What should I check about a chiropractic clinic’s spinal decompression and therapy equipment?

Start with a full inventory. Include tables, traction units, electrical therapy devices, lasers and anything else the clinic charges patients to use. Ask who owns each item. Some may be leased, financed or owned by a practitioner personally rather than by the clinic.

Next, read the service records. Look for regular maintenance, repeated repairs on the same item and any equipment the clinic has stopped using. Idle equipment is a sign the clinic bought something that did not pay off. Then match equipment to use. Ask how many patients use each machine in a typical week and whether it brings in separate income or is part of a general fee. A high-priced table that few patients use is a cost to weigh carefully.

Think about the people. Does only the owner know how to run the more specialized equipment? Ask who has been trained and whether they plan to stay. Finally, ask the seller to describe what they would replace soon. Your accountant can help you plan for it. Ask how the clinic describes these treatments to patients, and whether the descriptions match what the equipment can reasonably do. Your lawyer can advise on how health claims should be worded. Also ask about supplies and accessories each device needs, and who sells them.

Key takeaways

• Confirm who owns each unit and whether any is leased.
• Read repair records and find equipment that sits idle.
• Match each machine to how often patients actually use it.