When is a patient considered inactive in a chiropractic practice?

In chiropractic practice, a patient is considered inactive 12 months from the date of their last treatment. This timeframe is important for record-keeping and to maintain a clear understanding of a patient's status within the practice. An inactive status allows practitioners to manage their patient lists effectively, ensuring that follow-up care or reminders can focus on active patients who are currently under care.

This 12-month period aligns with common practices in healthcare, helping to delineate between ongoing care and those who may have discontinued treatment for an extended duration. After this time, a patient's records can be reassessed, and provisions can be made regarding their treatment history and potential outreach for re-engagement.

Other timeframes, such as 6 months or 24 months, do not typically reflect the standard practices for defining inactive patients, and while a patient's request for inactive status may be relevant, it is the timeframe from their last treatment that predominantly determines inactive status in record management.