VAX-D, VAXD, Texas Spine Clinic

JPJONES1957@HOTMAIL.COM (J.P.) 2003-10-25 16:30:00

I want to make all interested parties aware of my very negative
experience at the Texas Spine Clinic, a five location chain in Dallas
- Ft. Worth. They are part of a self-proclaimed "VAX-D Network".

Two weeks ago, I made a confirmed appointment to visit the 1915 N
Central Expressway location in Plano, Texas. When I arrived, no one
expected me. That was at 2PM. An hour later, when no one had bother
to check my status, I went to the front desk to find out the
situation. Apparently, the "Doctor" who was to provide my initial
consultation, was either late, or had never arrived. I walked out
there and then. That is not the worst part however.

That is the setting: Located in a rundown strip mall across from an
abandoned restaurant, it is a completely open floorplan. When I
arrived, there were about six bored looking employyes clothed in blue
hospital scrubs, standing arounf talking about a pizza party. At or
on about 8 VAX-D tables, were at least 8 elderly people in varying
states of decrepidation or treatment. Mind you, the tables are about
three feet apart, and everybody in the foyer can see the tables,
vice-versa, and the patients all see each other.

Real assembly line medical care. There was no supervising
professional to be seen.

After I left, I immediately called the VAX-D network to locate another
VAX-D clinic. To avoid potential lawsuits, they had me call "Dr. 'X'"
- a chiropractor. Dr. X was initially quite rude - and became more
rude when I asked him for the CPT treatment codes so I could get
pre-authorization from my medical plan. He declined with some story
that too many "doctors" were trying to find out about his wonderful
"practice" and trying to steal business information.

Still, after a little research I was able to find out that the average
cost of treatment is more than $4,500 for just 20 treatments (1
treatment per day, five days per week for 4 weeks).

I then called back to the VAX-D Network. They said they would make
sure that "Dr. Boudreau" the D.O./Owner of the five clinics would call
me back. Never happened.

Well, the theory may be sound on the VAX-D, but FTC approval doesn't
mean much - positive or negative. I sometimes work writing
intellectual property patents for major industrial clients to present
to the U.S. Patent Office. Likewise, just because the USPTO allows a
patent, there is no requirement to prove either 1) it works (because
no prototypes are required anymore) or 2) it is commercially viable.

My conclusions: Stay away from the Texas Spine Clinic. Better check
your medical coverage for "physical therapy" limits. Lastly, another
shining example of why chiropractors don't get respect - they remain
chock full of scammers who are taught (I know this from a close
personal friend who went through a famous chiropractic school) exactly
how to code their practices to beat the medical insurance system.

It's been often said by that great circus promoter, con man and
swindler, P.T. Barnum, "There is a sucker born every minute."

J.P. Jones, Ph.D. (Bio-Mechanics - University of Southern California
graduate)