First introduced in 1998, the ChiroMaster contest is designed to highlight individual chiropractic Web sites that represent the best the profession has to offer. As in previous years, this year's entrants were judged on a variety of criteria: content (the presence of accurate, easy-to-read information for patients about chiropractic); information about the doctor's practice; technical considerations (such as how quickly the home page downloads; ability to navigate the site easily; valid links; and compatibility with various Web browsing programs); and miscellaneous factors (including spelling, grammar, correct contact information, and when the site was last updated).
As personal Web sites have become more sophisticated over the years, so have the standards for the ChiroMaster. After reviewing the sites submitted for review this year, the four-member Web site review panel chose the three sites that best met the above criteria. So, without further ado, we proudly present the 2004 ChiroMaster Award winners:
Physicians Plus is the site of a family (literally) of chiropractors (Drs. George Langlitz Jr., George Langlitz III, and Michael Langlitz) and their staff (including two more Langlitzes: Sharon and Patricia) in Springfield, Massachusetts. It's one of the most professional looking of the sites that entered the ChiroMaster contest this year; the word "spiffy" comes to mind (and not in a bad way, either). Its 10 sections take users through nearly every aspect of the practice, are easily labeled, and are quite easy to navigate. In fact, navigability is one of the site's best points: Users can access any part of the site in just one or two clicks, and it features a floating toolbar on the left-hand side, so users don't have to scroll up and down.
Physiciansplus.com has all of the features you'd expect to see in a high-quality chiropractic site: contact information and directions to the doctors' offices; profiles of the doctors and staff members (including photographs); solid descriptions of what chiropractic is (along with similar descriptions of massage therapy and physical therapy); and a "difference" section that lets users know about the unique type of care the Langlitzes provide.
Highlights of the site include "Conditions and Concerns," which discusses more than 30 health topics, ranging from acupuncture to whiplash and car accidents. Each topic is discussed thoroughly, and is usually accompanied by one or more images that portray the condition or topic in more detail. Another highlight is "Headlines," which includes updates on the latest news and studies related not just to chiropractic, but all types of complementary and alternative medicine. Overall, PhysiciansPlus.com is an excellent site that blends together all of the elements necessary to win the ChiroMaster Award.