Intra-professional and inter-professional referral patterns of chiropractors

Table 2 Inter-professional Relationships between Chiropractors and MDs

Question	Response	N (%)
Have you ever recommended patient see a MD ?	Yes	420 (99.8)
	No	1 (0.2)
Do you recommend patient contacts MD on own or initiate formal referral ?	Patient contacts MD	168 (43.4)
	Doctor initiates referral	219 (56.6)
Have you ever referred patient to MD for evaluation or treatment?	Yes	384 (91)
	No	38 (9)
How often referral includes sending case report? ^¶	Always	111 (31.2)
	Usually	90 (25.3)
	Sometimes	110 (30.9)
	Never	45 (12.6)
How often referral includes sending X-rays or X-ray report? ^¶	Always	103 (28.6)
	Usually	125 (34.7)
	Sometimes	106 (29.4)
	Never	26 (7)
How often referral includes sending clinical records other than X-rays? ^¶	Always	72 (21.1)
	Usually	84 (24.6)
	Sometimes	133 (38.9)
	Never	53 (15.5)
How often referral includes sending reason for referral? ^¶	Always	291 (82.7)
	Usually	45 (12.8)
	Sometimes	12 (3.4)
	Never	4 (1.1)
Have accepted referral from a MD	Yes	275 (66.3)
	No	140 (33.7)
How often do you send clinical information to referring MD as follow-up to referral? ^¥	Always	74 (27.2)
	Usually	68 (25)
	Sometimes	100 (36.8)
	Never	30 (11)
Have refused a referral from a MD?	Yes	17 (4)
	No	403 (96)
Has a MD obtained clinical information or advice via curbside consultation	Yes	129 (30.5)
	No	294 (69.5)
Have you obtained clinical information or advice from a MD via curbside consultation?	Yes	203 (48.4)
	No	216 (51.6)

¶ – Questions are applicable for respondents who had referred a patient to a MD for evaluation or treatment.
¥ – Question is applicable for respondents who accepted a formal referral from a MD

ISSN: 2045-709X