Steven Barnett, D.C., Davenport ’79, has initiated a hospital-based
MRI referral program with Dekalb Medical Hospital in Decatur,
Ga., and Premier Neurosurgical Institute of Marietta. Dr. Barnett
is the Director of Chiropractic Relations for both institutions.
The program began in 2009 and was so successful, he created the
Marietta referral program, which launched in 2011. Neurosurgeon
Vidyadhar Chitale, M.D., F.A.C.S., says he values the shared effort
that has taken place at the Institute.
According to an article in The Georgia Chiropractor (Winter
2011), “The program has been wildly successful, giving D.C.s
access to a high field magnet, resulting in better diagnoses and
treatments for patients.” It also has developed great relationships
between the hospital specialty providers and the chiropractors.
Dr. Barnett is excited about the success of this integrated
approach in patient care. “Our motto is that we work together
to make everybody better,” he says. “With our program, no
chiropractor ever loses a patient by making an appropriate
referral. Since this model is not state-specific, it can be incorporated
everywhere. It will open doors for chiropractors to bridge
the gap between the medical model and chiropractic.”
To learn more about referring patients for MRIs to Dekalb Medical
or Premier Neurosurgical Institute, contact Dr. Barnett at (770)
355-2997 or buckey440@aol.com. Read the full article in the
Winter 2011 edition of the The Georgia Chiropractor on the
Georgia Chiropractic Association website at www.gachiro.org.