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Information for Referring Physicians

Patient Referrals to
Chiropraktik Albisrieden

Referral

When should I refer a patient for chiropractic care?

Chiropractic care addresses a wide range of conditions associated with musculoskeletal disorders. A selection of indications includes:

  • Acute, subacute, and chronic pain
  • Pain and/or limitations in joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments
  • Myofascial pain syndromes
  • Radiculopathies and other radiating pain
  • Intervertebral disc problems
  • Degenerative changes
  • Spinal canal stenosis
  • Pain during or after pregnancy
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness and vertigo
  • Sports Injuries
  • Tennis or golfer’s elbow and other tendinopathies
  • Jaw issues
  • Postoperative pain

Do you have questions about chiropractic care, or are you unsure whether referring a patient is appropriate? Feel free to contact us at chiro-albisrieden@hin.ch or call our office at 044 226 33 33.

Referral

Do patients
need a referral?

In general, patients do not need a referral unless they are enrolled in a specific health insurance plan (family doctor model, Telmed, etc.). Within this system, chiropractors are considered specialists.

For accident-related conditions, a referral is not required.

Nevertheless, additional information about the patients is helpful to us (e.g. a list of diagnoses, current medications, relevant lab results, or imaging studies if available).

Costs

Who covers the
treatment costs?

Treatments costs are covered by basic insurance (health insurance, accident insurance, military insurance, disability insurance (IV).

Special Case Pregnancy: From the start of the 13th week of pregnancy until 8 weeks after delivery, costs are covered 100% by the patient’s health insurance, regardless of their deductible (Franchise).

Referral form

(Alternatively, you can send us referral reports by email to chiro-albisrieden@hin.ch)

    Patient Information

    *Required fields

    Physician

    Reports and Findings

    Please attach relevant reports and radiology findings. When submitting multiple files, please consolidate them into a ZIP file.

    Joel Forster

    Specialist Chiropractor ChiroSuisse
    Certified Physician

    “Chiropractic care combines medical diagnostics with manual therapy, alongside the privilege of supporting people through various health challenges.”

    Clinical Experience

    — Since 2026
    Specialist Chiropractor and Co-Owner (Chiropraktik Albisrieden AG)

    — 2022–2026
    Specialist Chiropractor (Chiropraktik Oerlikon)

    — 2018–2022
    Chiropractic Resident (Chiropraktik Oerlikon)

    — 2020–2021
    General Practice (GP) Resident (Praxis Felsenrain)

    — 2018–2020
    Chiropractic Resident (Chiropraktik am Löwenplatz)

    — 2017–2018
    Medical internship in Chiropractic, Orthopedics, Rheumatology, Sports Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Radiology (Balgrist University Hospital)

    — 2014–2015
    Medical internship in Paraplegiology (Swiss Paraplegic Centre Nottwil),
    Orthopedics and Surgery (Lucerne Cantonal Hospital Wolhusen),
    Radiology and Dermatology (Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Valencia),
    Internal Medicine (Bülach Hospital)

    Education

    — 2022
    Postgraduate Board Examination for Certified Specialist Chiropractor

    — 2019
    Radiation Protection Examination for High-Dose X-Ray

    — 2018
    State Examination in Chiropractic Medicine (Swiss Federal Diploma in Chiropractic Medicine)

    — 2016–2018
    Master's Degree in Chiropractic Medicine (University of Zurich)

    — 2016
    State Examination in Human Medicine (Swiss Federal Medical Doctor Diploma)

    — 2013–2016
    Master's Degree in Human Medicine (University of Zurich)

    — 2010–2013
    Bachelor's Degree in Human Medicine with specialisation in Chiropractic Medicine (University of Zurich)

    Dr. med. chiro.
    Tobias Potthoff

    Specialist Chiropractor ChiroSuisse

    “Understanding pain and functional limitations requires an accurate assessment of the complex interactions between the body, physical function and patient behavior.”

    Clinical Experience

    — Since 2026
    Specialist Chiropractor and Co-Owner (Chiropraktik Albisrieden AG)

    — Since 2023
    Lecturer in Chiropractic (Bachelor of Human Medicine) (University of Zurich)

    — Since 2023
    Senior Chiropractor, Teaching Clinic for Chiropractic Medicine (Balgrist University Hospital)

    — 2024–2026
    Specialist Chiropractor and Head of Chiropractic, acesa – Center for Spine and Joints (Winterthur)

    —2023–2024
    Senior Chiropractor, Polyclinic for Chiropractic Medicine (Balgrist University Hospital)

    — 2019–2022
    Chiropractic Resident at Dr. Rai Winata (Zurich), Wädenswil Back Center, Zurzach Care (Bad Zurzach Rehabilitation Clinic)

    — 2017–2019
    Medical internship in Chiropractic, Orthopedics, Rheumatology, Paraplegiology, Internal Medicine, and Radiology (Balgrist University Hospital)

    Education

    — 2022
    Postgraduate Board Examination for Certified Specialist Chiropractor

    — 2018–2020
    Ph.D., Dr. med. chiro ( University of Zurich)

    — 2019
    Radiation Protection Examination for High-Dose X-Ray

    — 2019
    State Examination in Chiropractic Medicine (Swiss Federal Diploma in Chiropractic Medicine)

    — 2015–2018
    Master's Degree in Chiropractic Medicine (University of Zurich)

    — 2011–2015
    Bachelor's Degree in Human Medicine with specialisation in Chiropractic Medicine (University of Zurich)

    — 2009–2011
    Master's Degree in Biology, Sub-field Anthropology (University of Zurich)

    — 2006–2009
    Bachelor's Degree in Biology (Leibniz University Hannover)

    Joel Forster

    Specialist Chiropractor ChiroSuisse
    Certified Physician

    “Chiropractic care combines medical diagnostics with manual therapy, alongside the privilege of supporting people through various health challenges.”

    Clinical Experience

    — Since 2026
    Specialist Chiropractor and Co-Owner (Chiropraktik Albisrieden AG)

    — 2022–2026
    Specialist Chiropractor (Chiropraktik Oerlikon)

    — 2018–2022
    Chiropractic Resident (Chiropraktik Oerlikon)

    — 2020–2021
    General Practice (GP) Resident (Praxis Felsenrain)

    — 2018–2020
    Chiropractic Resident (Chiropraktik am Löwenplatz)

    — 2017–2018
    Medical internship in Chiropractic, Orthopedics, Rheumatology, Sports Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Radiology (Balgrist University Hospital)

    — 2014–2015
    Medical internship in Paraplegiology (Swiss Paraplegic Centre Nottwil),
    Orthopedics and Surgery (Lucerne Cantonal Hospital Wolhusen),
    Radiology and Dermatology (Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Valencia),
    Internal Medicine (Bülach Hospital)

    Education

    — 2022
    Postgraduate Board Examination for Certified Specialist Chiropractor

    — 2019
    Radiation Protection Examination for High-Dose X-Ray

    — 2018
    State Examination in Chiropractic Medicine (Swiss Federal Diploma in Chiropractic Medicine)

    — 2016–2018
    Master's Degree in Chiropractic Medicine (University of Zurich)

    — 2016
    State Examination in Human Medicine (Swiss Federal Medical Doctor Diploma)

    — 2013–2016
    Master's Degree in Human Medicine (University of Zurich)

    — 2010–2013
    Bachelor's Degree in Human Medicine with specialisation in Chiropractic Medicine (University of Zurich)

    Dr. med. chiro.
    Tobias Potthoff

    Specialist Chiropractor ChiroSuisse

    “Understanding pain and functional limitations requires an accurate assessment of the complex interactions between the body, physical function and patient behavior.”

    Clinical Experience

    — Since 2026
    Specialist Chiropractor and Co-Owner (Chiropraktik Albisrieden AG)

    — Since 2023
    Lecturer in Chiropractic (Bachelor of Human Medicine) (University of Zurich)

    — Since 2023
    Senior Chiropractor, Teaching Clinic for Chiropractic Medicine (Balgrist University Hospital)

    — 2024–2026
    Specialist Chiropractor and Head of Chiropractic, acesa – Center for Spine and Joints (Winterthur)

    —2023–2024
    Senior Chiropractor, Polyclinic for Chiropractic Medicine (Balgrist University Hospital)

    — 2019–2022
    Chiropractic Resident at Dr. Rai Winata (Zurich), Wädenswil Back Center, Zurzach Care (Bad Zurzach Rehabilitation Clinic)

    — 2017–2019
    Medical internship in Chiropractic, Orthopedics, Rheumatology, Paraplegiology, Internal Medicine, and Radiology (Balgrist University Hospital)

    Education

    — 2022
    Postgraduate Board Examination for Certified Specialist Chiropractor

    — 2018–2020
    Ph.D., Dr. med. chiro ( University of Zurich)

    — 2019
    Radiation Protection Examination for High-Dose X-Ray

    — 2019
    State Examination in Chiropractic Medicine (Swiss Federal Diploma in Chiropractic Medicine)

    — 2015–2018
    Master's Degree in Chiropractic Medicine (University of Zurich)

    — 2011–2015
    Bachelor's Degree in Human Medicine with specialisation in Chiropractic Medicine (University of Zurich)

    — 2009–2011
    Master's Degree in Biology, Sub-field Anthropology (University of Zurich)

    — 2006–2009
    Bachelor's Degree in Biology (Leibniz University Hannover)