DOT Physicals

Yes! We do DOT Physicals!

Dr. Corey Touney is a federally certified DOT examiner

We often have same day or next day appointments available

We will do want we can to help you make the process as hassle free as possible

Give us a call!

Excel Chiropractic
605-332-9235

www.excelchiros.com/dot-physical-exams/

Back to School: Backpack Safety

BACKPACK SAFETY

Doing some last minute, back-to-school shopping? Here is what you should be looking for to help select the best possible backpack for your child:

Is the backpack the correct size for your child? The backpack should never be wider or longer than your child’s torso, and the pack should not hang more than 4 inches below the waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on the shoulders, causing your child to lean forward when walking.

Does the backpack have two wide, padded shoulder straps? Non-padded straps are not only uncomfortable, but also they can place unnecessary pressure on the neck and shoulder muscles.

Does your child use both straps? Lugging a heavy backpack by one strap can cause a disproportionate shift of weight to one side, leading to neck and muscle spasms, low-back pain, and poor posture.

Are the shoulder straps adjustable? The shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be fitted to your child’s body. The backpack should be evenly centered in the middle of your child’s back.

Does the backpack have a padded back? A padded back not only provides increased comfort, but also protects your child from being poked by sharp edges on school supplies (pencils, rulers, notebooks, etc.) inside the pack.

Does the pack have several compartments? A back­pack with individualized compartments helps position the contents most effectively. Make sure that pointy or bulky objects are packed away from the area that will rest on your child’s back, and try to place the heaviest items closet to the body.

 Parents or guardians should help children pack their backpacks properly, and they should make sure children never carry more than 10 percent of their body weight. For example, a child who weighs 100 pounds shouldn’t carry a backpack heavier than 10 pounds, and a 50-pound child shouldn’t carry more than 5 pounds.

In addition, parents should ask their children to report any pain or other problems resulting from carrying a backpack. If the pain is severe or persistent, give our office a call as soon as possible! Both of our doctors have years of experience helping and treating adolescent back pain. 605-332-9235

Back to School: FREE Scoliosis Screenings

August means it's time to start getting the kids ready to head back to school.

It's important to have young kids routinely screened for scoliosis; the sooner it is detected, the better the chance of stopping the progression of the condition.

Give us a call to set up an appointment, or simply bring your kids the next time you're in for yourself! Our doctors will be more than happy to help!
605-332-9235

Auto Accidents: Medical Coverage

Motor Vehicle Accidents
How Insurance Works

How insurance works in personal injury cases and what you can expect for coverage.

Primary Insurance: Your Auto Insurance
A majority of auto insurance policies include Medical Payment (Med Pay) coverage. Med Pay pays medical expenses for you and any passengers in your vehicle who are injured during the accident. There is a maximum amount your insurance company will pay for each person involved in the accident.
*Note: Med Pay will pay for your medical bills up-front at 100% until your limit is reached. Your insurance company will then be reimbursed by the liability insurance.

Secondary Insurance: Your Health Insurance
If you have maxed out your auto insurance Med Pay, your bills will be submitted to your health insurance. Unlike with Med Pay, you will be subject to any co-pays, deductibles, and other costs associated with your coverage. You can include these out of pocket costs into your settlement demands from the liability insurance.  Payments made by your health insurance will be reimbursed by the liability insurance.

Tertiary Insurance: Liability Insurance
This is the auto insurance of the at-fault party in the accident. While the liability insurance is responsible for your auto and injury bills related to the accident, it will not pay any claims until a settlement is reached. If you do not open a medical claim with your auto insurance and/or do no have health insurance, you will be responsible for the cost of your care until the settlement is reached. Due to this, we strongly encourage contacting your auto insurance and opening a medical claim.
*Note: A settlement may not cover all your bills & out of pocket costs, especially if you didn’t open a Med Pay claim or use your health insurance. For major accidents, you may even need to hire an attorney to ensure you are properly reimbursed. 

Help Us Help Others: Give Us A Review!

At Excel Chiropractic, we have always prided ourselves on putting our patients first. Everyone who comes into our office is a priority and is treated with the upmost care and respect. As a family practice, we are truly grateful for each and every person who choses us for their chiropractic needs.

Now, we are asking our patients to help us help others! We love to grow, and you can help by leaving a review of our office. Your comments will help others know what to expect from us when they are looking for a chiropractor in the Sioux Falls area.

If you can help us grow and help even more people, we would be truly grateful!
Thank you for your support!

Review us on Google

Review us on Facebook

Sioux Falls DOT Medical Exams

DOT PHYSICALS 

If you or someone you know are a CDL driver that is required to complete a DOT physical, we can help! Dr. Corey Touney is a federally certified DOT examiner and often has next day appointments available for drivers. These exams are done by appointment only and typically last 30-45 minutes. All drivers must provide a valid driver's license.

 

What to expect?

Dr. Touney will perform the physical exam according to the federal regulations:

• Review Health History
• Basic Physical Exam
• Vision Check & Color Vision Check
• Height and Weight Measurements
• Check Blood Pressure
• Urine Analysis
   
  Dr. Touney's Hours of Availability

• Monday: 9am – 12 pm; 2:30 pm – 6 pm
• Tuesday: 9 am – 10 am; 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
• Wednesday: 10 am – 12 pm; 2:30 pm – 6 pm
• Thursday: 9am – 12 pm; 2:30 pm – 6 pm
• Friday: 9 am – 12 pm
   
  To find out more information about DOT physical’s and our office, please visit our website at www.excelchiros.com/dot-physical-exams/
   
  To schedule an appointment, give us a call at
  605-332-9235



Auto Insurance Hierarchy

How insurance works when you’ve been in a motor vehicle accident

South Dakota follows a tort, rather than a no-fault system. This means that someone must be considered to be at fault, and that person's policy must pay for any and all damages. HOWEVER, that does not mean that you should not open claims with YOUR auto insurance. Why? By opening claims with your auto insurance, you will be ensuring that you are being protected from the at-fault (liability) insurance refusing to pay your bills or offering a settlement that does not cover everything you’ve already paid.

After an accident:

1. Contact YOUR auto-insurance. By paying your monthly premium, you have essentially hired this company to help you after an accident. Not only will the help you fix your car, but there is medical pay coverage to help ensure you are protected as well.
   1. By setting up a medical claim with your insurance, you medical bills will be paid up-front with no money out of your pocket until your coverage has been exhausted.
      1. Your insurance company will work to be reimbursed from the at-fault insurance. This saves you the hassle of having to negotiate a settlement and also protects you from settlements that are too low to cover your bills
2. After YOUR insurance’s medical pay is exhausted, you private health insurance is your best option. Much like submitting claims to your auto insurance, submitting to your private health insurance will ensure your bills are being paid up front, and they will work to be reimbursed by the at-fault insurance.
   1. You will likely be responsible for any co-pays, deductibles, co-insurance, and out of pocket maximums. You will have to negotiate these expenses into your settlement from the at-fault insurance.
3. If you have exhausted your medical pay and your private health insurance benefits, then you would begin sending bills to the at-fault insurance.
   1. While they may be responsible for all damages caused in the accident; this is not an ideal situation.
      1. They will not pay until you’ve been released from medical care in relation to the accident. Depending on the severity of the accident, this may not be for a long time, causing you bills to stack up. Many providers may not be willing to sit on the balance and ask that you pay out of pocket for your care.
      2. Once you’ve been released, they will try to make you settle. This amount would likely NOT cover all the expenses you’ve incurred during your care.
      3. There is a chance that the at-fault insurance will try to fight against paying the bills. At that point, you would need to hire an attorney.

Opening a medical claim with YOUR insurance is always the safest route to ensure your bills are getting paid and you are not burdened with dealing with the at-fault insurance company. By paying your monthly premiums, they are obligated to help you with your expenses. If they recommend sending bills to the at-fault insurance, insist on opening a medical claim directly with them. If you continue issues, we would be happy to call your insurance company with you and help you get the claim set up.