such to uncover possibilities which would otherwise be missed.

To introduce alternate options for patients with MSK dysfunction and/or illness, and trained to deal with chronic situations in which different illnesses occur together.

To assume when indicated or requested, responsibility for the continuing care of referred patients with complicated pain and illness.

To know about dangerous interactions of MSK treatment when given simultaneously with other treatments, and about the risks and benefits associated with all treatments.

To provide critical analysis of research reports and claims about new MSK treatments.

To case manage complex and serious MSK illness.

To provide pre-operative/post-operative assessment of patients who require/receive MSK surgery.

To advise field doctors of a patient's risk status and may recommend appropriate intervention to minimize risk.

To use up-to-date procedures for MSK diagnosis and effective management of patients with severe and/or complex MSK illnesses.

To assume a central role in the postgraduate training of chiropractic doctors.