Frequently Asked Questions
We understand you may have questions about our care, approach, and what to expect. Below you’ll find answers to the most common questions we receive. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, our team is always happy to help.
Getting Started
We use a range of non-pharmaceutical approaches focused on improving how the body functions.
Rather than applying the same technique to everyone, we determine what works best based on how your body responds, what you tolerate well, and how quickly or gradually you want to proceed.
Some approaches are more direct. Others are gentler and work over time. Our role is to match the approach to the person, not the other way around.
We make every effort to see patients as quickly as possible.
For urgent concerns, we often accommodate same-day or next-day appointments, depending on availability. Most new patients are scheduled within a few days, not weeks.
Pregnant patients with urgent needs are guaranteed an appointment within 24 hours.
Availability depends on urgency, timing, and clinician schedules, and our team will work with you to find the earliest appropriate option.
Yes. We offer full treatment days on Saturdays and Sundays, which is uncommon in healthcare settings.
All visits are by appointment to ensure focused, uninterrupted care.
Early morning and later-hour appointments are available depending on the day.
We are typically closed on Mondays, but we maintain on-call and by-appointment availability for urgent needs.
Many of our patients choose weekend appointments because weekdays simply are not practical.
New patient visits are typically 90 minutes.
This allows adequate time to understand your history, evaluate what’s going on, and determine whether our approach is appropriate for you.
We respect our patients’ time and schedule appointments.
Unexpected delays can occur. We aim to keep in-office wait times under 30 minutes whenever possible.
Your Care Experience
Yes. We regularly review MRIs, X-rays, and other imaging studies when they are relevant.
This often does not happen in full on the first visit. The first appointment is focused on person-to-person time, examination, and beginning care. Treatment is always provided on the first visit, at minimum for comfort, and many patients notice positive changes right away.
Rather than trying to do everything in one appointment, we use the UHI New Patient Process, which typically unfolds over about five days.
Yes.
Requesting a specific clinician may affect scheduling or wait time. If it’s important for you to see a particular clinician, our team will discuss options with you and help you decide what works best.
Our priority is to get you the right care as soon as possible.
Insurance and Logistics
We work with several major insurance plans, but not all plans.
Each insurance plan has its own reimbursement rules. In every case, we work to offer structured care options that help patients use their insurance benefits as effectively as possible.
These arrangements vary by plan and are discussed after a comprehensive insurance verification, completed as part of the new patient process.
Yes. We regularly care for patients traveling to and through Chicago for business, vacation, or tourism.
A brief medical history is required before your visit so we can prepare appropriately. If available, a short note or summary from your local clinician can be helpful, but it is not required.
Yes.
We are located in a dense area of Chicago with limited street parking, but there is a nearby parking garage within a two-minute walk.
Many patients use the ParkChirp app, which offers affordable parking options close to the office.
No.
Patients are not required to undress. Care is provided with comfort, privacy, and dignity in mind.
The UHI New Patient Process
The UHI New Patient Process is a structured way of getting to know and understand a patient’s condition, pain patterns, and the most appropriate approach to care.
It typically involves more than one visit.
Rather than relying on a single appointment to gather all information and make decisions, this process allows time to examine, begin treatment, observe how the body responds, and refine the approach based on real feedback rather than assumptions.
Bodies reveal information over time.
People often remember important details after the first visit. Physical responses to care provide information that cannot be predicted in advance. Allowing care to unfold over more than one visit supports clearer judgment and more thoughtful decisions.
This approach reduces pressure to “get it all right” in one appointment and reflects how bodies actually work.
Yes.
If you already have MRIs, X-rays, or other imaging or test results, we can review them when helpful. These materials are often reviewed after the first visit, once we have a clearer understanding of how your body is functioning.
Imaging, Testing, and Evaluation
No.
X-rays and laboratory tests are not required for your first visit, and many patients begin care without them.
Imaging or lab work is considered later if it adds useful information or meaningfully changes decision-making.
We rely first on direct assessment of function.
This includes postural analysis, muscle testing, gait evaluation, range of motion assessment, palpation, and other forms of functional testing. These methods provide real-time information about how the body is working.
Imaging is one tool among many, but it is not required to begin appropriate care.
Preparing for Your Visit
Please bring any relevant medical records you already have, including prior imaging or test results if available.
Comfortable clothing is recommended. Additional paperwork may be requested before or after your visit to help us understand your history more fully.
Scope of Care
Yes.
We regularly care for pregnant patients. Those with urgent needs are guaranteed an appointment within 24 hours.
Care is adapted throughout pregnancy with attention to comfort and safety for both mother and baby.
Yes.
The care we provide during pregnancy is delivered with careful consideration for how the baby feels within the mother’s body, with safety and comfort as primary priorities for both.
Our clinical training includes advanced family and pregnancy care, including study with Larry Webster, who originated the Webster Technique, and Dr. Jeanne Ohm, widely recognized for her work in chiropractic family and perinatal care.
Approaches are adapted for pregnancy, and techniques that are not appropriate are avoided.
If we don’t believe our approach is appropriate, we will tell you.
We regularly refer patients to trusted physicians and specialists in Chicago and, when appropriate, to clinicians who offer remote consultations. We don’t believe in keeping people in care that isn’t right for them.
No.
You do not need a referral to schedule an appointment.
Those specialists play an important role in healthcare, particularly when surgery, procedures, or medication are necessary.
Our approach is different. We focus on restoring function, reducing mechanical interference, improving movement, and addressing physical stress without defaulting to pharmaceuticals or invasive procedures.
Many patients come to us before considering injections or surgery, or after those approaches have not helped.
When specialty care is necessary, we support appropriate referral.
Pediatricians play an important role in children’s health, particularly for illness, development, and preventive care.
Our work is different. We focus on structure, movement, and physical function, which are not typically addressed in pediatric visits. When a child’s concerns involve posture, movement patterns, coordination, or physical stress, structural care can be appropriate.
Many families work with both a pediatrician and our clinic, depending on what their child needs. We do not replace pediatric care, and we encourage coordination when appropriate.
Yes.
Care is adapted to the individual, including people with osteoporosis or low bone density. We use techniques that are appropriate for bone health and avoid approaches that place unnecessary stress on bones.
Bones, joints, and soft tissues all benefit from thoughtful, supportive care. When osteoporosis is present, attention to safety, comfort, and technique selection is part of the clinical decision-making process.
Yes.
Nutrition, stress, ergonomics, sleep, and daily habits influence how the body feels and heals. We take these factors seriously and incorporate them into care.
Lasting change requires participation. While we bring experience, education, and clinical judgment, it is up to patients to make these factors a priority.
We are equipped to elevate care by addressing these elements and more.
Yes.
At times, we collaborate with guest clinicians who bring different skills or perspectives. This allows patients to explore approaches they may not otherwise encounter and gain broader insight into what works best for their bodies.
We do not treat medical emergencies.
Any condition requiring emergency care should be directed to an emergency room or emergency medical services.