What to Expect at Your First Appointment
Every new patient at Core Wellness Centre first meets with Clinic Director Dr. Kris Dorken, DC.
Dr. Kris will review your main concerns, relevant health history and reasons for visiting the clinic. He will then discuss an appropriate next step, which may include a chiropractic assessment or an appointment with another member of the clinic team.
Each practitioner completes their own profession-specific assessment and recommends care within their professional role.
Complete Your New Patient Forms
Before Your Appointment
Please complete the appropriate new patient forms before arriving, when possible.
The information you provide helps Dr. Kris and the responsible practitioner understand your health history, current symptoms and reasons for seeking care.
You may also wish to bring:
- A list of medications and relevant health information
- Previous reports or imaging related to your concern
- Your insurance information
- WSIB or motor vehicle accident claim information, if applicable
- Any referral or prescription required by your insurance plan
Contact the clinic if you are unsure which forms or documents you need.
1. Check In
Our front desk team will confirm your appointment information and let Dr. Kris know you have arrived.
If your forms are incomplete, you may be asked to finish them before your consultation begins.
2. Meet With Dr. Kris
Your first consultation will be with Dr. Kris Dorken, DC, Clinic Director.
Dr. Kris will discuss your:
- Current symptoms or concerns
- Relevant health history
- Previous injuries or care
- Daily activities and physical demands
- Reasons for visiting the clinic
- Personal needs and goals
This consultation helps Dr. Kris understand your concerns and discuss which clinic service may be appropriate.
Dr. Kris Dorken, DC, is registered as a chiropractor in Ontario and is a member of the College of Chiropractors of Ontario.
3. Choosing the Appropriate Service
After the initial consultation, Dr. Kris will discuss the available next steps.
These may include:
- A chiropractic assessment with Dr. Kris
- Physiotherapy
- Registered massage therapy
- Osteopathic manual care
- Another available clinic service
- Referral to an appropriate healthcare professional outside the clinic
If another member of the Core Wellness Centre team will provide care, that practitioner will complete their own assessment and make recommendations within their professional role.
Dr. Kris’s initial consultation does not replace the assessment required by the practitioner providing the service.
4. Consent to the Examination
Before an examination begins, the responsible practitioner will explain:
- What the examination may involve
- Why it is being recommended
- Any relevant risks or limitations
- Available alternatives
- What may happen if the examination is not completed
You will have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss your preferences.
The examination will begin only after you provide informed consent. You may withdraw your consent at any time.
5. Assessment and Examination
The assessment will depend on your symptoms and the type of service being considered.
Chiropractic Assessment
If you are seeing Dr. Kris for chiropractic care, the examination may include appropriate assessments of:
- Movement and range of motion
- Muscles and joints
- Posture
- Reflexes
- Orthopaedic findings
- Neurological findings
- Areas related to your specific concern
Not every test is required for every patient.
Assessment by Another Practitioner
If you are seeing a physiotherapist, registered massage therapist or osteopathic manual practitioner, that practitioner will complete an assessment relevant to their role and the service being provided.
The practitioner will explain the assessment and obtain your consent before proceeding.
6. Diagnostic Imaging, When Clinically Indicated
X-rays are not required for every new patient or every chiropractic examination.
Dr. Kris may recommend diagnostic imaging when your health history, examination findings or previous diagnostic information indicate that an X-ray may help identify, confirm or rule out a clinical concern.
Core Wellness Centre can provide digital X-rays on-site when clinically indicated.
Before taking or ordering an X-ray, Dr. Kris will explain:
- Why the imaging is being recommended
- What information it may provide
- Its benefits and limitations
- Relevant risks
- Available alternatives
Your consent will be obtained before diagnostic imaging is completed.
7. Review of Findings
After the appropriate assessment has been completed, the responsible practitioner will explain the relevant findings in language you can understand.
This discussion may include:
- The practitioner’s clinical findings
- Whether care may be appropriate
- Recommended care options
- Available alternatives
- Possible benefits and risks
- Whether another professional should be consulted
- Proposed appointment frequency
- Expected fees
- Answers to your questions
A recommendation does not require you to proceed with care.
8. Beginning Care
Your first appointment may include care when:
- The appropriate assessment has been completed
- The findings and recommendations have been explained
- Care is clinically appropriate
- There is enough appointment time
- You have provided informed consent
If your first appointment includes chiropractic care, Dr. Kris will obtain your consent after discussing the assessment findings and recommended options.
If another practitioner will provide care, that practitioner will explain their recommendations and obtain your consent before beginning.
You may also choose to begin care at a later appointment.
9. Your Personalized Care Plan
If follow-up care is recommended, the responsible practitioner will explain the proposed plan and its purpose.
Recommendations may include:
- In-clinic care
- Exercises or movement advice
- Changes to the frequency of appointments
- Coordination with another clinic practitioner
- Referral to an outside healthcare professional
Your plan may change based on your needs, progress, assessment findings and preferences.
Consent is an ongoing process. You may ask questions, discuss alternatives or withdraw your consent at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every new patient meet Dr. Kris?
Yes. Every new patient first meets with Dr. Kris Dorken, DC, Clinic Director, to discuss their concerns, health history and reasons for visiting the clinic.
If another practitioner will provide care, that practitioner completes their own assessment and makes their own care recommendations.
Will I receive care during my first appointment?
Your first appointment may include care after the appropriate assessment and review of findings.
This depends on your needs, the practitioner’s recommendations, available appointment time and your consent.
Will I need X-rays?
Not every patient needs diagnostic imaging.
Dr. Kris will recommend X-rays only when your history, examination findings or other clinical information indicate that imaging may be appropriate.
What should I wear?
Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move easily.
Your practitioner will explain if the examination requires access to a particular area and will accommodate reasonable requests related to privacy and comfort.
Do I need a referral?
A referral may not be required to schedule an appointment.
Your insurance provider, WSIB claim or motor vehicle accident claim may have separate requirements for coverage or reimbursement.
Is direct billing available?
Direct billing may be available for eligible extended health plans.
Coverage, approval and payment depend on your insurance provider and plan and cannot be guaranteed by the clinic.
Schedule Your First Appointment
New patients are welcome at Core Wellness Centre.
Address: 726 St Clair Ave W, York, ON M6C 1B3
Phone: (416) 479-8311