DO
Deerfield
(312) 623-3007
allano@dls.net
Osteopathy, Acupuncture

Services

Describe your services:
Osteopathy was founded in 1874 by AT Still as a complete system of medicine emphasizing the wholeness of the body, mind, and spirit of a human being. Additionally, the importance of the “structure” was stressed in relationship to its “function”. The first school was started in 1892 in Kirksville and included women in the first class, which was unusual for its day. Techniques that are used tend to be of a gentler variety than some other bodywork practitioners use.

I offer the complete range of traditional Osteopathy (including Osteopathy in the Cranial Field, Visceral manipulation, counterstrain, Still technique, and high velocity type of techniques) and have studied with Robert Fulford, DO whose methods Andrew Weil MD described in the book “Spontaneous Healing”. I taught Osteopathic Manipulation for over 5 years at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine.

I offer acupuncture, having studied privately and practiced Meridian Style Acupuncture for over 20 years, and have expertise in sports medicine having served as a team physician for over 12 years at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.

How does your healing modality work?
Healing occurs by improving the structure of the body, which in turn helps improve the functioning of the organism. Improving the structure (which includes loosening the joints and relaxing the muscles, and aligning the body) allows one’s energy, nerve currents, and blood to flow better and therefore improves ones sense of vitality and ability to move freely and perform the necessary tasks of living.

How do you see your services evolving over the next three years?
I intend to continue studying Osteopathy, which is essentially a life long task. Along that line I intend to continue studying visceral manipulation (having studied with Jean-Pierre Barral) and plan to take the James Jealous DO series of classes on the Biodynamic Model of Cranial Sacral therapy. We intend to always keep the practice a low volume high personal touch type of medical practice. I would love to participate in group research demonstrating the efficacy of Osteopathic Manipulation. Additionally, I will sit for the Neuromuscular Medicine Board in November.
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Benefits

What are the benefits/results people see?
People note that the resting tone of their muscles is improved, their posture is improved, and most importantly people note that they breathe easier. In other words, patients should notice that they are moving easier, with less pain, and ideally more energy. Obviously we hope the complaint that the patient presented with is decreased after their visit!!

Why do people come to see you?
People see me for a wide range of problems including autism, musculoskeletal problems (of back, neck, shoulders and knees), dizziness, headaches, painful feet, and painful periods etc. We tend to see patients who have failed at other modalities of treatment. Additionally, many patients have sports related injuries, such as bursitis, tendonitis, and sprains.

Who is an ideal client?
An ideal client (or patient) is anyone of any age. Patients who are willing to do the necessary exercises to maintain the changes (which occur in a session) will obviously do better over the long term than those who don’t do the necessary “lifework”.

What makes you different/good at what you do?
The experience and hard work I have devoted to my studies in Osteopathy and acupuncture over the past 20 years are what make me good at what I do. The skills required are also similar to skills needed in the martial arts, which I have also studied for over 20 years.

I also have a passion for this work and am dedicated to my patients’ well being. I have also been described as personable and caring by may patients (many of whom I have been seeing for over the past 20 years).
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Philosophy/Approach

Describe your healing philosophy:
I believe that AT Still was correct when he posited that the body is composed of triune parts (body, mind, and spirit) that need to be harmoniously in tune with each other for optimal health. This means that my approach to healing attempts to include all of the aforementioned necessary ingredients and also requires that patients do the required lifework to maintain and expand the changes, which happen in a treatment session.

Describe your style or approach:
We attempt to personalize the approach to each patient and do not force changes until the patient is ready. We strive to make the patient feel comfortable and normally the patient remains fully clothed, both for privacy and warmth.

Why do you do what you do?
I enjoy seeing a patient’s health and quality of life improve as they feel less pain, become more aware of their body, and start to function at a higher level. My love of fellow human beings is “why I do what I do!”
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Education/Background

Education/Training:
I attended the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine for medical school and postgraduate training (including internship and residency in Family Medicine). I also studied personally with Robert Fulford, DO and am certified by the Sutherland Cranial Teaching Foundation in Osteopathy in the Cranial Field. Additionally, I have completed faculty development courses in my work at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, and average over 100 hours of continuing medical education yearly in topics which emphasize the practice the Osteopathy.

Years Professionally Practicing:
I have been practicing medicine for about 20 years. For the past 15 years I have been an assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Medical School in the Department of Family Medicine and have served as the Director of Pre-doctoral Education and Clerkship Director in Family Medicine for the past 6 years. In the past, I have also served as a medical director at the University of Illinois.

I was in practice downtown with my acupuncture teacher for 2 years in the mid 1980′s. I practiced Sports Medicine for over 12 years as a team physician for the University of Illinois at Chicago Flames (which is a division 1 NCAA team) caring for the full range of sports injuries in the athletes. Additionally, I am a Board Certified Family Physician since 1986 and I am on staff at the University of Illinois Hospital.

Contributions/Publications:
I have presented and published educational research on clinical reasoning and the use of standardized patients, which stemmed from my work as Director of Predoctoral Education in Family Medicine at the University of Illinois along with presentations on the use of handheld computers in Family Medicine at national meetings.

I also give regular talks to other groups such as the Athletic Trainers Association on musculoskeletal problems.
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What to expect

Describe a typical session:
In a relaxed, quiet atmosphere the patient is examined structurally and energetically to arrive at a diagnosis. Following this the patient is then treated with appropriate Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT), or other modalities as required. OMT is shorthand for a treatment using Osteopathy. Patients will note that OMT treatments are gentler than may be customary in other types of bodywork and include treatment of tender spots, tight muscles, and painful areas. . Many times soothing music is used to help relax the patient.

How long is a typical session?
Each session will typically last an hour, although longer sessions are available if needed. Children are typically treated for a shorter period of time usually averaging about 30 minutes or so.

Describe your office or treatment room:
The office is comfortable, relaxing and quieting to help the patient relax prior to the treatment session.

How should someone prepare for a session?
No special preparation is required. It is suggested that one wear loose fitting casual clothes. Please be aware that cranial treatments involve touching the patient’s head and may disturb hairstyles.
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Logistics

Office hours/days of the week:
I am in the office all day on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Occasionally, I will see patients at other times if required. There is a huge parking lot at the office, which has free parking.

Fee Range
Fees range from $250 to $110, depending on the level of service and the amount of time spent with the patient. A typical new patient will be charged $200 and a revisit patient will be charged $150 for an hour treatment.

Take Insurance?
We will occasionally bill insurance for the patient but instead offer a cash discount for patients who pay at the time of service. We prefer to be paid at the time of service. I am a participating physician in Medicare and accept assignment for Medicare services.

Cancellation Policy?
Yes, we charge $150 for cancellation without 24-hour notice.
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Closing Comments

What else might someone want to know about you?
I studied a full range of Chinese martial arts with Professor Huo Chi-Kwang, for over 20 years, until his death in 1998 at the age of 93. I learned three styles of Tai Chi Chuan (including Wu, Chen, and the secret Yang family style), Pa Kua Chang, Hsin-Yi Chuan, Sword, Staff, and Chinese Health Methods (which is also known as Chi Gong). He named me his successor prior to his death.
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