Department of Chiropractic

About our Chiropractic Clinics

Established in 1974, the Summer Hill Outpatient Clinic chiropractic interns have been proudly serving the Ashfield Municipality for 35 years, with the clinic only closed for a short period of time during 2005 refurbishments. Initially, interns in attendance were enrolled at the Sydney College of Chiropractic, until this institution and its programmes came under the banner of Macquarie University in 1990. Our Summer Hill Clinic is situated in the inner west of Sydney, in the heart of the Summer Hill Shopping Village.

Our second Outpatient Clinic established in 1994 is located in the lower north shore suburb of Eastwood within the Eastwood Village Square Shopping Centre. For 15 years the Macquarie University chiropractic interns have provided chiropractic care for local communities within the Ryde Municipality. Our newest outpatient clinic opened in 2006, within the growing Macquarie Park business district, located a short distance from the central Macquarie University Campus.

During 2008 and 2009 the Chiropractic Outpatient Clinics established an external fieldwork program working closely with Surf Life Saving NSW, the NSW Rowing Association, U@MQ as well as Oxfam Australia with the Sydney Trailwalker Challenge and the NSW Cancer Council Relay For Life events. During 2009 we also developed a partnership with Hands on Health in order to provide chiropractic care at Parramatta Mission. Our fieldwork program enables student interns the opportunity to work with acute injuries and manage a different case mix of patients in a range of different settings. In October 2009, interns were provided with the unique opportunity to work with Sports Chiropractic Australia in providing chiropractic care to the 30,000 competitors participating in the 7th International World Masters Games.

In 2010, the Chiropractic Outpatient Clinics commenced a partnership with Baptist Community Services, Marsfield to provide a chiropractic care service twice a week to residents, this partnership enables Macquarie University interns to work within an aged care facility. 2010 also saw the beginning of our partnership with The Sydney Grammar School with the provision of a chiropractic service for the boys sporting fixtures on Saturdays. These two partnerships in conjunction with our ongoing work at Parramatta Mission have become part of the interns Clinical Placement Program, and together with our Outpatient services and Fieldwork program aim to provide a diverse range of clients within the internship program.

During 2011, we will be working to open a brand new clinic within the Dow Corning Building located in the Macquarie University Research Park, where our campus and sport & aquatic centre operations will move to. We anticipate opening this location late in 2011.

Our Summer Hill, Eastwood and Macquarie Park Outpatient Clinics are equipped with modern radiological x-ray imaging equipment, and all three of our clinics utilise modern chiropractic treatment tables. Our chiropractic interns provide a service to over 25,000 patients per year with a wide range of health problems. A list is outlined in Table 1. At all times, our interns are supervised by registered senior chiropractors and academics, who have access to cutting edge research to facilitate the development of a patient specific Chiropractic Care Plan.

Our experienced clinical supervisor team ensures that interns meet the highest standards of patient care as well as reinforcing exemplary academic standards of diagnosis and treatment.

Table 1: A list of health problems which are treated at the clinics
	Back Pain	Neck Pain	Migraine
	Disc Problems	Arm & Leg Pain	Joint Pain
	Tension	Sciatica	Shoulder Pain
	Stiffness	Restriction of Mobility	Strains & Sprains

What can you expect at our outpatient clinics?

The first consultation will take approximately 60 minutes and will include the taking of a full patient medical history, a range of diagnostic tests (orthopaedic, neurological and chiropractic examination) to determine chiropractic treatment needs. Chiropractic treatment may be given to acute patients, interns will review all of the tests, consult with available research materials and their supervisors to develop the statement of case findings as well as the development of an ongoing chiropractic care plan which is specific for every patient.

At the second appointment, the treating intern will take the patient though the statement of case findings and the intended Chiropractic Care Plan developed. Second and subsequent appointments take approximately 25 – 30 minutes. At regular intervals, interns and supervisors will review patient progress against the care plan, and update the care plan as required.

If required, a digital X-Ray image may also be taken on site, or else referred to an external radiology practitioner.

Fee Schedules

The Macquarie University Outpatient Clinics offer extremely competitive fee schedules. Discounts are available for Seniors, Concession Card holders and full time students upon presentation of appropriate identification cards. For 2011, our fee schedules are:

$40 initial consultation / $30 subsequent consultations for full time and part time workers
$30 initial consultation / $20 subsequent consultations for Macquarie University staff members
$20 initial consultation /$15 subsequent consultation for Seniors, Students and holders of valid Concession Cards
$55 for a full spine X-Ray
$15 for a peripherial X-Ray
$25 for one spinal region XRay & $15 for each additional spinal region X-Ray

Please note that we operate cashless clinics, with EFTPOS, credit cards, money order and cheques the only accepted method of payment.

Other Services Available

A mobile Chiropractic Clinic may also be engaged to assist at community or sporting events as part of the external fieldwork placement program.

Currently the Macquarie University Department of Chiropractic provides a regular service for NSW Surf Life Saving, NSW Rowing Association, NSW Cancer Council Relay for Life Events (Northern Area), U@MQ Sporting Events and Oxfam Australia – Sydney Trailwalker. We have also provided support at a number of specific events for the Golden Oldies Rugby Community, NSW Hockey Women’s’ Veteran Age Division, the International World Mountain Bike Championships in Canberra (2009) and Dragonboat NSW.

Use of the mobile clinic may incur an administrative fee. For more information about our mobile clinic, please contact the Clinic Manager on Mob: 0458 717 286 or Tel: (02) 9850 1354 or email karinna.handley@mq.edu.au