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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
 How do I set up/change/cancel an appointment?
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If possible, call the clinic at (770) 614-6463 during normal business hours to make, change, or cancel your appointment. If you call during off hours, leave a message and someone will call you back to set up or change your appointment. If you need to cancel an appointment, please notify our office at least 24 hours in advance. |
How do I get to the clinic?
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We are located in the Mills Crossing shopping center, 0.6 miles west of I-85 (exit 120), just south of Hamilton Road (next to the Chevron station). Click on the "Directions to Office" link for detailed directions from your home to our clinic. |
Do I have to pay for my visit at each appointment?
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Payment is expected at the time of your first visit. Your out-of-pocket cost will not exceed $50 for the initial examination and all necessary x-rays. This is a special incentive we are offering to new patients at this time. If you are experiencing pain and wish to be adjusted during your first visit, please let the receptionist know this when you call to schedule your appointment. There will be an additional charge of $40 for Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy, making the total due $90. Payment arrangments vary during subsequent visits depending on the type of insurance coverage you have. At the time of your first appointment, we request that you provide us with a copy of your insurance card. Our office will contact your insurance company and get the information we need to explain the financial details associated with your care prior to your next visit. If you don't have insurance, or if your plan doesn't cover chiropractic care, our clinic offers an affordable alternative, CareCredit. CareCredit is a flexible healthcare payment plan currently in use by over 30,000 practices nationwide. CareCredit provides patients with the option of paying for their care over an extended period of time, interest-free. We will gladly assist you in applying for CareCredit if you are not already a participant. Other available payment options include cash, check, or credit card. |
How much is my co-pay?
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The amount of your co-pay will vary, depending on your insurance plan. |
Can I select a chiropractor as my primary care provider?
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Insurance plans typically require you to select a medical doctor, rather than a chiropractor, as your primary care provider. This is because chiropractic is a limited scope portal of entry health care profession, much like dentistry, or podiatry. All this means is that the consumer does not need a referral from any other type of health care professional in order to seek the services of a chiropractor. Should we determine that your condition requires treatment that is beyond our area of expertise and/or out of our scope of practice, you will be referred to the appropriate chiropractic, medical, or other provider for such treatment. |
How can I get a prescription refilled?
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Chiropractors do not get involved with prescription medication, as it is outside our scope of practice to prescribe it, or even offer recommendations regarding its use. |
How can I find out results to my tests?
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You will receive a Report of Findings from your doctor the following visit. All test results will be explained in detail, and ample time will be allowed for questions. |
What do I do in an emergency?
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If the emergency is of a chiropractic nature, call our office and we will schedule you for an appointment as soon as possible. In the event of a medical emergency, you should follow your medical doctor's advice or call 9-1-1. |
What should I do if I get hurt when the office is closed?
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In the event of an emergency, Dr. Pugh can be reached after hours by calling the clinic at (770) 614-6463. Calls will be forwarded to Dr. Pugh's voicemail and he will return your call as soon as possible. |
How do I know if there are problems with my posture?
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Some postural problems are clearly evident, while others are not. This is because the body does its best to balance things out through a process known as compensation. You can use a mirror, or ask a friend to look at you as you stand up straight. When viewed from the side, do you hold your head in a forward position instead of centered above your body? When viewed from the front, is your head level, or is it tilted or shifted to one side? Is one shoulder higher than the other? Is one hip higher than the other? These are a few common signs of postural stress caused by spinal misalignment. A thorough chiropractic examination, including physical, orthopedic, neurological, and radiographic exams, must be performed in order to determine the exact nature and extent of your problem(s). |
So, if problems are found, can they be corrected?
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The vast majority of patients respond favorably to our treatment protocols. Initial tests will help determine not only the nature of your problem(s), but also your expected response to treatment. Generally speaking, a patient in their teens is expected to respond better and more quickly than a patient in their 70's; however, individual results vary. The goal should be to identify your problem, then do what is necessary to correct it to the fullest extent possible in order to receive the maximum benefit to your health. Should initial tests indicate that you are not a good candidate for our postural correction program, you will be informed of this fact and presented with several alternative options regarding your care. |
Do all chiropractors address postural problems?
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No, they don't, and among doctors who do, the protocols often vary from one practitioner to the next. This is due to differences in experience, training, and background on the part of each doctor, and is not necessarily bad. The main thing to keep in mind is that long-term postural correction cannot be achieved through standard chiropractic methods that involve adjusting the spine alone. Specially designed spinal rehabilitation exercises must be performed in a prescribed fashion and sequence, in conjunction with specific spinal adjustments, in order to achieve predictable, long-term spinal/postural corrections that can be verified and measured by comparing pre and post-treatment radiographs.
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Why should I worry about my posture if I'm not in pain?
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Poor posture and spinal misalignment are often present for years before ever causing any pain. Unfortunately, the longer the condition is present, the greater the chance that the muscles, ligaments, discs, and even bones, will have changed to deal with the problem. The more your spine has changed, a process known as "compensation," the more difficult it is to restore the normal spinal contours, and the longer it will take. The best approach is to make an appointment for a thorough examination, including spinal x-rays. On your follow-up visit you will receive a Report of Findings. Your problems will be explained to you and you will be given an opportunity to ask any questions you might have. Your doctor will recommend a treatment plan that will attempt to restore your spine to its optimal position. This will allow the joints to line up better, reducing stress on your discs, improving spinal function and slowing the degenerative process. Spines with normal contours age much better than spines with significant misalignments, and greatly improve your chances of living a pain-free life.
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