Campus Chiropractics to help students with back problems
A new Marshall Square Mall business, Campus Chiropractics, is catering to the aching backs of the Syracuse University community.
Don Janowski, a native of Syracuse and an SU alumnus, owns the practice, located on the first floor Marshall Square Mall, and runs it almost completely by himself. He worked for several years in Arizona before deciding to come back home to open up his business in Syracuse.
“I picked up some ideas about a different kind of practice, a different kind of business model,” Janowski said. “So I decided to come back to my roots here in New York.”
The way Janowski runs his business is different from a typical chiropractor’s office. All medical visits are walk-in only, and Janowski doesn’t accept any health insurance. Instead, he charges a flat rate of $20 per appointment.
He said this business model was well received back in Arizona.
“I’ve worked with insurance companies the past 14 years, and it’s one of those things where the health care model is changing,” Janowski said.
Specifically, health care costs are rising, he said. This includes premiums, the costs paid out-of-pocket for a policy; deductibles, the amount of money paid before an insurance company pays; and co-pays, the amount of money paid when a customer goes to a doctor’s office.
Since opening three weeks ago, Janowski said he has seen success. He noted that one of the business’ most appealing factors is its convenience, because Marshall Square Mall is also a place where members of the Syracuse community go to shop, eat, work out and even attend class.
“There have been lots of people walking in and getting care,” Janowski said. “Lots of people walking in and asking a lot of questions, which is good, finding out what we’re doing, what is the deal. It’s all new to some people. We had a really good response from people that have never had care.”
Campus Chiropractics is the only place near SU for students to see a chiropractor, as the health center does not offer that service, said Director of Health Services Benjamin Domingo in an email.
Even with the convenience, Domingo said he is unsure whether the SU health center would refer students to Campus Chiropractics, since they tend to refer students to providers that fit the individual’s specific insurance plans.
Although back issues tend to be associated with the elderly, Janowski emphasized the value chiropractic care can have on younger people, and the dangers of waiting until old age to take care of one’s back.
“You don’t want to get to 50 or 60 and have problems,” he said. “This is why it’s good to educate people and get them to understand how their back functions, so they don’t get to those chronic problems later on.”
