Chiropractors face delicate decision to stay open or close
To close, or not to close? That is the pivotal question for many businesses in Memphis, even those deemed “essential.”
Unfortunately for Rachel and Dr. Philip Berardi, who operate Chiropractic Memphis at 3675 Summer, the turning point in their decision to close was much more gripping than others.
“Our neighbor down the street passed away from the coronavirus, so that really brought the issue close to home,” Rachel Berardi said.
But as sad as that reality is, there are other chiropractors in Memphis – even other local Chiropractic Memphis clinics run by other doctors — that remain open and continue to provide patients with relieving treatment for their pain.
Rachel (right) and Dr. Philip Berardi debated on whether or not to stay open during the pandemic, but in the end decided it was safer for the patients to close. (Sarah Kyle Gilmer/Submitted)
It’s this balance between safety and pain relief that makes decisions for local practices such a delicate topic, but also makes it hard to rule any choice as the correct call.
As Dr. Bradford Cole, a chiropractic doctor at Cole Pain Therapy Group, put it, the only right call at the moment is, “it depends.”
Closing the doors
Before closing its doors due to coronavirus concerns, Berardi’s clinic was reaching new highs, treating up to 500 patients per week.
The first week the virus was recognized in Memphis, however, the number of patients dropped around 25%. The next week, they were down closer to 40%.
“Patients were calling in saying, ‘Hey, I’m going to stay home, can I push my appointment back a month or back a couple of weeks?’ ” Philip Berardi said. “We were telling them that we understand, and that we’ll check back with them when all this is calming down.”
In hindsight, a couple weeks was optimistic.
But there were also patients on the other side of the equation as well. Some would call in, note that they had been exposed to the virus, but still wanted to get adjusted.
“If we have this many calling in, how many are coming in that are unaware they might be carrying it or might have been exposed without calling ahead of time?” Rachel Berardi asked herself.
Chiropractic Memphis also has a significant number of elderly patients, which complicated matters even more. Making adjustments from 6 feet away was impossible.
“At that point, we felt like it was our responsibility to protect them,” Rachel Berardi said. “We went over all the cleaning procedures with a nurse, and she told us that was basically all we could do. We were bleaching all the tables down between each patient. But it just felt like it would only take one to be devastating for us.”
So they closed while others remained open, sending patients recommendations for therapeutic exercises for specific conditions, while referring the acute pain patients to other chiropractors that remain open.
Generally, the Berardis felt like that was an idea that was widely supported.
“My reaction was that it made total sense,” said Dean Lopez, a patient at Chiropractic Memphis on Summer. “It was better to look out for other people for now. If there’s a way to protect the other people and employees, and you have the means to do that, then do it.”
Fortunately for Chiropractic Memphis, they did have the means, and they have kept all employees on the payroll during the time without business. They are also moving forward with a project to add an additional location for the practice.
“Of course, the CARES Act came through, so we have applied for that, and we are hoping that will help us cover our payroll during this time,” Rachel Berardi said.
It was a move appreciated by the employees.
“We have one person on our staff who hadn’t seen her daughter in three weeks because her daughter had asthma and she didn’t want to risk it,” Rachel Berardi said.
Rachel and Dr. Philip Bernardi operate Chiropractic Memphis at 3675 Summer. (Kelly Day Portraits/Submitted)
But until COVID-19 numbers significantly decrease, it could be a long time before the employees and patients return.
There are still concerns about making sure all of patients remain as comfortable as possible, so aggressive telemedicine remains the go-to strategy.
“They gave me a full list and showed me several stretching exercises that I can do in the meantime,” said Erin Tonning, a patient with Chiropractic Memphis for three years. “… I feel well equipped, at least for what I can do at home. And, obviously, by staying at home it makes me feel like I’m doing the right thing.”
Staying open
Dr. Bradford Cole at Cole Pain Therapy Group agrees. If a patient is able to treat pain at home with stretching and self-adjustments, they should avoid coming into the office.
His practice has remained open, however, and is still treating patients with acute pain that are looking for relief.
“We have basically triaged some patients out into those that would be best served doing home care and those that would best benefit from treatments in the office,” Cole said. “You weigh risk vs. benefit.”
In addition, Cole Pain Therapy Group has taken extra precautions in the office by spreading out patient visits to maintain social distancing, and disinfecting between every treatment. Wearing a mask depends, “case by case.”
“We are keeping an eye on what exactly needs to be done,” Cole said. “But right now, it’s case by case because we are not treating anyone with any respiratory issues or fevers.
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“Our non-acute cases we have asked not to come in, and our waiting room and parking lots are practically empty because we are spreading out our limited patients so much,” he added.
While Cole has not noticed an influx of referred patients to his particular practice, he has taken note of the closing of practices around the U.S. and is aware that some patients who need care are likely moving to different places.
“It’s a tough decision (to decide whether to close or stay open),” Cole said. “We have friends all over the U.S., and I think it’s a regional decision, for sure. A lot depends on what the current environment is county by county.”
At the moment, he is comfortable with Memphis in its current state.
“If it was not necessary (to remain open), we wouldn’t be doing it,” Cole said.
Drew Hill
Drew Hill covers the Memphis Grizzlies and is a top-10 APSE winner. He has worked throughout the South writing about college athletics before landing in Memphis.
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