Kent Island Chiropractic and Rehabilitation, LLC

By Sandra Zunino

At Kent Island Chiropractic and Rehabilitation a team effort brings patients a comprehensive approach to healing. Drs. La Nae Baker and Morgan Mc Ilree opened the practice last November in Chester’s Red Apple Corner with the idea of promoting a wellness-oriented method of treatment.

Both doctors recognize that every patient is an individual and has unique needs. Treatment plans are determined by the patient’s injury and response to therapy. Upon the first visit, a detailed examination is performed including an interview, orthopedic, neurologic and chiropractic exam to cover all bases.

One element of their wellness approach is the willingness to refer patients to other health care providers. Likewise, Kent Island Chiropractic and Rehabilitation receives many referrals from the medical community. “We work with doctors in the best interest of the patient,” says Dr. Mc Ilree. “If we are seeing a patient and get the sense that they are not responding, we will refer them to the next level of treatment.”

“Good enough is simply not good enough,” says Dr. Baker. “We will always search to find the problem and get rid of it entirely.”

Chiropractic treatment focuses on manual therapy including spinal manipulation and other joint and soft tissue manipulations in order to restore balance to the body and alleviate pain and injury. While Dr. Baker and Dr. Mc Ilree are both Doctors of Chiropractic medicine, they are also certified to perform physical therapy on patients. Rehabilitation and using physical therapy retrains and rehabilitates muscles to correct muscle imbalance.

“We want to correct the dysfunction and strengthen that part of the body,” says Dr. Baker. “If there is pressure on the nerves in an area a spinal adjustment is in order, but we also want to strengthen the area.”

Not every patient requires rehabilitation therapy. Some patients might reap greater benefits from combining massage therapy with their chiropractic treatment. For these patients, Kerry Mc Williams-Shek, Licensed Massage Therapist is also in the office.

“Kerry has been an invaluable asset to the company,” says Dr. Mc Ilree. As massage therapy and chiropractic care often compliment each other, patients are frequently referred between both entities.

While both doctors specialize in chiropractic care, each has different strengths that make the practice stronger as a whole.

Dr. Baker attended the New York Chiropractic College after graduation from the University of Maryland where she obtained a bachelors degree in Bio-Psychology. Later working in the hospital setting, she treated patients with advance neurological and progressive disorders providing her expertise with chronic pain conditions. She’s observed that depression often follows when patients experience long-term chronic pain.

“People need tools to get out of pain,” she says. “When they get off pain meds and anti depressants, they have more control over their lives.”

Also a graduate of the New York Chiropractic College, Dr. Mc Ilree attended Life University in Atlanta. He gained valuable experience working with acute care patients and automobile, job-related and personal injury victims.

“I love what I do,” he says, “A patient who says he went golfing again, finally played baseball with his son after a long layup or hasn’t needed pain meds for two weeks – That’s gold to me. That’s why I do what I do.”

The obvious dedication of this team transcends to the office staff as well, which combined with the upscale, warm and inviting feel of the treatment center, creates a positive energy that patients are drawn to. “We’ve had such a great response from Kent Island,” says Dr. Mc Ilree. “While all our patients are unique, we notice a strong community/family bond they seem to share.”

“We love that,” he adds. “I think that reflects the attitude of this practice as well.”

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call 443-249-3168.