Why We Built This: The Story of Prime Spine Wellness
In 2019, two chiropractors walked away from secure jobs because they were tired of rushing patients. They wanted to build something better: a clinic where people aren't interrupted, where appointments aren't timed, and where care feels human again.
This is how Prime Spine Wellness started—and why we do things differently.
The Problem: Healthcare Runs on 15-Minute Appointments
The Reality Most Patients Face
Walk into most healthcare offices—medical, chiropractic, physical therapy—and you'll experience the same conveyor-belt system:
- Check in, fill out paperwork
- Wait 20+ minutes past your appointment time
- Get 12-15 minutes with the provider (if you're lucky)
- Provider is distracted, juggling 4-6 patients simultaneously
- You leave with vague instructions and more questions than answers
Why This Happens
It's not because doctors don't care. It's because the system is broken. Insurance reimbursement models reward volume over outcomes. Clinics need to see 30-40 patients per day just to keep the lights on.
The result? Rushed appointments, missed diagnoses, frustrated patients, and burned-out providers.
The Cost to Patients
Research shows most doctors interrupt patients within 11 seconds of them starting to explain their symptoms (Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2018).
Eleven. Seconds.
How is anyone supposed to understand your pain, your history, your goals in 11 seconds? They can't. So they guess, apply cookie-cutter protocols, and hope it works.
We Experienced This Too
Before founding Prime Spine Wellness, Dr. Abi Mitchell and Dr. Mac MacMullin worked in high-volume chiropractic clinics. They saw 40+ patients per day. Appointments were 10-15 minutes max. Quality suffered. Patients weren't getting better—they were just getting adjusted.
And both doctors hated it.
The Breaking Point: When We Knew Something Had to Change
Dr. Abi's Story
"It was a Tuesday afternoon in 2018. I had a pregnant patient—let's call her Sarah—come in for her third visit. She was 32 weeks along, experiencing severe low back pain that kept her up at night.
I had 12 minutes for her appointment. Twelve minutes to assess, treat, document, and move to the next patient.
Sarah started crying halfway through. Not from pain—from frustration. She said, 'I feel like I'm on an assembly line. Nobody listens. I just want someone to hear me.'
I wanted to sit with her. I wanted to take 30 minutes to understand what was actually wrong. But the schedule was booked solid. Four more patients were waiting. My boss was already frustrated that I was running behind.
I adjusted her, gave her some stretches, and sent her on her way. She didn't come back.
That night, I told my husband: 'I can't do this anymore. If I'm going to be a chiropractor, I want to actually help people—not just process them.'"
— Dr. Abi MitchellDr. Mac's Story
"I came into chiropractic after 8 years in the Army. I'd seen what real trauma looks like—injured soldiers, high-stress environments, people who needed genuine care.
When I started working in civilian chiropractic clinics, I was shocked by how fast-paced and impersonal everything was. We were treating chronic pain patients—people who'd been suffering for years—with the same urgency as a drive-thru.
One day, a veteran came in through the VA Community Care program. He had shrapnel scars, PTSD, and nerve pain from a spinal injury overseas. He needed time. He needed someone to listen to his story, understand his triggers, and build trust.
I had 15 minutes.
I couldn't give him what he needed. And I realized: if I can't take care of the people who served our country the way they deserve, what am I doing here?
That's when Abi and I started talking about building our own clinic."
— Dr. Mac MacMullinThe Decision: Walking Away from Security to Build Something Better
What They Left Behind
- Stable salaries
- Employer-sponsored health insurance
- Predictable schedules
- Zero financial risk
What They Risked
- Their savings (to open the clinic)
- Their reputations (if it failed)
- Their time (60-80 hour weeks for the first year)
Why They Did It Anyway
Because they believed healthcare—especially chiropractic care—could be human again. They believed patients deserved:
- Time – Not 15-minute slots, but actual time to be heard
- Clarity – Plain-English explanations, not jargon
- Partnership – Collaborative care plans, not top-down orders
- Honesty – Realistic expectations, not guarantees
The First Location
In April 2019, they signed a lease for a small suite in Fort Worth (S Hulen St). They built the practice from scratch:
- No corporate backing
- No investor funding
- No marketing budget (just word-of-mouth and Google reviews)
The First Patient
A retired teacher with chronic neck pain. She'd been to 5 other chiropractors. None of them spent more than 10 minutes with her.
Dr. Abi gave her 45 minutes for the first visit. They talked about her teaching career, her grandkids, when the pain started, what made it worse. By the end, the patient was crying again—but this time, from relief.
She said: "I finally feel like someone cares."
That patient is still with them today. She refers 2-3 people per year.
The Four Founding Principles of Prime Spine Wellness
No clocks, no rush. Every appointment gets the time it actually needs—not the time an insurance company says
it should take.
Why this matters: Healing isn't linear. Some visits need 15 minutes. Others
need 40. We adapt to your needs, not a schedule.
Your story is the diagnosis. We don't interrupt. We don't assume. We listen—really listen—before we do
anything else.
Why this matters: Research shows patient-centered communication improves
outcomes by 19% and satisfaction by 23% (BMJ Open, 2017).
No open-ended "come in forever" care plans. We give you a time-bound roadmap with realistic expectations and
measurable goals.
Why this matters: Transparency builds trust. You deserve to know what
success looks like and how long it should take.
By your third visit, we reassess together. If you're not seeing meaningful progress, we adjust the plan or
refer you elsewhere.
Why this matters: Chiropractic doesn't work for everyone. If it's not
working for you, we won't waste your time or money.
Meet Dr. Abi Mitchell
Pregnancy & Family Chiropractic Specialist
Why She Became a Chiropractor
"I was a kinesiology major in college, planning to go into physical therapy. During an internship, I shadowed a chiropractor who worked exclusively with pregnant women. I watched her help a patient who'd been told 'back pain is just part of pregnancy' finally get relief after one adjustment.
That's when I realized: chiropractic isn't about cracking backs. It's about restoring function so the body can heal itself. And pregnancy is one of the most critical times to support that process."
What She's Known For
- Gentle, low-force techniques (safe for all trimesters)
- Taking time to explain why pregnancy causes specific pains
- Treating moms and their kids (family-focused care)
- Never pressuring patients into prepaid packages
Outside the Clinic
Dr. Abi is a mom of two (ages 4 and 7). She practices what she preaches—her kids see chiropractors regularly, and she's an advocate for natural, proactive health care.
Meet Dr. Mac MacMullin
Veteran-Focused Chiropractic Care
Why He Became a Chiropractor
"I joined the Army at 18. Spent 8 years as a combat medic, deployed twice. When I came home, I struggled with chronic back pain from carrying 80-pound rucksacks for years.
A chiropractor at the VA helped me avoid surgery. That experience changed my career path. I realized: if chiropractic could help me, it could help thousands of other veterans dealing with service-related injuries."
What He's Known For
- Understanding military culture and PTSD triggers
- Navigating VA Community Care paperwork (which is notoriously complex)
- Evidence-based, no-nonsense approach (military mindset: "What works? Let's do that.")
- Specializing in blast injuries, repetitive strain from military service
Why Veterans Trust Him
Dr. Mac speaks their language. He's been through the VA system as a patient. He knows how frustrating it is to wait months for appointments, deal with bureaucracy, and feel like a number.
At Prime Spine Wellness, veterans get seen quickly (often same-day), paperwork is handled by the clinic, and appointments aren't rushed.
Outside the Clinic
Dr. Mac coaches youth football and volunteers with veteran advocacy groups in Tarrant County. He's a father of three and an avid CrossFit athlete.
Five Years of Growth: Key Milestones
Prime Spine Wellness Opens
- Fort Worth location (S Hulen St)
- 1 location, 2 doctors, 0 staff
- First month: 18 patients
Reach 100 Total Patients
- Word-of-mouth referrals drive 80% of growth
COVID-19 Pandemic Hits
- Clinic stays open (deemed essential healthcare)
- Implement safety protocols, add virtual consultations
Expand to Second Location
- Saginaw location (W J Boaz Rd)
- Serve Saginaw, Keller, and northern Fort Worth communities
Achieve 5.0★ Rating
- 50+ Google reviews
- Become one of the highest-rated chiropractors in Tarrant County
VA Community Care Approved
- Approved as VA providers (both locations)
- Now serve 40+ veterans monthly through VA referrals
1,000 Total Patients Treated
- Milestone celebration: free community wellness day
Launch Learn Hub
- Educational content answering common questions
Cross 100 Google Reviews
- Maintain 5.0★ rating
- Featured in local "Best of Fort Worth" lists
5-Year Anniversary
- Host open house, thank patients and community
What Five Years in Business Has Taught Us
1. Patients Will Pay for Time
When we started, we worried: "Will people pay more for longer appointments?" The answer: Absolutely. Patients are desperate for providers who listen. They'll drive farther, pay more, and refer their friends if you give them what they actually need.
2. You Can't Help Everyone
Chiropractic works really well for mechanical spine pain, headaches, pregnancy discomfort, and certain sports injuries. It works less well for autoimmune conditions, advanced arthritis, and disc herniations with nerve compression.
We've learned to refer patients out when chiropractic isn't the right fit. That honesty has built more trust than any marketing campaign ever could.
3. Insurance Is Both a Blessing and a Curse
We accept insurance because it makes care accessible. But insurance companies often limit visit frequency, require excessive paperwork, and reimburse poorly.
We've found a balance: accept insurance for those who need it, but also offer cash-pay options so patients aren't restricted by arbitrary visit caps.
4. Your Reputation Is Everything
We've never run a Facebook ad. We've never paid for Google Ads. Our entire patient base comes from:
- Word-of-mouth referrals (60%)
- Google reviews (30%)
- VA Community Care referrals (10%)
Every patient interaction matters. One bad experience can undo 100 good reviews.
5. Burnout Is Real—Even When You Love Your Work
In 2022, both Dr. Abi and Dr. Mac hit burnout. They were working 60-hour weeks, rarely taking time off, and carrying the emotional weight of hundreds of patients.
They hired an administrative assistant, set boundaries on evening appointments, and started taking one weekend off per month.
Lesson learned: You can't pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself is taking care of your patients.
The Next Five Years: Where We're Headed
Our Vision for 2025-2029
1. Expand Educational Content
Launch video series answering the 50 most common chiropractic questions. Make it available for free on YouTube and the Learn Hub.
2. Serve More Veterans
Increase VA Community Care capacity to serve 100+ veterans monthly. Advocate for better chiropractic coverage through VA channels.
3. Train the Next Generation
Mentor chiropractic students from Parker University. Show them there's an alternative to the high-volume, rushed-appointment model.
4. Open a Third Location?
Maybe. We're evaluating demand in Keller and North Richland Hills. But we won't expand just to expand—only if we can maintain the same quality of care.
5. Build a Community Wellness Program
Partner with local schools, gyms, and community centers to offer free posture screenings and injury prevention workshops.
What Won't Change
- Timer-free care
- Listen-First philosophy
- ClearPath Plans
- Visit-3 Check Promise
These aren't marketing slogans. They're non-negotiables.
Experience the Difference: Book Your First Visit
Ready to experience chiropractic care that's different?
No rush. No assembly line. Just real, human-first care where you're actually heard.
Fort Worth (S Hulen)
6922 S Hulen St, Suite 140
Fort Worth, TX 76133
Mon–Fri 8am–6pm | Sat 9am–1pm
Get DirectionsSaginaw (W J Boaz Rd)
600 W J Boaz Rd, Suite 220
Saginaw, TX 76179
Mon–Fri 8am–6pm | Sat 9am–1pm
Get DirectionsWhat Happens Next
- 45-minute Listen-First Exam (not 15 minutes)
- We build your ClearPath Plan together
- You leave with clarity, not confusion