Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching

S4 E17: Should Chiropractors Sell Supplements?

Dr Jeremy Brubaker — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Dr. Todd Osborne (“Dr. Oz”) and Dr. Zach Wilson discuss the pros and cons of chiropractors selling nutritional supplements in their practices. Dr. Zach argues that nutrition is an essential component of healing, citing that historical diseases like scurvy and rickets were cured by addressing nutrient deficiencies. They agree that offering supplements is a responsibility, as patients will often seek cheaper, low-quality products elsewhere that may not be effective. Dr. Oz shares his personal experience with chronic Lyme disease, which was not resolved by chiropractic alone and required nutritional supplementation, leading him to integrate it into his practice. They highlight the value of objective testing (blood, gut, saliva) to determine patient needs and the importance of providing high-quality, professional-grade products. Ultimately, they conclude that combining chiropractic adjustments with proper nutrition is a winning combination for patient health and that patients now expect this guidance from their doctors.

For more coaching and chiropractic resources, visit amcfamily.com

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

The post S4 E17: Should Chiropractors Sell Supplements? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S4 E16: Importance of Faith

Dr Jeremy Brubaker — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Dr. Bill Kriva and Dr. Rick Barrows discuss how to cope with life’s significant challenges, both personal and professional, by shifting one’s perspective to one of gratitude and praise. Dr. Kriva shares his personal story of feeling burned out and despondent while dealing with his parents’ dementia, his daughter’s severe anxiety, and a demanding chiropractic practice. He credits a conversation with Dr. Barrows and a book called Power and Praise by Merlin Carruthers for changing his life. Dr. Barrows’ advice was to praise God not just for the good things, but also for the things perceived as bad, trusting that they are part of a greater plan. Dr. Kriva recounts how he followed this advice, and a prayer of thanksgiving for his daughter’s struggles marked a turning point, leading to her recovery. Dr. Barrows shares his own story of dealing with Parkinson’s disease, a condition his father also had, and emphasizes that only through praising God for his challenges has he been able to cope and continue to find purpose. They conclude by encouraging listeners to adopt this tool of praise and gratitude to find peace, healing, and hope amidst life’s inevitable difficulties.

For more coaching and chiropractic resources, visit amcfamily.com

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

The post S4 E16: Importance of Faith appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S4 E15: Massage Therapy

Dr Jeremy Brubaker — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Christie Owen Irwin sits down with Melissa Asher, a massage therapist who operates her own business within a chiropractic practice. Melissa, who started as a chiropractic assistant, explains that she became a massage therapist to work in tandem with chiropractic care, helping to relax fascia and muscles and aid the movement of subluxations that aren’t progressing as quickly as desired. She details her business model, which involves paying rent to the chiropractic office, and how her business, which now includes two other therapists, has grown through word-of-mouth and community outreach. The conversation covers key operational aspects such as having front desk staff handle all booking, using cluster booking, and maintaining a strict schedule to ensure a smooth flow of patients. Melissa shares her personal limit of six massages a day to prevent burnout and the importance of setting similar boundaries for her staff. The episode concludes by highlighting how this symbiotic relationship creates a win-win situation, providing a new income stream for the practice, enhancing patient care, and educating massage clients on the benefits of chiropractic.

For more coaching and chiropractic resources, visit amcfamily.com

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

The post S4 E15: Massage Therapy appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S4 E14: Burnout

Dr Jeremy Brubaker — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Dr. Zach Wilson and Dr. Justin Ford discuss the common issue of burnout in chiropractic practice. They define burnout as a feeling of falling out of love with your profession, patients, and even family, often stemming from a lack of gratitude. The core problem, they explain, is constantly pouring into others without refilling your own energy and passion. They break burnout down into two components: physical and mental. Physical burnout is often caused by a chaotic office environment, an untrained staff, and the doctor wearing too many hats. To combat this, they recommend investing in your team and delegating tasks. The mental side of burnout stems from a lack of routine and failure to create boundaries between work and home life. They advocate for scheduled time off to recharge and leaving work burdens at the office door. They conclude that burnout is not a point of no return but a sign of a lack of “harmony,” which can be fixed with small, consistent corrections, much like a chiropractic adjustment.

For more coaching and chiropractic resources, visit amcfamily.com

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

The post S4 E14: Burnout appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S4 E13: Chiropractic History

Dr Jeremy Brubaker — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 09:30:00 +0000

Dr. Bill Kriva and Dr. John Lay discuss the critical importance of understanding chiropractic history for both seasoned practitioners and new graduates. They delve into the challenging early days of the profession, highlighting how D.D. and B.J. Palmer navigated a healthcare landscape dominated by the American Medical Association (AMA), which actively sought to monopolize medical education and eliminate competing health professions. A key historical point is the AMA’s aggressive stance on licensing, initially resisted by B.J. Palmer, which led to chiropractors being prosecuted for practicing medicine without a license. The conversation powerfully pivots to the 1917 Spanish Flu epidemic, revealing government data that showed chiropractors were “tremendously more effective” in treating patients than medical doctors, with significantly lower death rates. This historical success directly influenced the widespread passing of chiropractic licensure laws in states across the country. They also touch upon lesser-known historical aspects like B.J. Palmer’s Clearview Sanitarium, a mental hospital that successfully treated mental health conditions chiropractically, a practice largely lost with the advent of psychiatric medications. The episode concludes with a strong call to action for chiropractors to learn, embrace, and share their rich history, emphasizing that knowing their roots empowers them to articulate the profound capabilities of chiropractic, foster conviction, and build thriving, impactful practices. They even share a fun historical tidbit about Ronald Reagan working for B.J. Palmer’s radio station.

For more coaching and chiropractic resources, visit amcfamily.com

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

The post S4 E13: Chiropractic History appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S4 E12: Chiropractic Philosophy

Dr Jeremy Brubaker — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 09:30:00 +0000

Dr. Bill Kriva and Dr. Tara Horrell discuss the profound importance of chiropractic philosophy for success in practice. Dr. Kriva recounts a telling observation from a real estate developer: chiropractors with a strong philosophical understanding are significantly more successful. They lament the decline of philosophical teaching in chiropractic schools, noting that only a handful of institutions still truly emphasize it. Dr. Horrell shares her frustration with the shift away from core chiropractic principles like subluxation towards more superficial concepts like posture, which she believes dilutes the profession’s unique identity. They explore how the insurance-driven model has impacted practice by limiting care and focusing on symptom suppression rather than holistic healing. Both doctors share personal experiences where chiropractic care resolved long-standing health issues beyond just pain, underscoring the power of chiropractic when practiced with a deep philosophical understanding. They encourage listeners to seek out philosophical education through clubs, mentors, and foundational texts like Stevenson’s and Virgil Strang’s books to deepen their conviction and transform their practices into fulfilling, life-changing endeavors for both practitioner and patient.ew patient carousel” and build a resilient, referral-based practice by strategically investing in their marketing efforts and community presence.

For more coaching and chiropractic resources, visit amcfamily.com

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

The post S4 E12: Chiropractic Philosophy appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Aligned Celebrates 30 Years of Success

Ryan Miller — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 15:42:56 +0000

Aligned’s 30th Anniversary Summit | Chiropractic Mentorship & Growth

Celebrating 30 Years of Purpose, People, and Practice: Join Aligned’s Anniversary Summit in Orlando

Published on August 5, 2025
By Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors

30 Years Strong—and Just Getting Started

For three decades, Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors (AMC) has helped thousands of chiropractors create low-stress, purpose-driven practices that transform lives. What started as a vision by Dr. Thomas Owen and his son, Tom Owen III, has now become a nationwide movement, touching countless lives across the chiropractic profession.

This year, we’re celebrating more than just a milestone. We’re celebrating you—the doctors, students, and visionaries who believe chiropractic can (and should) change the world.

You’re Invited: The 30th Anniversary Summit in Orlando

September 26–27, 2025 | Orlando, FL

Whether you’re new to Aligned or a longtime friend of the family, you’re personally invited to join us in Orlando for an unforgettable weekend filled with inspiration, connection, and clarity.

At our 30th Anniversary Summit, you’ll experience:

Five powerful guest speakers sharing proven strategies for personal and professional growth
Practical tools you can take back to your office Monday morning
A room full of chiropractors who understand your journey

This is more than just another event. It’s your opportunity to pause, connect, and rediscover what’s possible for your life, your practice, and your legacy.

Our Gift to You: $600 in Complimentary Bonuses

To celebrate 30 years of helping chiropractors thrive, we’re offering a limited-time 30th Anniversary Special:

Complimentary pass to our September Summit
Waived initiation fee to join Aligned

“In honor of our 30th Anniversary, we want to give back to those who share our mission. Whether you’ve been with us for years or are meeting us for the first time, this is your moment.”
— Tom Owen III, President of Aligned

Don’t Come Alone—Sponsor a Chiropractic Student

Aligned believes in investing in the next generation of chiropractors. As part of our celebration, we’re opening up student sponsorship opportunities so that future doctors can attend the Summit and experience firsthand what it means to practice with purpose.

To sponsor a student or learn more, call us at (877) 262-7117.

Why Chiropractors Choose Aligned

Over the past 30 years, we’ve helped over 10,000 chiropractors build thriving, principled, referral-based practices. Here’s what makes Aligned different:

Mentorship from doctors who’ve done it
Turnkey systems that eliminate burnout
Ongoing support to help you grow at your own pace
Community that holds you accountable and lifts you up

Want to hear it from our members? Explore our success stories.

Meet the Founders

Dr. Thomas Owen

A pioneer in chiropractic philosophy and practice management, Dr. Owen’s bold vision laid the foundation for Aligned’s mission to bring structure, sustainability, and soul to chiropractic.

Tom Owen III

As co-founder and long-term President, Tom has led Aligned into the modern era—combining tradition with innovation to serve chiropractors across North America.

Ready to Register?

Spots are limited and filling fast. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable weekend.

Register for the 30th Anniversary Summit now
September 26–27, 2025 | Orlando, FL

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors
2300 Marsh Point Rd, Suite 101A
Neptune Beach, FL 32266
Phone: (877) 262-7117
Website: www.amcfamily.com

The post Aligned Celebrates 30 Years of Success appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S4 E11: Marketing Leads

Dr Jeremy Brubaker — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 19:08:36 +0000

In this episode of the Chiropractic Podcast, Tom sits down with Daniel Carroll of Secret Crowds Marketing Agency to dissect the often-misunderstood world of chiropractic marketing. While many chiropractors focus solely on acquiring new patients, Tom and Daniel emphasize a more sustainable approach: nurturing leads, building strong community ties, and fostering patient longevity to create self-sustaining, stress-free practices. They challenge common misconceptions about marketing, highlighting the critical difference between clicks and qualified leads, and the importance of having robust internal systems to convert interest into lasting patient relationships. Daniel and Tom explore the nuances of cold, warm, and hot leads, stressing that an appointment booked is a “hot lead” that still requires careful nurturing to become a long-term patient. They discuss the necessity of a tailored marketing message that resonates with specific demographics, using the analogy of fishing to illustrate the importance of knowing your market and using the right “bait.” This conversation is a must-listen for any chiropractor looking to move beyond the “new patient carousel” and build a resilient, referral-based practice by strategically investing in their marketing efforts and community presence.

For more coaching and chiropractic resources, visit amcfamily.com

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

The post S4 E11: Marketing Leads appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S4 E10: AI for Chiropractors

Dr Jeremy Brubaker — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 20:12:26 +0000

AI for Chiropractors: Optimizing Practice Management & Growth In this compelling episode of the Chiropractic Podcast, Tom sits down with special guest Jake Press of Press Purpose AI, a visionary in leveraging artificial intelligence for business acceleration. Jake, deeply passionate about chiropractic care due to its profound impact on his own life, shares how AI can transform chiropractic practices across the country. This discussion isn’t just about technology; it’s about making your practice more efficient, proficient, and ultimately, more profitable by intelligently integrating AI into key areas like marketing, new patient intake, and patient recalls. Tom and Jake dive deep into practical applications, including a live demonstration of an AI voice agent handling an incoming patient call, showcasing its empathy, ability to answer service-related questions, and seamless appointment booking. They emphasize that AI isn’t about replacing staff, but empowering them to focus on high-value patient care by automating time-consuming, menial tasks. Discover how AI can help you capture more leads, reactivate past patients, enhance appointment reminders, and even streamline your social media marketing efforts.

For more coaching and chiropractic resources, visit amcfamily.com

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

The post S4 E10: AI for Chiropractors appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to Build a Profitable, Stress-Free Chiropractic Practice (Without Burning Out)

Ryan Miller — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 15:51:42 +0000

Build a Profitable, Stress-Free Chiropractic Practice

How to Build a Profitable, Stress-Free Chiropractic Practice (Without Burning Out)

Let’s be honest — most chiropractors didn’t sign up to be business owners.

You entered this profession to serve people, help them heal, and change lives. But somewhere between the passion and the paperwork, the dream got crowded out by stress, inconsistency, and a constant scramble for new patients. If you’re feeling frustrated, overworked, and underpaid — you’re not alone.

But here’s the truth: building a profitable and stress-free chiropractic practice isn’t a pipe dream. It just requires a better plan.

Why So Many Chiropractors Struggle (and Burn Out)

Doctors wearing every hat: clinician, marketer, front desk, janitor
Clinics built on “casserole systems” — a mishmash of tips from seminars and social media groups
New patient churn with no real retention or referral engine

The result? High overhead, inconsistent income, and a practice that eats your time and energy instead of fueling your mission.

The 3 Pillars of a Stress-Free, Profitable Practice

1. A Referral-Driven Growth Engine: Stop living or dying by your latest Facebook ad. Deliver results, communicate value, and inspire patients to refer.

2. Operational Systems That Run Without You: Real freedom comes from structure — how patients are welcomed, educated, and cared for from Day 1.

3. A Plan Built for Profit, Not Just Passion: Passion without a plan leads to burnout. The right systems make growth sustainable.

You Don’t Need to Reinvent the Wheel

Most chiropractors are getting a business education the hard way — through expensive mistakes. We’ve worked with over 10,000 chiropractors across the country, and the story is always the same:

“I did everything they told me in school. I got the education. I opened the doors. And now I’m barely staying afloat.”

It doesn’t have to be that way. A systematized, self-sustaining, referral-based practice is not a theory — it’s the standard for our clients.

Real Freedom Starts With the Right Foundation

You became a chiropractor to serve. But if your practice is draining you financially or emotionally, it’s time to fix the foundation.

You don’t need more hustle. You don’t need flashier marketing. You need a plan that works — one built by chiropractors, for chiropractors.

Ready to Build the Practice You Deserve?

Download our free eBook “Chiropractic From a Businessman’s Perspective” and discover what the top 18% of chiropractors are doing differently.

You’ll receive instant access to the PDF after submitting the form.

The post How to Build a Profitable, Stress-Free Chiropractic Practice (Without Burning Out) appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S4 E9: The CA Advantage

Dr Jeremy Brubaker — Tue, 20 May 2025 19:13:55 +0000

The CA Advantage: How to Hire, Train & Build a Thriving Chiropractic Team

In this episode, CA coach and office manager Jan Tresse joins Christie Owen Irwin to discuss what it really takes to build and lead a strong chiropractic team. From hiring with purpose to developing staff through intentional training, they share practical insights and real success stories from practices around the country.

Whether you’re a doctor managing your first staff member or a seasoned CA looking to grow in your role, this conversation covers the systems and mindset that create long-term team success.

In this episode:

What to look for when hiring the right team member
Why “motivational DNA” matters in placing staff
Real examples of practices improving missed appointments and patient retention
How to train for communication, not just task completion
Why investing in your staff pays off in growth, culture, and retention

For more coaching and chiropractic resources, visit amcfamily.com

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

The post S4 E9: The CA Advantage appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S4 E8: Starting Strong in Practice

Dr Jeremy Brubaker — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 16:34:22 +0000

Why Starting a Practice Doesn’t Have to Be a Struggle

In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Brubaker and Dr. Tara Horrall dive into the real-world challenges of launching a chiropractic practice—and why so many of them are avoidable. From student debt to market research, mentorship to mindset, they reflect on the common (and preventable) mistakes new chiropractors make, and share the hard-won lessons they wish they’d known from day one.

Whether you’re in your first year of practice or two decades in, this episode offers practical, encouraging insight into building a thriving career without the burnout.

What you’ll learn:

Why the “five years of struggle” myth holds too many chiropractors back
Common mistakes new docs make—and how to avoid them
The value of mentorship and community support
How to shift from survival mode to strategy
Why chiropractic is a people business (and how to embrace that)

If you’re thinking about opening your own office, stuck in a rough patch, or just want to be reminded that success is possible, this episode is for you.

For more information visit amcfamily.com

The post S4 E8: Starting Strong in Practice appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S4 E7: Chiropractic Marketing

Dr Jeremy Brubaker — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 23:35:57 +0000

The Truth About Chiropractic Marketing: What Works & What’s a Waste of Money

Marketing is one of the biggest pain points for chiropractors — and one of the easiest places to waste time and money. In this episode, Tom Owen sits down with marketing strategist Daniel Carroll to break down what actually works in chiropractic marketing today, what to avoid, and how to get more out of your marketing budget.

They cover the difference between branding and marketing, how platforms like Google and Meta (Facebook/Instagram) function differently, and why consistency and clarity in your message are key to building long-term growth.

In this episode:

Why most chiropractors overspend and underperform in marketing
How branding supports but doesn’t replace actual marketing
Common traps and false promises in digital advertising
What Google and Meta are really good for (and what they aren’t)
How to set a budget that works for your stage of growth
Why the best results come from pairing marketing with a proven system

If you’ve been burned by flashy agencies or feel like your marketing isn’t bringing the ROI it should, this episode is for you.

For more episodes and practice growth resources, visit amcfamily.com.

The post S4 E7: Chiropractic Marketing appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S4 E6: Thrive in 2025

Dr Jeremy Brubaker — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 21:41:23 +0000

Thrive in 2025: The Mindset Shift Every Chiropractor Needs

Join Dr. Todd Osborne (Dr. Oz) and Dr. Shannon McMurtry for a powerful discussion about what it really means to thrive in chiropractic practice. Thriving isn’t about “arriving”—it’s about daily choices, overcoming obstacles, and progressing despite circumstances.

In this episode, Dr. McMurtry shares his personal journey from struggle to success, how fear almost held him back, and how obstacles are actually opportunities in disguise.

Whether you’re just starting out, growing your practice, or facing challenges, this episode will give you the mindset shift and actionable steps to thrive.

If you’re a chiropractor looking for inspiration, struggling to grow, or passionate about pediatrics & perinatal care, this episode is packed with valuable insights!

Hear personal stories of practice transformation, explore insights on leadership, and learn why prioritizing what matters most is key to sustainable success. Whether you’re looking to scale your chiropractic practice, improve your team dynamics, or better serve your community, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to help you thrive.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S4 E6: Thrive in 2025 appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S4E5: Scaling Chiropractic with Purpose

Dr Jeremy Brubaker — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 21:26:34 +0000

Join Tom Owen as he hosts Drs. Justin & Candy Ford for a powerful conversation about overcoming practice struggles, building a thriving patient base, and the power of mentorship in chiropractic success.

If you’re a chiropractor looking for inspiration, struggling to grow, or passionate about pediatrics & perinatal care, this episode is packed with valuable insights!

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S4E5: Scaling Chiropractic with Purpose appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S4E4: Scaling Success

Ryan Miller — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 14:49:20 +0000

Join Dr. Kelly Henry and guest host Jered Wayland for a deep dive into the transformative power of the new Peak Advanced Therapy Solutions program. In this episode, discover how chiropractors can grow their practices, simplify operations, and enhance patient care by focusing on core principles and leveraging advanced therapies like decompression, cold laser, and shockwave.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S4E4: Scaling Success appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S4E3: Small Town Beginnings

Ryan Miller — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:56:37 +0000

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Lyndsy Johnston, who has transformed a small-town practice into a thriving center for chiropractic care. From her high school job in a chiropractic office to becoming a leader in the field, Dr. Johnston shares her path to success, the power of mentorship, and the drive to impact lives.

In this episode, we dive deep into Dr. Johnston’s story: how she doubled her practice size, overcame challenges, and became a role model for aspiring female chiropractors. If you’re in healthcare or seeking professional growth, this conversation offers valuable insights into building a practice with purpose, resilience, and a supportive team.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S4E3: Small Town Beginnings appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S4E2: The Diversity Branch

Ryan Miller — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 22:18:55 +0000

Join Tom Owen as he hosts Dr. JP Whittaker to discuss the importance of the diversity branch within Aligned and how it is doing amazing work expanding the reach of chiropractic care to underserved communities.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S4E2: The Diversity Branch appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S4E1: Welcome to The Chiropractic Podcast

Ryan Miller — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 13:41:28 +0000

Wake Up Aligned is transitioning to a new show called: The Chiropractic Podcast. In addition to the audio content you are used to, you can view a video version of the podcast on YouTube. Search for “The Chiropractic Podcast” and don’t forget to subscribe.

On this episode, Tom Owen hosts Dr. Henri Dallies to discuss a new partnership between Aligned and the group KCUCS, Knee Chest Upper Cervical Specific. This November, doctors from around the country will have the opportunity to enhance their technique and their business acumen with a joint event in Atlanta, GA.

You can sign up for the milestone event using the following link: https://www.amcfamily.com/meetup_event/kcucs-nov-24-atlanta/

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S4E1: Welcome to The Chiropractic Podcast appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S3E14: Supporting Your Team

Ryan Miller — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 15:17:41 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Todd Osborne as they discuss what it takes to build a team and how their success becomes your success.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S3E14: Supporting Your Team appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S3E13: What Motivates You?

Ryan Miller — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 15:43:05 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Tara Horrall as they break down how to find your chief aim in life and practice.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S3E13: What Motivates You? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S3E12: Face It

Ryan Miller — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 17:32:58 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Bill Kriva as they discuss how to handle worries, fears, and adversity in your practice and your life.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S3E12: Face It appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S3E11: How High is High?

Ryan Miller — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 14:28:13 +0000

Join Dr. Lisa Beighle as she hosts Dr. Jeremiah Bursch, Dr. Lyndsy Johnston, and Dr. Nicole Mathey to discuss their history with AMC and how it changed their lives!

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S3E11: How High is High? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S3E10: How Do You Find Your Purpose?

Ryan Miller — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 16:41:22 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Jeremy Brubaker as they answer an important question from a young AMC doctor.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S3E10: How Do You Find Your Purpose? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Reaching New Heights with the Apex Program: A Chiropractor’s Guide to Growth

Ryan Miller — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 15:36:38 +0000

Hey there, fellow chiropractors! If you’re like me, you’re always looking for ways to take your practice and personal life to the next level. That’s why I’m thrilled to share with you the Apex Program, a game-changer for anyone in our field. Think of it as the ultimate chiropractic mentoring solution, designed to help you build a “Millionaire Mindset” and excel in every area of your life—from finances and practice to family and relationships. Let’s dive in and see what this program is all about.

The Evolution from Go-Getter to Apex

If you’ve been around AMC in the past, you might remember the Go-Getter Club. It was a fantastic resource for high-achieving chiropractors. The Apex Program is the next step, taking all the great aspects of the Go-Getter Club and kicking it up a notch. It’s part of Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors (AMC), and it’s all about revitalizing and enhancing our approach to chiropractic management.

A Holistic Approach to Your Growth

Apex isn’t just about professional development; it’s about growing in every aspect of your life. Here’s what you can expect:

Quarterly Webinars

Imagine getting top-notch content delivered to you every quarter without having to leave your home or office. These webinars are packed with insights and strategies that will keep you ahead of the curve.

Monthly Inspiration

I love starting my month with a dose of inspiration. With Apex, you’ll get monthly sharing calls filled with tips, guidance, and motivation. These sessions are designed to keep you fired up and focused on your goals, not just checking the boxes like typical chiropractic management companies.

Exclusive Summits

Twice a year, you’ll get access to special Apex member-only content at Aligned Summits. These are incredible opportunities to learn from the best and network with other top chiropractors.

Annual Retreats

Who doesn’t love a good retreat? Apex members will gather once a year at a high-end resort for a mix of learning, brainstorming, and just plain fun. These retreats are all about helping each other climb to new heights.

Meet Your Apex Mentors

We’ve got some amazing mentors in the Apex Program. Dr. Jered Wayland and Dr. Kelly Henry are both seasoned professionals with a wealth of experience. They’ve been where you are and have climbed the peaks themselves. They’re here to guide you and share their insights.

Qualifying for Apex

Getting into the Apex Program does require some dedication, but it’s well worth it. Here’s what you need:

– Attend at least six AMC Summits.

– Pass the Apex exam. It’s challenging, but that’s what makes it worthwhile.

– Show a practice average increase of $15,000 per month.

– Be member of the Soaring Eagles, having referred a colleague to AMC.

– Obtain nomination or approval from your mentor.

Why You Should Join Apex

Joining the Apex Program was one of the best decisions I’ve made for my practice and personal growth. The support and camaraderie you get from fellow members and mentors are priceless. The program’s emphasis on community and continuous growth ensures that you’re always moving forward and never feeling stuck. This is a program unlike any other that you will see from chiropractic management companies.

Ready to Climb Higher?

If you’re ready to climb to new heights and achieve the impossible, AMC is here to guide you every step of the way. Contact us now to secure your spot and start your journey toward unparalleled success.

Remember, it’s not just about reaching the peak; it’s about enjoying the climb. Embrace the journey with the Apex Program and unlock your highest potential.

The post Reaching New Heights with the Apex Program: A Chiropractor’s Guide to Growth appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S3E9: The Chiropractic Triangle of Success

Ryan Miller — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 14:59:43 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. JP Whittaker as they discuss the three elements of success in a chiropractic practice.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S3E9: The Chiropractic Triangle of Success appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S3E8: Mastering Communication

Ryan Miller — Mon, 20 May 2024 14:34:16 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Lisa Beighle as they unpack the critical components of communication and how they are essential to an effective practice.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S3E8: Mastering Communication appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S3E7: Reflecting on the Past

Ryan Miller — Mon, 13 May 2024 13:40:21 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Jeremiah Bursch as they review some of the life changing events of members over the history of AMC and how those stories are still relevant today.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S3E7: Reflecting on the Past appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S3E6: Persistence Over Time

Ryan Miller — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 11:48:56 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Bill Kriva as they lay out the one factor that truly drives success long-term. Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S3E6: Persistence Over Time appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S3E5: Rethinking Healthcare

Ryan Miller — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 12:02:51 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. John Lay as they discuss the power of chiropractic and how you can be the wellness leader in your community.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S3E5: Rethinking Healthcare appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S3E4: Communication

Ryan Miller — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 13:10:34 +0000

Join Christie Irwin and Jan Treese as they discuss best practices for communication within your office.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S3E4: Communication appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S3E3: Hire Like a Pro

Christie Erwin — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 17:38:17 +0000

Join Christie Irwin and Jan Treese as they discuss best practices for hiring regardless of your position on the team (or your team).

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S3E3: Hire Like a Pro appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Effective Patient Education and Counseling in Chiropractic: A Guide for Practitioners

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 12:38:05 +0000

In the realm of chiropractic care, the significance of patient education and counseling cannot be overstated. It’s not just about treating physical symptoms; it’s about empowering patients with the knowledge they need to actively participate in their own healing process. This guide aims to equip practitioners with practical strategies to enhance communication and engagement with their patients, ultimately fostering better outcomes and satisfaction.

Understanding Patient Education and Counseling

Patient education in chiropractic practice involves more than just dispensing information. It’s about fostering understanding and collaboration between practitioner and patient. Counseling, on the other hand, plays a crucial role in addressing patients’ concerns, fears, and misconceptions about chiropractic treatment, thus building trust and rapport.

Principles of Effective Patient Education and Counseling

At the heart of effective patient education and counseling lies a patient-centered approach. This means listening to patients’ needs, preferences, and goals, and tailoring communication strategies accordingly. Clear and accessible communication is key, as using plain language and eschewing avoiding medical jargon ensures that patients fully comprehend their condition and treatment plan.

Strategies for Patient Education and Counseling

To effectively educate patients about chiropractic care, practitioners must provide comprehensive information about key concepts and techniques. This includes explaining the fundamentals of chiropractic philosophy, such as the relationship between spinal alignment and nervous system function, as well as detailing common chiropractic techniques and their potential benefits. Addressing patient concerns and misconceptions is essential to building build trust by providing evidence-based explanations.

Additionally, practitioners can utilize resources like the Practice Evaluation to assess and improve various aspects of their chiropractic practice, including patient education and counseling. This assessment evaluates different aspects of chiropractic practice, providing detailed insights to enhance patient education and counseling efforts.

Teaching self-care techniques and lifestyle modifications is another crucial aspect of patient education in chiropractic care. Practitioners should offer practical strategies for patients to manage their symptoms and promote overall wellness between chiropractic visits. This may include advice on proper posture, ergonomics, exercise, and nutrition to support spinal health and improve outcomes.

Overcoming Challenges in Patient Education and Counseling

Patient education and counseling can be challenging due to cultural and language barriers. To overcome these obstacles, practitioners must employ strategies for effectively communicating with patients from diverse cultural backgrounds and language proficiency levels. It’s important to be respectful of patients’ beliefs and practices while being mindful of cultural differences.

Dealing with Patient Resistance or Skepticism

Another common challenge faced by chiropractic practitioners is patient resistance or skepticism towards chiropractic care. Some patients may have preconceived notions or misconceptions about chiropractic treatment, while others may be wary of alternative therapies or unfamiliar with the evidence supporting chiropractic care. To address these concerns, it’s essential for practitioners to approach patient education and counseling in a respectful and non-judgmental manner.

By listening to patients’ concerns, providing evidence-based explanations, and offering transparency about treatment methods and potential outcomes, practitioners can build trust and credibility with skeptical patients. It’s important to acknowledge that chiropractic care may not be suitable for everyone and to respect patients’ autonomy in making decisions about their healthcare.

By fostering open dialogue and mutual respect, practitioners can overcome patient resistance and cultivate positive relationships that support patient engagement and collaboration in their care.

Empower Your Patients Today

In conclusion, effective patient education and counseling are essential components of chiropractic care that can significantly impact patient outcomes and satisfaction. By adopting a patient-centered approach, prioritizing clear and accessible communication, and empowering patients to take an active role in their care, practitioners can foster greater engagement and collaboration, ultimately leading to better outcomes.

If you’re ready to enhance your practice and empower your patients, contact us today to learn more about how we can support you in implementing these strategies.

The post Effective Patient Education and Counseling in Chiropractic: A Guide for Practitioners appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Guiding Ideal Nutrition for Patient Health: A Chiropractor’s Optimization Approach

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 12:34:25 +0000

As a chiropractor, I’ve witnessed firsthand how proper nutrition can enhance the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment and contribute to long-term well-being. In this guide, I’ll share insights into achieving ideal nutrition from a chiropractic perspective, empowering you to make informed choices for your health.

Understanding Ideal Nutrition

Ideal nutrition isn’t about following fad diets or strict meal plans; it’s about nourishing your body with the right balance of nutrients to support optimal function. Think of it as fueling your body with the right ingredients to thrive. Each macronutrient and micronutrient plays a pivotal role in maintaining your health and well-being.

In chiropractic care, ideal nutrition is particularly important as it directly impacts spinal health and joint function. Nutrient-rich foods support tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and promote proper alignment, enhancing the benefits of chiropractic adjustments. Prioritizing ideal nutrition can significantly boost the effectiveness of your chiropractic treatment and optimize your overall health.

Key Components of Ideal Nutrition

Macronutrients, including carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, form the foundation of ideal nutrition. Carbohydrates serve as the body’s primary energy source, but it is essential to choose high-quality carbs.

Micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, are critical for well-being. Vitamins such as vitamin D, vitamin C, and B vitamins play essential roles in bone health, immune support, and nerve function, respectively. Meanwhile, minerals like calcium, magnesium, and zinc are vital for musculoskeletal health and overall vitality. Additionally, proper hydration is crucial, as adequate water intake ensures proper joint lubrication, nutrient transport, and toxin elimination.

Tailoring Nutrition to Chiropractic Patients

As a chiropractor, I understand that each patient has unique dietary needs and health goals. During consultations, I evaluate patients’ dietary habits, nutritional deficiencies, and lifestyle factors to tailor nutrition recommendations accordingly. Addressing dietary challenges such as inflammation and poor posture helps patients make sustainable changes, supporting their chiropractic treatment and overall health.

Customizing dietary plans based on individual preferences is key to success. Integrating nutrition with chiropractic care improves overall well-being and treatment outcomes for chronic pain management, injury recovery, and a healthier lifestyle.

Integrating Nutrition with Chiropractic Care

Education and collaboration are vital to integrating nutrition with chiropractic care. Empowering patients with knowledge about optimal nutrition encourages them to take control of their health. Collaborating with healthcare professionals, such as nutritionists and dietitians, ensures comprehensive care that covers all health aspects.

Monitoring patients’ progress and adjusting dietary recommendations as needed, I support their journey toward optimal health and wellness. Prioritizing ideal nutrition can significantly impact your overall health and quality of life.

Supplement Support from Vitalleo Health

At Vitalleo Health, we offer high-quality supplements to complement chiropractic care and enhance health & wellness. we understand that achieving ideal nutrition may sometimes require additional support. Our range includes joint support formulas to immune-boosting supplements, all formulated with premium ingredients to meet your body’s needs. Visit Vitalleo Health to discover how these supplements can support the supplements and enhance your health journey.

Assessing Your Chiropractic Practice

For chiropractors aiming to optimize their practice, including nutrition guidance, our comprehensive evaluation can provide valuable insights. This comprehensive assessment evaluates patient care, business operations, and more. It provides a detailed grade for each area, aiding chiropractors in identifying improvement opportunities and enhancing patient care. Learn more and access the Practice Evaluation on our website, Practice Evaluation.

Contact Us Today for Your Nutrition and Chiropractic Needs

Achieving ideal nutrition is essential for optimizing your health and well-being, especially when combined with chiropractic care. If you’re ready to embark on a path to better health through personalized nutrition and chiropractic treatment, we’re here to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward a healthier, happier you.

The post Guiding Ideal Nutrition for Patient Health: A Chiropractor’s Optimization Approach appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S3E2: A New Horizon?

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 20:21:14 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry and Dr. Zach Wilson as reflect on the future mission of Aligned and how we can all prepare for new outlooks in the second quarter.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S3E2: A New Horizon? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S3E1: Expanding Wake Up Aligned

Ryan Miller — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 02:28:16 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Zach Wilson as they discuss some of the new content at Summits this year as well as an exciting update for the podcast.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Wake Up Aligned will now be released approximately every ten days for a total of about 36 shows per year. Make sure you subscribe to receive notifications when new episodes are released. Welcome to Season 3!

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S3E1: Expanding Wake Up Aligned appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E34: Comparisons Part 2

Ryan Miller — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 08:36:57 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry as he concludes his series on comparisons, especially the importance of including staff in patient interviews.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E34: Comparisons Part 2 appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Understanding Chiropractic Research: A Practitioner’s Perspective

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 20:25:25 +0000

In the intricate tapestry of healthcare, chiropractic care stands as a crucial thread, weaving its way through the realm of musculoskeletal health. As practitioners, our commitment to patient well-being is unwavering, and at the core of our mission lies a profound understanding of chiropractic research. It is not merely an academic pursuit but a beacon that illuminates the path to providing optimal care for those who seek our expertise.

To grasp the significance of chiropractic research, we must first journey through the evolution of our field, a history intricately intertwined with the development of research methodologies. From its humble beginnings, chiropractic care has matured alongside the growth of scientific inquiry, with each era leaving its indelible mark on the landscape of musculoskeletal health.

The Evolution of Chiropractic Research

In tracing the footsteps of chiropractic research, we uncover a fascinating chronicle of progress and transformation. The historical backdrop reveals not just the roots of our profession but also the resilience and adaptability that define us. As practitioners, understanding this evolution is pivotal – it grounds us in the rich tapestry of our discipline and propels us forward with a nuanced perspective.

The milestones in chiropractic research are not mere academic achievements; they represent the collective wisdom of countless practitioners who sought to refine and enhance our understanding of patient care. From early explorations into spinal adjustments to contemporary studies investigating the broader impact of chiropractic interventions, each phase builds upon the other, shaping a narrative that informs our present practices.

Navigating Chiropractic Research Literature

To navigate the vast expanse of chiropractic research, practitioners must master the language of scientific inquiry. Research papers, laden with terminology and diverse methodologies, can be formidable.

Understanding the lexicon of research is akin to possessing a compass in uncharted territory. Familiarize yourself with terms such as randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. These are not mere buzzwords but the coordinates that guide us through the landscape of evidence-based practice. As practitioners, honing the skill of critically evaluating research papers empowers us to discern between robust studies and those with methodological limitations.

Key Areas of Chiropractic Research

In delving into the core domains of chiropractic research, we uncover the practical implications for our daily practice. Pain management, a cornerstone of chiropractic care, has seen remarkable strides in recent studies. Evidence supporting the impact of chiropractic adjustments on musculoskeletal health reinforces our role in promoting holistic well-being.

Equally significant is the exploration of chiropractic care in preventive health and wellness. As practitioners, we are not merely responders to discomfort but guardians of proactive health. Recent research sheds light on the potential of chiropractic interventions in averting musculoskeletal issues before they manifest, opening avenues for a more comprehensive approach to patient care.

Challenges and Controversies in Chiropractic Research

Skepticism and misconceptions cast shadows over the field of chiropractic research, challenging us to confront and address them head-on. Embracing transparency and acknowledging controversies is not a sign of weakness but a testament to our commitment to truth and progress.

Differences in opinion within the chiropractic research community are not roadblocks but opportunities for dialogue and growth. As practitioners, fostering an environment where diverse perspectives coexist encourages the cross-pollination of ideas, ultimately contributing to the refinement and advancement of our discipline.

Integrating Research into Chiropractic Practice

The bridge between research and practice is not a distant aspiration but a tangible reality that each practitioner can construct. Developing evidence-based treatment plans is not an arduous task but a conscientious choice that enhances the quality of patient care. Communication of research findings to patients is not a one-way street but a collaborative effort, fostering trust and informed decision-making.

Our commitment to continuous professional development is not a checkbox but a commitment to the evolving landscape of chiropractic research. Staying updated on recent studies and emerging trends positions us as active contributors to the growth of our field, ensuring that our practice remains dynamic and responsive to the needs of those we serve.

Future Trends in Chiropractic Research

The future of chiropractic research holds promise, marked by the integration of cutting-edge technologies and collaboration with other healthcare disciplines. Emerging trends invite us to be architects of change, embracing innovation that can redefine the landscape of musculoskeletal health.

The potential impact of research on the future of chiropractic care is not an abstract concept but a tangible force that shapes the trajectory of our profession. As practitioners, actively engaging with these trends positions us as pioneers, steering the course toward a future where chiropractic care is not just a response to ailments but a proactive force for well-being.

Forging the Path Ahead

In the realm of chiropractic care, where patient well-being is our guiding principle, understanding and engaging with chiropractic research is not a choice but a responsibility. The conclusion of this exploration is not an endpoint but a juncture where each practitioner stands poised to forge the path ahead.

Contact us today, and embark on a journey where evidence-based practices are not just a commitment but a transformative force that elevates your well-being. Together, let’s navigate the realms of chiropractic care, ensuring that your health journey is guided by the latest advancements and a steadfast dedication to optimal musculoskeletal health.

The post Understanding Chiropractic Research: A Practitioner’s Perspective appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

The Role of Technology in Modern Chiropractic Practices

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 20:23:02 +0000

Chiropractic practices have evolved with the integration of technology. In the pursuit of effective patient care and improved outcomes, chiropractors are increasingly leveraging technological advancements. This shift not only addresses historical limitations but also enhances the overall landscape of chiropractic care.

Historical Perspective of Chiropractic Practices

Traditional chiropractic approaches primarily relied on manual techniques for diagnosis and treatment. However, these methods faced challenges in precision and often raised skepticism. The emergence of technology within chiropractic care was initially met with resistance, yet it became a catalyst for overcoming these limitations. Technological interventions have become instrumental in augmenting the accuracy and efficiency of chiropractic practices.

Advancements in Diagnostic Tools

Advancements in technology have been crucial in improving diagnostic tools for chiropractic care. From traditional X-rays to more sophisticated imaging techniques like MRI and CT scans, chiropractors now have a comprehensive view of the patient’s condition. Digital Motion X-ray (DMX) technology further enhances diagnostic capabilities by providing dynamic assessments, offering invaluable insights for tailored treatment plans.

Technological Innovations in Treatment

In the realm of treatment, technology has introduced innovative tools that complement traditional chiropractic adjustments. Instrument-assisted adjustments provide precision and effectiveness in addressing specific issues. Laser therapy is a powerful tool for pain management and accelerated healing. Spinal decompression targets disc-related problems.

Remote Monitoring

The integration of technology extends beyond the clinic with the advent of remote monitoring. Wearable technology, including smart devices and monitors, allows continuous monitoring of patients’ progress. Patient engagement apps empower individuals with tools for home exercises and self-monitoring, fostering a collaborative approach to their well-being.

Challenges and Considerations

While technology brings remarkable advancements, ethical concerns and challenges need consideration. Safeguarding patient data privacy and security is of utmost importance to ensure that the benefits of technology do not compromise confidentiality.

Additionally, maintaining a delicate balance between the human touch of chiropractic care and the efficiency of technology is an ongoing challenge. Chiropractors must navigate these considerations to provide holistic and ethical healthcare.

Training and Education

As technology continues to evolve, ongoing education is crucial for chiropractors to harness the full potential of technological advancements in clinical practice. Integrating technology into chiropractic education programs ensures that future chiropractors are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed for the evolving landscape of healthcare.

Future Trends and Prospects

Looking ahead, the chiropractic field is poised to witness further advancements in technology. Emerging technologies in chiropractic research hold promise for revolutionizing diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors who embrace these cutting-edge technologies will be better positioned to adapt to the changing healthcare landscape, offering patients the benefits of the latest innovations.

Navigating the Tech-Integrated Future of Chiropractic Care

The integration of technology has revolutionized chiropractic practices, expanding their boundaries beyond traditional methods. From advanced diagnostic tools to innovative treatment modalities and the embrace of telehealth, technology has become an indispensable ally in chiropractic care. As we navigate this tech-integrated future, chiropractors are encouraged to stay informed, adapt to emerging trends, and continue providing patient-centered care that harnesses the power of technology for better health outcomes.

In this era of technological integration within chiropractic practices, the journey is far from over. The way chiropractors approach patient care is being shaped and redefined by evolving technology. As we stand on the cusp of an exciting future, chiropractors and healthcare professionals are encouraged to embrace these technological advancements. To explore how our tech-integrated approach can enhance your well-being, don’t hesitate to contact us today.

The post The Role of Technology in Modern Chiropractic Practices appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E33: Comparisons

Ryan Miller — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 01:41:32 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry as he unpacks the true costs a patient could experience if they choose not to pursue chiropractic care.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E33: Comparisons appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E32: What does the patient feel?

Ryan Miller — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 01:27:27 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Greg Miller as they unpack some of the new content coming to Aligned Summits that you do not want to miss.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E32: What does the patient feel? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Cracking the Code: Online Presence Management for Chiropractors

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 14:47:56 +0000

In today’s digital age, it is imperative for chiropractors to have a strong online presence in order to thrive in a competitive healthcare landscape. Online presence management goes beyond having a website; it involves a strategic approach to various elements, including social media, online reviews, and directories.

In this guide, we will delve into the intricacies of online presence management and provide actionable tips for chiropractors to establish and maintain a robust digital footprint.

Understanding Online Presence Management

Online presence management encompasses the virtual footprint a chiropractor leaves across the internet. It comprises elements like a professional website, active engagement on social media, positive online reviews, and accurate listings in online directories. Each of these elements contributes to shaping the overall perception of a chiropractor’s practice in the digital realm.

Your website is the main foundation of your online presence. It’s more than a virtual business card; it’s a reflection of your professionalism. Ensure your website is appealing and also user-friendly. Navigation should be intuitive, and crucial information such as services offered, contact details, and appointment procedures should be easily accessible.

Building a Professional Website

A chiropractor’s website is often the first point of contact for potential patients. Optimize it by including essential information about your practice, such as your services, qualifications, and contact details. Consider adding a blog section to your website where you can share informative content related to chiropractic care. This will showcase your expertise and provide value to visitors.

Engaging visuals and easy navigation are key. Potential patients should be able to find what they need without unnecessary clicks. Mobile responsiveness is non-negotiable; many users browse on smartphones, and a seamless experience is crucial for retaining their attention.

Leveraging Social Media Effectively

Social platforms are important tools for expanding your reach and connecting with your community. It’s essential to select the platforms that are suitable for your target audience and devote time to creating engaging content. Sharing informative posts about chiropractic care, healthy living, and community involvement can help make your practice more personable and connect with potential patients.

Building a social media community requires more than broadcasting. Engage with users, run promotions, and build trust through connections.

Managing Online Reviews

Online reviews have a significant impact on potential patients. Actively seek reviews from satisfied patients to boost your online reputation. Provide excellent service, ask for feedback, and make it easy for patients to leave reviews on platforms like Google My Business or Yelp.

It’s important to handle negative reviews in a way that makes a difference. Respond professionally, acknowledge concerns, and demonstrate a commitment to resolving issues. This not only addresses the specific complaint but also showcases your dedication to patient satisfaction.

Optimizing Online Directories

Make sure that your practice is listed on the appropriate online directories. Also, ensure that all the information provided on those directories is accurate and up to date. This not only enhances your visibility but also contributes to local SEO. Accuracy is crucial; double-check that your business name, address, and phone number are consistent across all platforms.

Optimize your directory listings with relevant keywords and ensure they are complete with additional information about your services. This improves your chances of appearing in local search results and helps search engines understand your business.

Staying Compliant with Healthcare Regulations

Maintaining a strong online presence doesn’t mean compromising patient privacy. Adhere to healthcare regulations, especially HIPAA standards, when communicating online.

Implement secure communication channels for online inquiries and appointment scheduling. Educate your staff on the importance of privacy in digital interactions and regularly review your online communication practices to ensure compliance.

Monitoring and Analyzing Online Presence

To continually refine your online presence, use tools to monitor your digital footprint. Google Analytics, social media insights, and online reputation management tools can provide valuable data.

Analyze this data regularly and adjust your strategies accordingly. If a particular social media platform is yielding better results, allocate more resources there. If certain keywords are driving organic traffic, optimize your content around them. The key to a successful online presence is staying adaptable and responsive to its dynamic nature.

Navigating the Digital Landscape with Confidence

In conclusion, cracking the code of online presence management is a continuous and dynamic process. By understanding the crucial elements – a professional website, effective social media engagement, positive online reviews, accurate directory listings, compliance with healthcare regulations, and data-driven monitoring – chiropractors can establish a strong and trustworthy digital presence. Implement these strategies consistently, adapt to changing trends, and watch your online presence become a valuable asset in attracting and retaining patients.

If you’re seeking to elevate the patient experience within your practice, rely on our team at Aligned Mentoring for Online Presence Management to be your ally in realizing the digital presence you’ve always aspired to achieve. To commence, explore the array of services we offer, encompassing personalized mentorship, informative training events, peer networking opportunities, and more tailored specifically for enhancing your practice’s online visibility.

The post Cracking the Code: Online Presence Management for Chiropractors appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Benefits of Effective Team Communication in Chiropractic Mentorship

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 14:44:35 +0000

In the intricate world of chiropractic practice, mentorship stands as a cornerstone for professional growth. Navigating the complexities of patient care, treatment methodologies, and professional development requires a solid foundation built on effective team communication.

This article uncovers the profound benefits of fostering clear and transparent communication within chiropractic teams, shedding light on how it enhances mentorship dynamics and, in turn, positively impacts patient care and overall team morale.

Understanding Effective Team Communication

Effective team communication in chiropractic mentorship is more than just exchanging information; it’s a dynamic interplay of clear messages, active listening, open dialogue, and regular feedback. Consider a scenario where a mentor provides specific guidance on a treatment approach to a mentee.

Clear communication ensures that the mentee comprehends the nuances, while active listening allows for clarifications. Open dialogue encourages mentees to seek guidance, fostering a learning environment. Regular feedback mechanisms fine-tune communication, ensuring it remains a two-way street.

To exemplify, a mentor may regularly check in with the mentee to discuss ongoing cases, share insights, and provide constructive feedback. This continuous dialogue establishes a rapport that transcends beyond mere professional interactions, creating a mentorship that nurtures both personal and professional growth.

Strengthening Professional Relationships

Effective team communication forms the bedrock of robust professional relationships within chiropractic mentorship. Trust and transparency are pivotal elements in this context. When communication is open and honest, trust between mentors and mentees flourishes. This trust, in turn, facilitates a more open exchange of ideas, challenges, and insights, creating a supportive mentorship environment.

Consider the impact of transparent communication on conflict resolution. In any professional setting, conflicts are inevitable. However, in a team where communication is effective, conflicts are addressed promptly and constructively.

Open dialogue allows for the identification of root causes, and mentors can guide mentees in navigating and resolving conflicts positively. This, in essence, transforms challenges into learning opportunities, strengthening the mentor-mentee bond.

Enhancing Patient Care through Team Communication

The repercussions of effective team communication extend beyond the mentor-mentee relationship and directly influence patient care outcomes. A unified approach to patient care is achievable when there’s clear communication among the chiropractic team. In such an environment, everyone involved in a patient’s treatment is on the same page, ensuring consistency and coherence in the delivery of care.

Consider a case where a patient’s treatment plan involves multiple chiropractors working collaboratively. Effective team communication ensures that each practitioner is aware of the treatment plan, progress, and any adjustments needed. This collaborative effort enhances patient satisfaction and quality of care by providing a seamless and coordinated healthcare journey.

Boosting Team Morale and Productivity

Positive communication is a powerful catalyst for boosting team morale and productivity within chiropractic practices. Clear communication channels create inclusion and shared purpose among team members. This, in turn, contributes to a positive work environment where individuals feel valued and supported.

Clear expectations and feedback mechanisms play a crucial role in promoting productivity. When mentors communicate expectations effectively, mentees understand their roles and responsibilities, minimizing confusion and enhancing efficiency. Regular feedback, both constructive and affirming, reinforces positive behaviors and provides guidance for improvement. This proactive approach not only elevates individual performance but also contributes to the overall productivity of the chiropractic team.

Nurturing Excellence Through Effective Team Communication in Chiropractic Mentorship

In conclusion, the benefits of effective team communication in chiropractic mentorship are far-reaching, impacting professional relationships, patient care, and team dynamics. As chiropractors embrace the power of clear and transparent communication, they unlock the full potential of mentorship, creating an environment where growth and success become the norm.

Let’s not underestimate the transformative power of effective team communication; it’s not just a tool but a cornerstone for excellence in chiropractic practice. As you navigate your mentorship journey, remember that every word spoken and every message conveyed contributes to the success of your team and the well-being of your patients.
If you aim to elevate the patient experience within your chiropractic practice, consider Aligned Mentoring’s support for Chiropractors as your ally in realizing the practice you’ve envisioned. Explore our effective team communication solutions tailored for chiropractors, encompassing personalized mentorship, engaging chiropractic training events, peer networking, and more. Take the first step towards cultivating the practice you aspire to own by delving into our comprehensive offerings.

The post Benefits of Effective Team Communication in Chiropractic Mentorship appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E31: The Patient Experience

Ryan Miller — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 02:18:34 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Right Start Director, Dr. Jeremy Brubaker, as they discuss how patient flow and experience in the office can have an enormous impact on the success of your practice.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E31: The Patient Experience appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E30: What Does Success Look Like? (Part 2)

Ryan Miller — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 01:39:20 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry, Dr. Greg Miller, and Dr. Tara Horrall for a round table discussion on the interview with Drs. Lorenz. If you missed Episode 29, we encourage you to go back and listen to it before this one!

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E30: What Does Success Look Like? (Part 2) appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E29: What Does Success Look Like?

Ryan Miller — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 01:36:38 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry and Dr. Greg Miller as they host Drs. Kyle and Savanna Lorenz to discuss their incredible journey from seven-figure debt to being in a position to retire young (but still loving their dream practice).

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E29: What Does Success Look Like? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E28: Are You a Professional?

Ryan Miller — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 12:06:53 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry as he delivers the monthly focal topic on professionalism and how you can make your office your sanctuary when times are tough.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E28: Are You a Professional? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E37: A Line in the Sand

Ryan Miller — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 11:31:50 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Jeremy Brubaker as they close out the year with advice and motivation for bigger visions in 2024.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E37: A Line in the Sand appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E36: The Secret to Freedom Part 2

Ryan Miller — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 00:04:31 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Greg Miller as they conclude their discussion on recommending the best, expecting the best, and letting the chips fall where they may.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E36: The Secret to Freedom Part 2 appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E35: The Secret to Freedom

Ryan Miller — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 00:58:46 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Greg Miller as they discuss a powerful approach to life that will transform your practice.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E35: The Secret to Freedom appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to Create a Patient-Centered Approach at Your Chiropractic Office

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 19:21:38 +0000

In the chiropractic profession, where hands-on care is the cornerstone of practice, developing a patient-centered approach is crucial. A patient-centered chiropractic office prioritizes the patient’s individual health goals, preferences, and needs, creating a welcoming and healing environment that fosters trust and loyalty.

If you’re looking to enhance the way that patients experience your practice with each visit, this guide is for you. Here’s how chiropractors can design a practice that truly revolves around the patient.

The Core of Patient-Centered Care

Patient-centered care in chiropractic environments focuses on viewing patients holistically, respecting their unique conditions, and engaging them in their own care. It involves active listening, empathy, and collaboration.

Chiropractors must stay informed about the latest research and tailor their treatments to the individual rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. No two patients are alike, and engaging in ongoing education as the provider enables you to provide a more dedicated level of service to each patient as a part of their overall wellness plan for their life.

It’s not just about the care you provide, but it’s also about how the patients feel they are treated at your office. From yourself to your staff and any communications in between, a strong rapport with patients is essential.

Rapport-building begins with the first interaction and continues through every appointment. Ensure that all staff members are trained in communication skills and understand the importance of making patients feel heard and respected. Remember, a patient’s experience starts with the initial phone call and continues beyond the treatment room.

Patient-Centered Care Extends to Office Operations

A patient-centered office also requires an environment that runs smoothly. This means minimal wait times, an easy appointment-setting process, and a clean and comfortable waiting area. Efficient office operations prevent staff from being overburdened, allowing them to focus on providing the best care and attention to patients.

Some other features that you could consider are electronic messaging, appointment request tools, and digital intake forms. These prevent patients from filling out long-form paperwork manually, and they can integrate with your other digital systems while removing the need for managing physical files.

Utilize a Collaborative Approach

Chiropractic care is often one part of a patient’s broader healthcare regimen. Encourage a collaborative approach with other healthcare providers. By communicating with a patient’s team of health professionals, such as a patient’s primary care provider, chiropractors can ensure that the patient receives comprehensive care that supports overall well-being.

Patients also value education about their health, treatments, and how they can maintain their well-being outside the office. Offer clear explanations about what to expect from chiropractic care and take the time to answer questions. This not only empowers patients but also builds trust and demonstrates your commitment to their health.

Offer Personalized Care Plans

Every patient comes with a different set of needs and health goals. Create personalized care plans that consider a patient’s lifestyle, activities, and health objectives. Such tailored plans not only help in achieving better outcomes but also show patients that their individual health is the top priority.

Incorporating a holistic approach to health within the chiropractic office means considering all aspects of patient well-being. This can include advice on nutrition, exercise, and ergonomics, as well as the physical treatments provided.

While chiropractors provide the expertise, ultimately, it is the patient who should be in control of their health decisions. Respect for patient autonomy means providing options and supporting the patient’s choices about their care.

Measure Outcomes and Continually Improve

Like your patients, you likely also want to know if chiropractic is working for your patients.

Track the outcomes of treatments and use this data to continually refine and improve the care provided. Measuring outcomes not only demonstrates a commitment to excellence but also helps in customizing care more effectively for future patients.

Be sure to also regularly ask for feedback from patients regarding their experience and what improvements they’d like to see. This can be done through methods such as surveys, suggestion boxes, or direct conversation. Importantly, act on this feedback to make meaningful changes in the practice.

Ensure Privacy and Confidentiality

Maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality is not just a legal requirement but also a fundamental part of building trust within a chiropractic practice. It is essential to establish protocols that ensure all patient information is securely handled.

This includes secure filing systems, encrypted digital records, and careful conversation practices to prevent sensitive information from being overheard. Staff should be well-versed in privacy policies and the importance of discretion in all patient interactions.

The layout of the chiropractic office should be designed to facilitate privacy. Treatment areas should be soundproofed to protect against private discussions being overheard by others in the office. Waiting areas should be arranged to prevent accidental sharing of personal information, and private spaces should be made available for discussions of a sensitive nature.

Commit to Ongoing Professional Development

Chiropractors should consistently engage in learning and development opportunities to stay up to date on the latest research, techniques, and patient care strategies. This ongoing education not only benefits the practitioner in terms of expanding their skill set but also ensures that patients receive the most current and effective treatments available.

Professional development extends beyond attending seminars and reading the latest studies. It also includes being active in professional communities, contributing to scholarly dialogue, and even leading by example in adopting innovative practices.

Patients take notice when their chiropractor is knowledgeable about cutting-edge research and can articulate how these advancements can improve their care. This dedication to continual learning demonstrates to patients that the practice is serious about offering the highest standard of care and is committed to the well-being and health outcomes of every individual they serve.

Get Guidance for Operating a Patient-Centered Practice

Creating a patient-centered approach in a chiropractic office is about building a culture of care that prioritizes the patient at every point of contact. It’s about seeing each patient as an individual and not just another appointment on the schedule. It requires a combination of empathy, professionalism, and a continuous commitment to excellence.

If you are looking to enhance the patient experience at your own practice, let our team at Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors be your partner in helping you operate the practice you’ve always dreamed of owning. To get started, learn more about our guidance for chiropractors, including personalized mentorship, chiropractic training events, peer networking and more.

The post How to Create a Patient-Centered Approach at Your Chiropractic Office appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to Find the Right Medical Office Lease for Your Chiropractic Practice

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 19:19:15 +0000

Securing an office space is a monumental step for a new chiropractor. Selecting the right property for your business and negotiating a lease are high-stakes processes with major implications for your practice’s long-term success.

Before agreeing to an office space lease, a chiropractor must analyze the location, consider different lease structures, and navigate regulatory, financial, and legal details.

In the sections below, we’ll discuss the process of determining your practice’s needs and securing a favorable medical office lease.

Determining Your Practice’s Needs

Searching for a suitable location begins with assessing your practice’s needs. Considerations include:

Square footage for treatment rooms and office space
Suitability of the layout for medical practice use
Amenities (interior design quality, wheelchair access, electrical outlets, etc.)

Keep in mind that most chiropractic treatment rooms are around 8 feet by 10 or 10 by 12. Around 1,000 square feet is typical for an entire chiropractic office space.

Although a small space may be suitable for a new practice, a space that’s larger than necessary provides room for your practice to grow without changing locations.

Learn More: Should You Own or Lease Your Medical Real Estate as a Chiropractor?

Location Analysis

Your office needs to be in proximity to a sufficient number of potential patients that will support your business. To compare multiple locations, consider:

The total populations of the areas
The population density in close proximity (e.g. within a 10-mile radius) to the offices
The number of competing practices nearby

You can also evaluate factors like median household income, average age of residents, and the overall outlook for the area’s growth and prosperity. These factors help determine whether or not a location is conducive to long-term success.

Additionally, consider the location’s visibility and accessibility. The ideal location is highly visible and easily accessed from major roads or public transportation routes. It’s also beneficial to be near a hospital, other medical providers, or major activity centers such as schools or shopping centers.

Financial Considerations

Before negotiating a lease, it’s important to understand the different leasing arrangements that are common for medical practices. These include:

Gross lease
Net lease
Modified gross lease

In a gross lease, the landlord retains responsibility for the property’s operation expenses, such as property insurance, real estate taxes, and repairs. The tenant pays a flat rate. This arrangement is simple for the tenant and makes it easy to budget property expenses.

Under a net lease, the tenant is the responsible party for paying property expenses in exchange for a lower rent. This arrangement is typical in single-tenant, long-term commercial leases.

A modified gross lease is a hybrid arrangement in which the tenant pays a proportion of expenses like real estate taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance.

When negotiating a lease for your chiropractic practice, consider the advantages and drawbacks of different arrangements. A gross lease is low-hassle and helpful for budgeting, but a net lease may offer better financial terms. Additionally, review (and negotiate, if possible) any extra expenses associated with property use, such as common area maintenance (CAM) fees.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

Cities and counties are divided into zoning districts that specify permitted land uses on each lot. Medical practices typically need to be in commercial zones, but zoning regulations vary widely from place to place. A quick call to your local planning department can confirm whether or not a chiropractic practice would be permitted on a certain property.

Additionally, consider the laws and regulations that govern construction activities and modifications to buildings. These range from national ADA compliance laws down to local building codes.

The best way to select a suitable office is to move into a building that previously hosted a medical practice. Such buildings are more likely to contain appropriate layouts and to be in compliance with local regulations.

Lease Agreement Nuances

Every detail of a lease agreement should be carefully reviewed. The most important conditions include the agreement’s duration and renewal options. A longer-term agreement is restrictive, but offers security and may come with a lower rate. Meanwhile, it’s important to understand whether or not you’ll be entitled to renew the lease when it expires, and what changes can be expected at that time.

Additionally, a few key clauses to be aware of include:

Termination clause: grants the landlord (or both parties) the right to terminate the lease agreement if certain conditions are present, such as one party violating the lease terms
Exclusivity clause: prohibits the landlord from leasing another unit to a separate tenant that operates the same type of business
Escalation clause: permits rent to increase by specified amounts at scheduled intervals

Before signing a lease, carefully review the terms with your lawyer or real estate agent.

Preparing for Move-In

After signing a lease, plan on investing time and money to improve the space before opening for business. If you’ll need to work with professionals like contractors or electricians, it’s best to receive estimates before committing to a lease. For guidance on setting up your office for operations, it’s helpful to consult with business coaches or experienced chiropractor mentors.

With Expert Guidance, You Can Build the Chiropractic Practice You’ve Always Wanted

Whether your chiropractic practice is yet to launch or outgrowing your current office space, it’s essential to navigate real estate decisions with an informed perspective. At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we provide coaching, guidance, and community for chiropractors in all career stages. Contact AMC today to learn more.

The post How to Find the Right Medical Office Lease for Your Chiropractic Practice appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E34: Marketing Calendar

Ryan Miller — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 01:32:08 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry and Dr. Zach Wilson as they discuss best practices for developing your marketing calendar – just in time for 2024!

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E34: Marketing Calendar appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E33: What Will You Sacrifice?

Ryan Miller — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry as he unpacks aspects of goal setting that are often overlooked.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E33: What Will You Sacrifice? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E32: Golden Nuggets

Ryan Miller — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 01:23:24 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry as he hosts Dr. Lisa Beighle to discuss a potpourri of topics that you can be thankful for. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving week!

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E32: Golden Nuggets appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E31: A Hard Reset

Ryan Miller — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen as he hosts Dr. Tim Peterson to tell the story of how a hard reset in his practice years ago led to a million dollar practice today.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E31: A Hard Reset appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E30: Character

Ryan Miller — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry and Dr. Jeremy Brubaker as they discuss character and how it impacts your practice.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E30: Character appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Tips for Streamlining Practice Management for Chiropractic Offices

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 17:28:17 +0000

Many of the most persistent challenges that chiropractors face have nothing to do with providing great care. Rather, the daily operations of running a business are often the trickiest aspects of running a practice.

Below, we’ll consider these aspects of practice management:

Core elements (scheduling, record-keeping, staffing)
Office space management and resource utilization
Leveraging technology and software
Building strong relationships

In each of these areas, let’s cover a few helpful tips for streamlining operations.

Core Elements of Effective Practice Management

Patient Scheduling and Reminders

The key difference makers for a great scheduling system involve these two objectives:

Effective use of technology
A defined and clearly communicated set of procedures

For better scheduling efficiency, implement the use of scheduling software features like automated appointment reminders for patients. Meanwhile, maintain a clearly communicated policy regarding no-shows and lateness. These tools can ensure that your patients remain aware of expectations when preparing to visit your practice.

Documentation and Patient Records

If you feel disorganized, your document storage—both digital and paper—is a focus area for cleaning up operations. Aim for all-digital documentation whenever possible to reduce physical clutter.

Not only does digitizing documentation ease the burden of managing manual files, but it also contributes to a better patient experience. Before arriving for their appointment, a patient can fill out any paperwork from their mobile devices from the comfort of their home or car.

Billing and Finances

In all billing transactions, try to embody these three traits:

Transparent
Organized
Prompt

Although it’s essential to keep a close eye on all financial matters, it’s often advantageous to outsource your money management tasks, including billing, accounting, and bookkeeping. If you decide to outsource, be sure to vet your financial services provider thoroughly to ensure that they maintain the level of communication you have with your patients, if not enhance their experience.

Employee Management and Training

To optimize your staffing, consider adopting a formula to link staff size and hours with either weekly appointments or collections.

Most chiropractic practices only require a few employees, which makes it possible to build a tight-knit, well-trained team. To that end, it’s important to view a happy workplace as a worthy investment.

High employee satisfaction leads to lower turnover, smoother operations, and a better environment for patients. To retain great talent, provide your workers with growth opportunities, appealing benefits, and plenty of variety in their daily routines.

Efficient Space and Resource Utilization

Optimizing Office Layout and Resource Management

A well-designed space puts patients at ease and improves workflow. Helpful design elements for a chiropractic office include:

Wide walkways and clear paths to the reception desk
Soft, bright lighting
Two-way traffic flow
Comfy seating that supports good posture

If you want patients and family members to genuinely enjoy their time in your waiting room, then magazines won’t cut it. Offer amenities like free WiFi and games for kids to make your office a pleasant place to spend time.

Time Management for Practitioners

Effective time management means more productivity in fewer hours worked. Here are a few ideas for improving time management:

Empower your staff to independently handle a broad variety of tasks
Have a go-to task list for filling unexpected downtime
Embrace automation and boilerplate forms for your record-keeping and communications

Time management is also about establishing a healthy work-life balance. When you’re off the clock, limit the spillover of work responsibilities into your personal life as much as possible.

Ergonomic Workspace Design

Office spaces can lead to aches and pains. For a chiropractor, a smart ergonomic design is a good way to lead by example while reducing the physical strain of work on your own body. To address ergonomics, consider the design and placement of items like chairs, desks, and computer hardware.

Leveraging Technology for Streamlined Operations

Electronic Health Records (EHR) Systems

Electronic health record (EHR) software helps chiropractors reduce clutter and store larger amounts of patient data. Compared to paper records, EHRs make it much easier to quickly locate and update files. EHR software options include all-purpose medical practice programs or EHR software designed specifically for chiropractic.

Communication Platforms and Automated Scheduling Tools

There are lots of great software programs and apps for automating scheduling, like Schedulista, ChiroTouch, and Cliniko. These tools provide easy platforms for managing appointments and storing appointment data.

Your scheduling software may also be used for automating patient communications. This helps with reducing your administrative workload by sending appointment confirmations and timely reminders.

Data Backup and Security

Your patient records and other important files should be backed up offsite so that no single event can damage or erase them. If your software programs aren’t cloud-based, consider adding cloud-based storage. Additionally, always research and safeguard against the potential data security threats associated with any software program you implement.

Building Strong Relationships for Sustained Growth

Patient Engagement and Education

Patient engagement—a patient’s proactive, participatory attitude towards care—is essential in chiropractic. High engagement is correlated with better outcomes for patients, including reduced drop-out rates and improved adherence to treatment plans.

Most chiropractors find that patient education is key to improving engagement. Providing educational materials and offering opportunities for Q&A goes a long way toward empowering and motivating your patients.

Community Engagement

Community engagement might include participating in events and initiatives, such as health fairs and community service activities, or simply making an effort to get to know your neighbors. You may also choose to join local networking groups. These activities provide networking opportunities and establish your presence in the community.

Get More Tips to Run the Practice of Your Dreams

Tips are good, but there’s nothing like personalized coaching. Contact Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors today to learn more.

The post Tips for Streamlining Practice Management for Chiropractic Offices appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Explaining Digital Marketing for Chiropractors

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 17:21:14 +0000

As a chiropractor, you bring value to your patients’ lives through pain reduction, injury recovery, and so much more.

Of course, first, they need to find you. That’s where a robust digital marketing strategy comes into play.

Marketing takes many forms, but these days, it’s primarily an online activity. Search engines, social media, and email: these are the spheres in which a patient is most likely to discover your practice.

Let’s explore the essential digital marketing strategies for chiropractors.

Digital Marketing Strategies for Your Chiropractic Practice

Social Media Content

Each of the major social media platforms offers unique marketing advantages. The “big three” to consider are:

Instagram: great for sharing promotional imagery, behind-the-scenes visual storytelling, and testimonials
Facebook: offers the opportunity to distribute content and build community through pages, groups, and online events
TikTok: an ideal platform for harnessing the power of short, engaging video content that captures day-in-the-life moments or offers quick health tips

These platforms are favored by different age groups (Facebook trends older, TikTok trends younger). Thus, you can focus on the platform that most serves your target demographic, or create a different content style for each one.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a systematic approach to improving a website’s rankings in organic (non-paid) search engine results. SEO involves creating informational, keyword-driven content that helps Google and other search engine algorithms recognize your practice’s website as an authority in your field in addition to technical optimizations, link building, and ensuring your business appears in local listings.

For chiropractors, especially ones with multiple practice locations, local SEO is essential. It takes optimization one step further by improving your search results performance, specifically in your geographic region.

Improving your local SEO is a powerful strategy for getting your practice on the radar of potential patients. For example, wouldn’t it be nice to know that searches for “chiropractor + [your city’s name]” put your website at the top of the results page?

Along with a local SEO strategy, it’s important to monitor online reviews for your practice. This helps you reply promptly to negative comments and to uncover glowing reviews that can be used as testimonials.

Additionally, keep updated info on your Google Business Profile and any other online directories that your practice appears in. Along with your NAP (name, address, phone number), provide high-quality images and descriptions of your services so that your business maintains an attractive presentation.

When producing content for your website, focus on helpful, informative, and keyword-rich web copy and blogs. This content is designed to be a resource for potential patients, establishing yourself as a credible authority in your industry.

Beyond the content, it also needs to be housed on a website that loads quickly, includes unique and optimized metadata for each page, and is free from any common technical errors like excessive redirects, 404 errors, and other similar technical issues that can impact user experience.

YouTube Content

YouTube is the world’s second-largest search engine, after its parent company, Google. Most importantly, YouTube provides the opportunity to let future patients hear your voice and see what experience they can expect in your office. For medical professionals who want to show their skills in action, there’s no better platform.

Helpful video formats include:

Educational content – Answer common questions that you receive from patients, share research findings, and give general advice that you would offer to anyone that came to your office.
Treatment demonstrations – Show how a treatment is performed in your office to give prospective patients an idea of how it goes and what it looks like. If you are using a human model to demonstrate with, be sure to obtain their written consent prior to filming.
Exercise tutorials – What are some exercises patients can do to complement the treatments you provide? Demonstrate them here.
Patient testimonials – What do your real patients think of their experience at your practice? Ask to film them giving a testimonial or ask them to send you a video that they’ve taken themselves.

Remember, like written content, specific rules like HIPAA regulations apply. Do not disclose anyone’s personal medical information or film them with their face visible without first obtaining their express consent to do so.

Email Marketing

Email is an effective tool for connecting with current and former patients. Collecting email addresses at events such as health fairs is also a great way to convert prospects into patients.

You can use emails for sharing courtesy reminders, updates about your practice, and promotional offers. You can also use email to connect readers to your digital content, such as articles or social media accounts.

For best results, keep your messages short and to the point, and don’t send so many emails that readers will be inclined to ignore them. For a more nuanced approach, you can segment your email list by characteristics such as age, gender, or patient status (current/former/prospect) in order to enhance personalization.

Digital Advertising

Digital advertising involves paying a publisher to present your ads on search engines, web networks, social media, or other digital spaces. One of the most common channels is search engine advertising, also known as pay-per-click (PPC).

PPC deals are usually made directly with search engines. Rather than paying for a certain amount of exposure, you pay only for the instances in which a user clicks on your advertisement. Your ads are shown in response to certain keywords that relate to your business. This targeted and cost-effective form of advertising is a good bet for drawing high-value traffic to your site.

When you’re advertising online, choose channels that allow you to target audiences based on specific factors that are most important to you. These may include traits like geographic location, age, gender, household income, and other similar attributes.

Meta Advertising (Facebook & Instagram)

In addition to providing platforms for your social accounts, Facebook and Instagram are powerful spaces for paid advertising. These platforms have enormous user bases and nuanced opportunities for targeted advertising based on interests and demographics. There are also opportunities for A/B testing, which involves running a pair of ads to determine which one performs better.

As with channels like PPC, be sure to create highly personalized ads that relate directly to the types of patients you want to encourage to request an appointment with your practice. Be sure to read Meta’s advertising policies, though, to ensure that your messages are within their guidelines for appropriate and ethical marketing.

Get More Insights for Starting the Practice of Your Dreams

If you’re focused on growing your practice, coaching goes a long way. At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we’ve helped thousands of ambitious chiropractors take their practices to the next level.

For early-career chiropractors, our Right Start program helps put a winning, sustainable business model in place. To learn more, contact AMC today.

The post Explaining Digital Marketing for Chiropractors appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E29: Launching Into the New Year

Ryan Miller — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they discuss the need to start preparation NOW for next year, and how going back to your fundamentals will set you up for a record year.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E29: Launching Into the New Year appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Should You Own or Lease Your Medical Real Estate as a Chiropractor?

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 12:39:43 +0000

Real estate choices can make or break a chiropractic practice. Just like anyone debating between buying a home or renting an apartment, chiropractors face a similar decision with their workspaces. They can either buy their own place or lease it, and each option has its own set of perks and downsides.

The best choice? Well, it really depends on what works best for the chiropractor’s budget, how long they see themselves in one spot, and what they envision for the future of their practice.

For your practice, should you consider buying or leasing your real estate? If this question has been one that’s on your mind, this guide is for you. We’re going to compare both options to help you decide which one is right for you.

Let’s start with what it’s like to own your real estate.

Owning the Medical Real Estate

Owning the medical space in which a chiropractic practice operates provides a sense of stability and permanence. When you own, the space becomes an asset, which can appreciate over time and benefit from tax advantages. But what are the broader implications of this decision?

Control Over the Space: Ownership grants total control over the property. This means having the autonomy to modify the interior or exterior to fit the specific needs of the practice without seeking permission from a landlord. Whether it’s creating an ergonomic environment for the staff or a soothing ambiance for patients, the freedom to design the space enhances the practice’s ability to serve its clientele.

Financial Predictability: Owning property provides consistent monthly mortgage payments, which can aid in financial planning. There’s no need to worry about annual rent increases or lease renewals. Moreover, the potential for property appreciation can serve as a valuable long-term investment.

Building Equity: As mortgage payments are made, equity in the property builds up. This equity can be used as collateral for loans to expand the practice or even finance other business ventures in the future.

However, ownership does come with its set of responsibilities. These include upkeep and maintenance, property taxes, and the initial down payment, which can be hefty. Moreover, being tied to a property might not be ideal for those who foresee relocating their practice in the near future.

Leasing the Medical Real Estate

On the other side of the spectrum is leasing. Leasing offers flexibility and might be more appealing to those who aren’t ready for the commitment that comes with ownership.

Lower Upfront Costs: One of the significant advantages of leasing is that it typically requires less money upfront compared to purchasing. This means more capital remains available to invest directly into the practice, from equipment to staff training.

Flexibility: Leasing provides flexibility in terms of location and space. If the practice outgrows its current space or if a more prime location becomes available, it’s easier to move at the end of a lease term than it is to sell a property.

Fewer Responsibilities: When leasing, the property owner usually handles most of the maintenance and repairs. This can free up valuable time and resources for the chiropractic practice, allowing for a focus on patient care and business growth.

Keep in mind though that leasing also has its cons. Monthly lease payments won’t build equity in the property, and there’s always the possibility of rent increases or non-renewal of the lease. Also, there are restrictions on how much the property can be modified, which might hinder the ability to create an ideal environment for patients and staff.

Factors to Consider When Making a Decision

Choosing between owning and leasing isn’t just a matter of crunching numbers or picking the most obvious option. Several considerations shape this critical decision. Think about it this way; this decision is somewhat like choosing between buying a house or renting an apartment. Both choices cater to specific needs, priorities, and situations.

Let’s first talk about the financial situation. Before even peeking into property listings or lease agreements, a close look at the practice’s finances is necessary. What do those bank statements and balance sheets reveal?

Owning a property demands a considerable initial investment, so there’s a need for a healthy bank balance or access to suitable financing. If cash flow is tight or the savings aren’t robust, diving into ownership could strain the finances, possibly leaving the practice vulnerable to unforeseen expenses or market fluctuations.

On the flip side, leasing can often be kinder to the bank account in the short term. Regular monthly payments without the burden of a hefty down payment can be appealing.

However, these payments don’t build equity, and when added up over the years, they might end up costing more than the cost of ownership, especially if the rental rates rise.

Then, there’s the matter of future plans. Everyone has aspirations and visions for where they’d like to be in the future.

When thinking about the chiropractic practice, what does that future look like? Say, in the next decade or two? If the goal is to set down roots, grow deep community ties, and perhaps even pass on the practice to a successor, owning could be an advantageous route.

In contrast, if flexibility is a top priority—maybe because of potential moves, changing market dynamics, or simply the desire to try out different locations—leasing allows for that agility. It’s less of a commitment and can be especially useful for those who anticipate significant changes down the road.

Lastly, the external environment plays a crucial role. The broader real estate market conditions in the area of interest can often tip the scales.

In some regions, property prices might be in a sweet spot, making buying a more economical and strategic choice than pouring money into rent. But then again, in places where the real estate market is boiling hot and property prices are soaring, the costs of purchasing might be prohibitively high. Leasing can then offer a doorway into premium locations without the colossal upfront costs.

Ultimately, it all circles back to understanding individual circumstances, goals, and the external environment. It’s not about which is universally better; it’s about which is better for the specific situation and aspirations of the chiropractic practice at this point in time.

Get More Insights for Your Practice with AMC

At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we help chiropractors like you navigate the most challenging questions and decisions that they will face during their careers, including guidance on finding the right real estate situation for their practices. Our goal is to help you achieve the practice you have always dreamed of owning and operating.

If you are ready to take the next step and move your practice forward, schedule a call with us today to learn about how we can help.

The post Should You Own or Lease Your Medical Real Estate as a Chiropractor? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How Chiropractic Coaching Can Benefit New Practices

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 12:35:24 +0000

In the complex world of chiropractic care, establishing a new practice comes with its unique challenges and opportunities. While the primary objective remains to offer quality patient care, managing the business aspects efficiently can sometimes become overwhelming when you’re looking to get a new practice off to the right start.

This is where chiropractic coaching proves invaluable, especially for practices that are in their early stages. Let’s look deeper into the multifaceted advantages of chiropractic coaching.

A Guide Through the Industry Landscape

Chiropractic coaching provides a comprehensive understanding of current industry trends, helping practitioners stay updated. In an industry that’s rapidly evolving due to advancements in technology and research, staying aligned with the latest standards and committing to continuous education are a must.

For newcomers to the profession, sifting through vast amounts of information and identifying what’s pertinent can be a monumental task. Coaches help by filtering out irrelevant data and focusing on actionable insights that have the most significant impact on practice growth.

Furthermore, while the primary focus of a chiropractor is patient care, it’s essential to recognize that practices are also businesses. Grasping the nuances of the competitive market, identifying competition, and determining a practice’s unique value can significantly influence its success. Coaches offer insights into these areas, equipping practices with the knowledge to thrive.

Tailored Business Strategies

Every chiropractic practice has its distinct strengths and challenges. Chiropractic coaching aids in identifying these unique characteristics and devising strategies tailored to a specific practice’s objectives.

By pinpointing the goals of a practice – whether it’s expanding the client base, specializing in a particular treatment, or integrating complementary services – coaches lay out a step-by-step plan to achieve these ambitions. Each chiropractor has their own goals and a vision for what a “practice of their dreams” looks like. Coaches help you get there.

Operational efficiency is critical for the smooth running of any practice. From scheduling patients to handling administrative duties, optimizing these tasks ensures that the practice can focus more on patient care. Coaches, with their experience, provide methodologies and tools to refine these processes.

Effective Marketing and Branding

A significant aspect of growing any business, including a chiropractic practice, is creating a strong brand and marketing it effectively. Coaches bring a wealth of experience in building a brand that resonates with the target audience, ensuring that the practice has a distinct identity.

Beyond just advertisements, effective marketing includes understanding the ideal patient demographic, crafting compelling messages, and choosing the right platforms to communicate. Coaches guide practices through this intricate process, helping them effectively engage with potential and existing patients.

In today’s digital age, online reputation can make or break a practice. With reviews readily accessible, managing and maintaining a positive online presence is more critical than ever. Coaches offer strategies and tools to cultivate and uphold a commendable reputation.

Continuous Professional Development

The benefits of chiropractic coaching extend beyond just business strategies. It encompasses the holistic growth of the chiropractor both professionally and personally. Coaches ensure that practitioners continue to refine their skills, keeping abreast of the latest in their profession.

As chiropractic care becomes more integrated with other health disciplines, having a diverse understanding becomes essential. Coaches provide insights into related areas like nutrition, physical therapy, and holistic wellness, ensuring a well-rounded approach to patient care.

Fostering a growth mindset is also a key outcome of coaching. With the right guidance, chiropractors find themselves better prepared to adapt and evolve in the dynamic healthcare landscape.

Networking and Collaboration

Engaging with a chiropractic coach offers more than just individual guidance. It opens doors to a wider network of professionals, paving the way for collaboration and cross-referral opportunities.

This expanded network isn’t just about business growth. It promotes a sense of community among professionals who can share experiences, insights, and support one another, creating an environment conducive to collective scalability.

Furthermore, such collaborations can lead to initiatives like joint workshops, patient education seminars, and more. These not only position the practice as a leader in the community but also foster deeper connections with patients.

Adapting to Challenges

Every practice, regardless of its age or experience, will face challenges. External factors such as economic fluctuations or shifts in patient demographics can affect a practice’s stability.

Chiropractic coaching equips practitioners with the resilience and tools to navigate these hurdles.

An external perspective offered by a coach can help identify potential risks and offer strategies to address them. Their vast experience in dealing with similar challenges proves invaluable, ensuring that practices aren’t left navigating these waters alone.

Additionally, having a coach offers peace of mind in the midst of the chaos of running your day-to-day. Knowing there’s expert guidance available provides an added layer of confidence during challenging times, and you know that you can lean on their industry expertise to guide you through challenging times.

Start Your New Chiropractic Practice with the Right Coaching Today

At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we specialize in coaching chiropractors at any stage in their careers to help them achieve the practices they’ve always dreamed of operating. Our Right Start program is specifically designed to help new practices like yours launch the right way so that you can anticipate long-term success and sustainability.

To learn more about how we can assist you with coaching during the start of your new practice, book a consultation with us today.

The post How Chiropractic Coaching Can Benefit New Practices appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E28: Creating the Team

Ryan Miller — Sun, 22 Oct 2023 23:04:24 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry and Christie Reese for the conclusion of their discussion about staff and how it takes the whole team doing their part to truly get great results for patients.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E28: Creating the Team appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E27: The Morning Meeting

Ryan Miller — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 10:26:58 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry as he hosts a special guest, Christie Reese, to discuss the importance of the morning staff meeting and how it sets the tone for efficiency and effectiveness in the office.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E27: The Morning Meeting appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E26: Commitment

Ryan Miller — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 10:49:02 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry as he hosts Dr. Melissa Licari to discuss the monthly focal topic commitment, and how you can achieve peace of mind by going all-in.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E26: Commitment appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E25: Thinking About Others

Ryan Miller — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 00:41:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen as he hosts Dr. Henri Dallies to talk about the power of mastering both your technique AND your business model.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E25: Thinking About Others appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E24: A Sermon In Action

Ryan Miller — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 21:22:31 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry as he hosts Dr. Tim Peterson, Director of Certified Training Centers, as they talk about the unique program Aligned offers that can significantly boost patient visits and collections when utilized.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E24: A Sermon In Action appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E23: A Phenomenal Fall

Ryan Miller — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 11:05:01 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they discuss the special opportunity the fall provides when it comes to marketing and how it can boost your practice (when done right).

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E23: A Phenomenal Fall appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Top Technology Trends in the Chiropractic Industry

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 13:29:50 +0000

Compared to most healthcare disciplines, chiropractic is less intrinsically reliant on technology. Knowledge and skillful hands—these are a chiropractor’s most essential tools.

Nevertheless, even in holistic healthcare professions that are deeply rooted in manual techniques, new technologies are bringing exciting opportunities to enhance care. From digital marketing tools to app-linked wearable therapeutic devices, there are a number of emerging technologies that ambitious chiropractors should be excited about.

Here are a few of the top tech trends in 2023 for chiropractors to pay attention to this year with eyes also set ahead for 2024.

Advanced Imaging

In recent years, there have been incredible advancements in medical imaging technology. Improvements to traditional imaging tech, along with new forms of imaging, help us view the human body with enhanced clarity while reducing radiation exposure for patients.

Along with evolutions in X-ray, MRI, and bone density testing technologies, evolving advanced medical imaging technologies include:

Diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging
Computed tomography
Nuclear medicine

For certain complicated cases, the ability to prescribe advanced medical imaging tests can be a valuable option for chiropractors.

Electronic Health Records (EHR)

Electronic health records help medical offices transition away from cumbersome paper record-keeping. More than a mere digital database, EHR software provides a platform for data analysis, communication between healthcare providers, and patient progress tracking.

There are many EHR systems on the market at a range of price points. Chiropractors can choose between all-purpose EHR software or systems designed specifically for chiropractic.

Wearable Tech and Patient Monitoring

Wearable tech, like Fitbit, is a major development for patient health data collection. Compared to traditional patient health tracking equipment, wearables offer the advantage of continuous tracking over extended time periods.

Wearables can be synced to apps that permit patients and their healthcare providers to monitor health metrics in real-time. This is useful for encouraging patient engagement and compliance.

Wearables aren’t limited to wrist devices, either. Devices such as posture-correcting wearables will likely become more popular in the near future for chiropractic care. These devices are useful during treatment sessions or may be employed for home exercises between treatments.

Advanced Therapy Modalities

Advanced equipment-based therapy modalities provide chiropractors with the opportunity to expand their treatment offerings. Examples include:

Non-invasive nerve stimulation for improving blood flow and relieving pain
Spinal decompression for relieving pressure and pain
Laser therapy for reducing inflammation and promoting tissue healing

Adding one or more advanced therapy modalities makes a chiropractic practice more dynamic and ready to appeal to a wider range of patients.

Patient Engagement Platforms

A patient engagement platform refers to a digital tool that patients access via a website or an app. These platforms are used to provide a convenient means of communication between a healthcare provider and its patients.

Along with direct communications, patient engagement platforms offer benefits for continuity of care and patient engagement. They can be used for providing reminders, supplemental materials, and educational content—providing consistent engagement that leads to improved compliance and better treatment outcomes.

Marketing Tech Trends that Chiropractors Can Use

Along with the exciting healthcare tech developments described above, there’s a wide world of digital marketing tools available for chiropractic practice owners.

Social media formats like TikTok and Instagram Reels are great ways to efficiently distribute advertising. You can create short-form videos that present educational content and position your practice as an authority. Paid distribution on these platforms can include targeted marketing within your geographic region. With so many daily users constantly checking their social media feeds, the outreach potential is huge.

You can also use search engine optimization (SEO) to increase website traffic by creating engaging written content. While SEO has been around for years, AI content generators have recently presented some exciting new options for improving SEO. Content generators can be used for research or to create artwork, graphics, or written content.

If you use AI for long-form writing, be sure to review it carefully. AI programs like ChatGPT are promising but limited, with many examples of plagiarized or inaccurate content.

Get More Ideas to Upgrade Your Practice This Year

Chiropractic isn’t a tech-centric industry, because it doesn’t have to be. However, embracing new technologies presents chiropractors with opportunities to expand their services and stand out from the competition.
If you’re looking for more ways to build the thriving chiropractic practice of your dreams, contact Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors. AMC members enjoy a 55% average increase in collections. Schedule a no-pressure conversation with one of our team members today to learn more.

The post Top Technology Trends in the Chiropractic Industry appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to Build a Strong Referral Network for Your Chiropractic Practice

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 13:19:11 +0000

In the chiropractic industry, there’s no overstating the importance of referrals. Patients who find your office via referral tend to arrive with a built-in sense of trust and commitment. Before your work even begins, there’s a level of personal connection that gets the relationship off to a strong start.

To win the referral game, view referral generation as an ongoing process. While providing great care will bring in some word-of-mouth business, a robust flow of referrals requires a concerted effort.

Fortunately, there are proven methods for building a vibrant, lasting referral network. In this guide, we’ll highlight your best opportunities for developing relationships that bring in a steady flow of high-quality patients.

Identifying Referral Sources and Building Relationships

Growing a strong referral network involves identifying potential sources of referrals and exploring opportunities for mutual benefit. Here are a few common referral sources that you should consider connecting with.

Medical Professionals

Referrals from doctors don’t always come as easily as they should, but that doesn’t mean this important source of business should be ignored. To cultivate referrals from local doctors and medical offices, compile a list of local primary care doctors and specialists.

To build your list, include a line on your intake forms for patients to identify the primary care doctor and specialists that they see. You can also use databases like ZocDoc. Once you’ve identified a list of doctors as potential referral partners, you can initiate a connection by sending an introductory letter about how you can help to co-manage shared patients.

With doctors who are receptive to building relationships, you may be able to foster a partnership that includes co-promotional events such as joint seminars or public speaking engagements.

Allied Health Professionals

Allied health professionals can be incredibly helpful referral partners. These professions include:

Dieticians
Midwives
Occupational therapists
Athletic trainers

Many of these professionals value referrals just as much as you do and they’re eager to pursue a mutually beneficial relationship. To build these connections, consider ventures like mutual advertising or co-hosted community events.

Existing Patients

Nobody can vouch for your care better than an existing patient. Without being pushy, it’s important to let patients know that you value referrals.

Along with verbally encouraging referrals, you can use referral cards. These are physical or digital cards that a patient can give to their friends, family, and colleagues. This type of card typically offers an incentive, such as a discounted first treatment session.

It’s important to let patients know that you appreciate their referrals, but be careful with monetary incentives that may send the wrong message. If you offer tangible rewards, keep them small and make sure that you aren’t violating any legal or ethical standards.

Co-Tenants

It always pays to have good relationships with your neighbors. If you share a building or shopping center with other professional tenants, develop a friendly rapport with the owners and staff. Co-tenant businesses offer exposure to potential patients who already visit your premises. There are often fruitful opportunities for reciprocal advertising in one another’s offices.

Fitness Centers and Massage Therapists

Consider reaching out to fitness centers, massage therapists, yoga studios, and other health & fitness businesses. There’s a high level of overlap between clients for these industries and chiropractic patients. Consider building relationships with these business owners that could lead to referrals or co-advertising agreements.

Non-Competing Chiropractors

Not every chiropractor is a competitor. Rather, fellow practitioners can be your most valued referral partners. Reach out to chiropractors with non-overlapping specialties to establish referral connections. You can also connect with chiropractors in neighboring geographic ranges. Work with these chiropractors to exchange referrals for patients who change locations or who require care in multiple locations.

Maintaining a Referral Network

Once referrals start flowing, it’s important to devote time to maintaining the network you’ve built. To reinforce the connections you’ve fostered, try to give as many referrals as you receive.

Develop communication templates and procedures specifically for your referral partners. This may include newsletters or personalized thank-you notes.

With your best referral partners, consider setting up joint marketing efforts, such as co-authoring articles or running promotional campaigns together.

Utilizing Tools and Technologies

To wisely invest your referral generation efforts, track your referrals and their sources. A useful tool for organizing referral data is a customer relationship management (CRM) system. CRM software is used for managing your practice’s relationships with patients and potential patients. Some chiropractors find these systems to be useful for maintaining a focused approach to referrals.

Your practice’s online presence is another important set of tools for generating referrals. Always monitor online reviews and testimonials so that you can address concerns and highlight wins. Additionally, social media accounts are important assets for promoting your business and communicating with potential patients.

Get More Insights for Building Stronger Referral Networks

If you’re working on building a referral network and growing your practice, join the Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors family. Contact AMC today to learn more.

The post How to Build a Strong Referral Network for Your Chiropractic Practice appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E22: Is Your Fire Lit?

Ryan Miller — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 00:27:35 +0000

Join Tom Owen as he hosts Dr. Bill Kriva for a very personal story about his path to entering the chiropractic profession and how it gave him the meaning and purpose he was missing from his career in engineering.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E22: Is Your Fire Lit? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E21: Planting Appreciation

Ryan Miller — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 21:02:55 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Lisa Beighle as they discuss how showing appreciation can come back a hundredfold when it truly comes from the heart.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E21: Planting Appreciation appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E20: Mr. Enthusiasm

Ryan Miller — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 22:34:45 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Zach Wilson as they discuss how to find the people that have the level of enthusiasm you need to take your practice to the next level.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E20: Mr. Enthusiasm appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E19: Start Standing Out

Ryan Miller — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 11:27:57 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Bill Kriva as they discuss how to truly break out in a challenging market – or any market.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E19: Start Standing Out appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E18: Where Are You Headed?

Ryan Miller — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 11:37:07 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Lisa Beighle as they discuss how to effectively develop large goals and the best way to “shorten the learning curve.”

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E18: Where Are You Headed? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to Deal with Difficult Patients: 5 Ideas

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 13:02:55 +0000

As a chiropractor, you deal with all sorts of individuals. There are the “dream patients” who show up on time, are a pleasure to be around, and follow their treatment plans to a tee.

Then there are those patients who aren’t so easy to work with.

Every patient deserves great care, but some exhibit conduct that gets in the way. This may involve issues with keeping or paying for appointments, inappropriate behavior during sessions, or refusal to fully cooperate with treatment.

After many years of coaching thousands of chiropractors through their ups and downs, we’ve learned a thing or two about navigating challenging patient interactions. In the sections below, we’ll review five helpful strategies for dealing with difficult patients.

1. Building Empathy and Understanding

For many patients, combative or unproductive behavior is rooted in stress, fear, misunderstanding, or intense physical pain. Unhelpful behaviors may also be related to a psychiatric illness or a developmental disorder.

When dealing with unpleasant patient conduct, empathy is key. Engage in active listening, validate the patient’s concerns, and offer comforting, non-judgmental responses. This type of empathetic communication won’t make interpersonal problems disappear, but it will provide a foundation for respect and cooperation.

2. Setting Clear Expectations

Often, “difficult” patients arrive at your office with unrealistic expectations. This may be driven by misconceptions about chiropractic care or a lack of knowledge about their own health issues. When unrealistic expectations are present, patients may quickly move from over-optimism toward frustration and negativity.

To prevent unnecessary friction, always do your best to set realistic expectations for each session. This includes:

Describing the role and responsibilities of both the chiropractor and the patient
Educating the patient about realistic treatment outcomes, timelines, and potential challenges
Outlining any pertinent behavioral guidelines for conduct during treatment sessions
Explaining what you are doing while you are doing it during adjustments

To help get your messages across, use resources like visual aids and handouts. If you want to require that certain information is received, ask patients to put their signature on handouts to verify that they’ve been read and agreed to.

3. Practicing Patience and Positivity

When dealing with difficult patients, it’s easy to let your own frustrations come into play. You’re only human, and we all have those moments in which our defenses break down. As such, the goal isn’t to be perfectly cheerful in every single interaction, but rather to monitor your own behavior and be aware of the situations that tend to throw you off balance.

As much as possible, strive to present a patient and positive attitude while working with challenging patients. By modeling a cooperative communication style, you’ll encourage patients to help make their treatment sessions more harmonious and pleasant.

4. Establishing Firm Boundaries

Setting clear boundaries protects both parties in a chiropractor/patient relationship. The more difficult a patient is, the more important it is to have an established set of norms and rules that govern interactions between the two parties.

Many boundaries can be clearly outlined in your practice’s official policies. These may cover issues like appointment cancellations, acceptable behavior during sessions, and communication outside of office hours.

5. Seeking Professional Support

Every chiropractor deals with the occasional tough patient, but some see more than their fair share. This might be the result of your specialty or target population (e.g., working with kids or seniors), or it could just be a run of bad luck. Perhaps you provide care for a group—such as a family or the residents of a nursing home—and you find yourself treating one patient after another who all present the same tricky behavioral issues.

If you’re having a hard time, be willing to seek support from professional advisors, business coaches, or mental health professionals. Professional assistance for dealing with difficult patients may come in many forms, including:

Strategic advice
Legal advice
Emotional support

Working with a professional can lighten your burden, offer new insights, and help you improve your decision-making as you navigate thorny situations.

Training Your Staff on Dealing with Difficult Patients

Interactions between your practice’s patients and staff can significantly impact a patient’s experience. Too many negative interactions may also become a major stressor for your staff, affecting their job satisfaction and well-being.

To help your employees navigate challenging situations smoothly, provide the necessary support and resources and set clear protocols for dealing with difficult patients. You may find it helpful to provide training sessions that use role-playing to review the right and wrong ways to respond to various situations.

It may also be useful to provide external resources, such as third-party training courses or coaching. Most importantly, foster a workplace environment in which your staff feels comfortable discussing issues and seeking your counsel.

Get More Leadership Strategies for Your Chiropractic Practice

If you’re dealing with difficult patients or other stressful challenges, receiving some extra support and guidance can make a world of difference. At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we work with chiropractors in all career stages who want to grow their practices and thrive both personally and professionally. Contact AMC today to learn more.

The post How to Deal with Difficult Patients: 5 Ideas appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

5 Advantages of Social Media Marketing for Multi-Location Chiropractors

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 12:58:37 +0000

We’re all familiar with the incredible power of social media to rapidly spread information and shape public opinion. As a business owner, you’re probably aware that social media marketing offers a number of considerable advantages over traditional advertising.

On social media, your ads can rapidly reach a large number of viewers. More importantly, your social media content can be targeted toward those who are most likely to need your services.

If you’re a chiropractor who works in multiple locations, the advantages of social media marketing are even more significant. By reaching multiple target markets from a single account, social media marketing connects your practice with a broader audience while lowering your per-patient acquisition costs.

Here are five advantages of social media marketing for multi-location chiropractic practices.

1. Increased Brand Awareness in Each Location’s Local Market

Brand awareness refers to how aware a target audience is of a company’s name, identity, and services. The more aware a customer is of a brand, the more likely they are to trust and patronize that business. Once established, brand awareness results in lower patient acquisition costs, i.e. more new patients with less marketing efforts.

Social media marketing offers powerful opportunities to boost brand awareness.

On platforms like Facebook and Instagram, you can craft engaging posts that showcase your expertise and services. It’s easier than it looks!

With a bit of practice, your content will exhibit excellent quality but won’t require excessive time or resources to produce.

By distributing appealing content through targeted ads and frequent posting, you can place your practice in the public eye. The better your content, the more free distribution you’ll enjoy, boosting brand awareness throughout each of your local markets.

2. Efficiently Marketing and Advertising Your Practice With One Account

Traditional marketing is geographically restricted since approaches like billboards or mailers can only reach consumers in specific locations. For multi-location chiropractors, digital marketing is more dynamic. One social media account can serve all of your locations, thus improving both the scope and efficiency of your advertising.

Using features like geotagging and localized content, you can engage directly with multiple markets without requiring separate accounts. You can also easily tweak your content for each location in order to personalize your messaging and capitalize on local events and relationships.

3. Compete More Aggressively in Each Local Market

Social media marketing helps your practice compete more aggressively in each of your local markets.

If you aren’t using social media tools, you’re missing out on patients who will travel past your practice to reach a chiropractor who made the effort to connect with them.

Once you begin marketing via social media, you can embrace the detailed analytics features that popular platforms provide for advertisers. These tools make it possible to track the success of your marketing campaigns and make the necessary adjustments to outperform your competitors.

4. Establish Your Credibility with Potential Patients

Social media marketing offers unique opportunities to build credibility and demonstrate expertise. Rather than simply promoting your business, you can share content such as real patient testimonials and treatment demonstrations that establish trust with your audience.

You can also provide valuable educational content that showcases your talents without being “salesy.” This more genuine approach to marketing is easy with social media formats, which provide you with total creative control. Without the restrictions of traditional media, you can connect with your audience as often as you choose to in whatever format best suits your content.

5. Interact with Local Potential Patients and Gain Valuable Insights

Unlike traditional advertising, social media marketing is interactive. Business owners can receive and respond to comments and messages directly through their accounts. This is a great way to attract potential patients who take an interest in your services but aren’t ready to commit until their questions are answered. These interactions also provide insights into who your potential patients are and what qualities they’re seeking in a chiropractor.

These days, consumers of all types of services—including healthcare—prefer patronizing businesses that provide a friendly online presence. In particular, younger patients are accustomed to experiencing some amount of digital interaction with a business before visiting in person. Therefore, social media marketing provides the opportunity to connect with potential patients who are practically unreachable via traditional advertising.

Social Media Marketing for Chiropractors: Putting It Into Practice

Creating an effective social media marketing strategy for a multi-location chiropractor practice necessitates a comprehensive understanding of your brand, audience, and the unique opportunities presented by different social platforms.

Before initiating any marketing campaign, it’s crucial to know your audience. For a chiropractic practice, your target demographics might include athletes, office workers, seniors, and individuals with chronic pain or injuries.

You can use audience analytics tools on social media platforms to better understand the demographic and interests of your audience, and then tailor your content and messaging to resonate with them. For example, if you’re noticing increased traffic from people who work in industries closely associated with office work, you may want to create posts about how to relieve lower back pain when sitting for long periods of time.

Consider the type of content that will both provide value to your audience and showcase your expertise. Educational content, such as tips for maintaining spinal health or explanations of different treatments, can be beneficial. Keep these messages focused on the types of audiences that are engaging with your brand on social so that you can provide real value that they’re looking for, and might inspire them to seek out your services.

Positive reviews can boost your practice’s reputation. Encourage satisfied patients to rate and review your services on your Facebook page and Google My Business. Responding to both positive and negative reviews shows that you care about patient feedback. You can also quote these reviews and use them for posts on other platforms that do not have review features like Instagram.

When creating posts, be sure to take advantage of their localization features. Keep your business address and phone number updated, use geotags for locations in your local market when you’re sharing content, and in the text for your posts, mention cities that specific locations operate in so that you can more closely associate your online brand with these places in the virtual eyes of content algorithms.

Many of these features can also be translated into paid campaigns on these platforms. When creating an ad to distribute on social, make sure it points to a landing page on your website with content that reflects the information in your ad copy with a contact form so audiences can request appointments, subscribe to your newsletter, or any other key performance action (KPI) you want to achieve through your investment.

Lastly, make sure you’re continuously adjusting your strategy based on performance. Identify which types of posts get the most engagement, what ads are generating the most KPIs from users, and any other key metric that you care most about. From there, you can adapt and continuously improve the way you serve your followers and audience members.

Get More Insights for Growing Your Practice

If you’re working on growing your practice, Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors can help. Our tailored, multi-faceted coaching has helped thousands of chiropractors achieve their most ambitious dreams. Contact AMC today to learn more.

The post 5 Advantages of Social Media Marketing for Multi-Location Chiropractors appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to Create a Successful Chiropractic Business Plan

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 15:05:47 +0000

A business plan serves as a roadmap that directs the journey of a chiropractic practice from start-up to successful establishment. It outlines the goals of the business and strategies to achieve them while also providing a clear picture of the business’ financial needs and potential profitability.

The necessity of a comprehensive business plan for a chiropractic business cannot be overstated. It helps entrepreneurs strategize, plan, and manage their business effectively through each stage of growth. Beyond that, it gives a well-structured analysis of the business’ feasibility, aiding potential investors and lenders in making informed decisions.

If you’re looking to start your own practice or you want to restructure the way that you have been operating your business, creating a business plan is an essential first step. Today, we’ll cover the essentials of what you’ll need to include as well as some key considerations you should keep in mind.

Section 1: Determining the Business Structure and Operations

The first section of your chiropractic business plan must clearly outline the structure and operations of the business. This includes deciding whether the practice will be a sole proprietorship, a partnership, or a corporation. Each structure comes with its own benefits and drawbacks in terms of legal implications, costs, and ease of setup.

The operations part of the business plan describes how the chiropractic practice will be run. It includes details about the location of the business, hours of operation, and the services provided. It’s crucial to clearly lay out the operational workflow, from patient booking to appointment scheduling and follow-ups.

Additionally, the plan should detail the human resource needs of the business. The number of staff, their roles, qualifications, and recruitment strategies should be clearly defined. As you grow, you will likely need to hire at least one person to assist you, such as an administrative assistant. Preparing for how you will onboard and manage their responsibilities will allow for a more streamlined process.

Section 2: Market Analysis and Strategy

Market analysis is an integral part of a chiropractic business plan. It involves researching and identifying the target market for the business, their needs, and how the services provided can meet those needs. This process will reveal key demographic information, the size of the market, and the level of competition within the local geographic area.

The strategy section involves outlining the methods to be used to attract and retain patients. The marketing strategy should be in line with the findings of the market analysis. It might include methods such as direct marketing, online marketing, or community outreach.

You cannot create an effective business plan without also detailing a thorough competitive survey. This involves identifying the unique selling proposition of your practice that sets it apart from others that may be targeting the same potential patients. The competitive strategy might involve offering unique services, leveraging advanced chiropractic techniques, or providing a superior patient experience.

Section 3: Financial Projections

While you may start your practice to provide a superior level of care to your patients, you probably also want the business to generate revenue. With projections in hand, you can estimate how much you can expect the practice to earn over time.

Financial projections provide an estimate of the income and expenses of the business over a specific period. These projections help to determine the viability of the business and the amount of capital required to start and operate it. If you are pitching investors or lenders, they will want to know these figures so that they can also determine how long it might take them to see returns from you.

The financial projection section should detail the sources of revenue, including income streams like:

Service charges
Product sales
Premium upsells
Unit leases, if you are purchasing property

Beyond sources of revenue, it should also detail major expenses like:

Rent or mortgage payments
Salaries and hourly wages
Equipment purchasing and maintenance costs
Marketing expenses
Local taxes
Average utility payments
Office supplies

Additionally, the financial projections should include a break-even analysis. This shows the point at which the business’ revenues equal its expenses, indicating the minimum performance required for the business to avoid losses. The break-even analysis helps entrepreneurs and potential investors to understand the risk and potential of the business.

Section 4: Risk Analysis and Mitigation Strategies

Every business faces a variety of risks that can disrupt its operations and threaten its survival. These risks can be internal, such as employee turnover or equipment breakdown, or external, like regulatory changes, market shifts, or customer lawsuits. A thorough risk analysis identifies these threats and assesses their potential impact on the business.

Risk mitigation strategies are plans developed to manage or avoid these risks. These strategies may involve diversifying income sources, investing in staff training, setting aside a portion of monthly revenue for potential legal expenses, or ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements. These plans aim to minimize the damage caused by any risks that do materialize, ensuring the chiropractic practice’s resilience and continuity.

The business plan should also outline contingency plans for your practice. These are plans designed to manage unexpected situations that may disrupt normal operations. They ensure that you can quickly resume standard practices after a disruption, minimizing downtime and losses.

An example of a contingency plan could include identifying a list of potential alternative nearby office locations in the event you are unable to renew a lease at a unit you are currently renting. If a landlord decides to lease your space to someone else at the end of your agreement, or if they raise the rates beyond what you can afford, having other options available in advance can help you pivot quickly and enable you to relocate more quickly and efficiently if the need arises.

Section 5: Legal and Ethical Compliance

In the business plan, a section should be dedicated to outlining how the practice will remain compliant with these laws and regulations. This might involve strategies such as routine compliance audits, ongoing staff training, and engaging legal experts for advice. Adhering to the law is not only necessary for avoiding penalties and lawsuits but also for building trust with patients.

Equally important is the commitment to ethical practice. The business plan should detail the practice’s code of ethics, which outlines the moral principles guiding its operations. The code of ethics might address issues like honesty, patient confidentiality, and professional conduct. Upholding ethical standards is essential for maintaining a good reputation and patient trust.

Section 6: Measuring Success

So once you have launched your new practice and you start receiving new patients, how do you know that you’re actually working toward hitting the financial benchmarks in your business plan?

Defining what success looks like for your practice is crucial for tracking progress and making informed decisions. The success metrics might include financial performance, patient satisfaction levels, market share, or compliance rates.

The business plan should outline the methods and tools that will be used to track these metrics. This could include financial analysis tools, customer surveys, or performance dashboards. Regularly measuring and analyzing performance enables the business to identify areas of improvement, celebrate successes, and make the appropriate adjustments.

Section 7: Sustainability and Growth Plans

Finally, a successful chiropractic business plan should outline sustainability and growth plans. Once you’ve hit a point of success, such as turning a profit, how do you plan to maintain that momentum?

Sustainability involves maintaining the operations and profitability of the business in the long term. It might involve strategies for staff retention, patient loyalty programs, and continuous service improvement.

Growth plans, on the other hand, outline how the business intends to expand over time. This could involve opening new locations, diversifying services, or investing in advanced chiropractic equipment. Growth plans show the ambition of the business and its readiness to seize new opportunities.

Get Help Building Your Own Chiropractic Business Plan with AMC

Fully committed to helping chiropractors run the practices of their dreams, our team at Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors provides in-depth business coaching for entrepreneurs like you. If you are looking to take the leap into operating your own practice, and you want to build an effective business plan to do so, schedule a discovery session today.

The post How to Create a Successful Chiropractic Business Plan appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E17: Humble Confidence

Ryan Miller — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 10:56:52 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Zach Wilson as they discuss one of the major influences in Dr. Owen’s life and how it contributed to a system that continues to serve chiropractors generations later.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E17: Humble Confidence appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E16: Recharging Your Battery

Ryan Miller — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 11:53:36 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Bill Kriva as they discuss how we can use our time properly to reach the next level.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

The post S2E16: Recharging Your Battery appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E15: “We’re the best because…”

Ryan Miller — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 11:26:32 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Greg Miller as they discuss the origins of the “pain model” of practice and how Aligned has stood the test of time throughout all the different changes in the healthcare industry.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E15: “We’re the best because…” appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E14: Winning the Internal Battles

Ryan Miller — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 22:17:40 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they host Dr. JP Whittaker to discuss his personal journey and how it shaped the man he is today.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E14: Winning the Internal Battles appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

The Complete Guide to Calendar Management for Chiropractors

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 14:21:24 +0000

Maintaining Optimal Work-Life Balance

As chiropractors, navigating the intricacies of the profession while simultaneously juggling personal obligations is no small feat. Often, it feels as though you’re racing against the clock, frantically trying to provide top-quality care for your patients while also making time for your personal life.

Does it ever feel like your responsibilities have spun out of control, despite bandwidth not increasing significantly alongside? If so, this could present an opportunity to examine how your time is managed throughout the day and if there are any adjustments you can make to your calendar.

A well-managed calendar can serve as a compass, helping maintain the optimal work-life balance that we all crave. Let’s take a look at how recognizing calendar management as a vital aspect of our professional lives can pave the way for a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.

The Power of Effective Calendar Management

Calendar management is not simply about filling up time slots with appointments. It is a strategic process that, when done right, ensures smooth practice operations and consistent, high-quality patient care. It is a balancing act, with patient appointments on one end, administrative tasks on another, and personal obligations also in the mix.

A well-structured calendar can serve as a guide, helping you allocate time effectively, prevent overwork, and reduce stress. By planning your professional activities with precision, you can guarantee that you’re dedicating ample time to patient care without compromising your own well-being. This will eventually lead to a more sustainable work-life balance with time to enjoy what you love outside of the office.

Unraveling Your Calendar Management Challenges

Before diving into calendar management strategies, let’s first shed light on some common challenges chiropractors face. Issues like last-minute cancellations, no-shows, and overbooking or underbooking can disrupt your schedule and leave you frazzled. Beyond these, balancing professional commitments and personal life can be an uphill task for many.

Take a moment to reflect on your personal challenges. Remember, every chiropractor has unique struggles based on their specific practice and life outside of work. Identifying these challenges is the first step towards crafting a calendar management strategy that works for you.

Blueprint of a Well-Managed Calendar

The foundation of an effective calendar lies in setting clear priorities. You need to define your professional and personal activities and allocate time for each based on their importance. Next, your calendar should have enough flexibility to accommodate last-minute changes or emergencies. This can be done by setting aside buffer times.

Performing regular audits and reviews of your calendar will ensure it remains relevant and up-to-date. Consider using a digital calendar system like the free ones provided with Apple, Google, and Microsoft accounts. You can also merge multiple calendars together so that you can see each one and how they interact or compete against one another.

Mastering Calendar Management

Time Blocking

Time blocking is a useful strategy for managing your calendar. By assigning blocks of time to different activities such as patient appointments and administrative tasks, you can ensure that each task gets the attention it deserves.

With time blocks, your schedule also becomes far more scalable. You’ll know how long a specific task takes to complete and how much it will cost you to complete it. For example, if a patient arrives for a 45-minute appointment, you can factor in the costs of labor and equipment to determine how much it costs your practice out of pocket.

To keep your time blocking abilities scalable, determine how you want to organize them. For example, you could build each one in multiples of 15 minutes or 10 minutes. In this sense, an hour-long task would take four 15-minute blocks or six 10-minute ones.

Triage Scheduling

Next, adopting triage scheduling can be beneficial. This involves prioritizing patients based on the urgency of their needs. For last-minute cancellations and no-shows, having a waitlist can ensure that your time doesn’t go to waste.

Communicating Policies and Expectations

Setting clear policies and expectations about appointment times with patients can also help keep your schedule on track. When patients are able to understand the timing around an appointment and can honor it, doing so keeps your professional hours intact and uninterrupted.

Deciding When to Hire

If you find that your calendar is filling up quickly with demand for your services growing, it may be time to hire another chiropractor or an assistant to help you scale. When there’s more work than you can handle during business hours, are making a profit from each appointment, and have the capital to invest in chiropractic talent, you may decide that bringing on another professional to help you manage patient volume can be a wise decision to expand your operations.

Infusing Personal Life into Your Calendar

Remember, a calendar isn’t only for managing your professional life. Including personal activities, family time, and downtime is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Defining clear boundaries between work and personal life can prevent burnout and promote satisfaction in both arenas.

One way to help accomplish this goal is by setting time blocks not just for patient appointments, but also for administrative office hours. In turn, this time blocking strategy can also help you limit the time spent at work in a way that creates more free time to spend with your family and loved ones.

The Road to Work-Life Balance through Calendar Management

Staying motivated and committed to efficient calendar management may be challenging, but the rewards are well worth the effort. It is an attainable and rewarding goal, one that brings about harmony between your profession and personal life.

Your calendar is your ally in achieving the optimal work-life balance. Recognizing and harnessing its potential can lead to a healthier, happier, and more balanced life. And as you master calendar management, you’ll discover that it’s not about controlling time, but rather, making time work for you.
At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we provide chiropractors like you with the coaching and consulting services you need to operate the practice that you’ve always dreamed of owning. To learn more about how we can help, book a consultation today.

The post The Complete Guide to Calendar Management for Chiropractors appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E13: Now What? Apex

Ryan Miller — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 11:44:57 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry as he hosts Dr. Todd Osborne to talk about a program Aligned offers that is designed for the doctor who feels like they’ve “made it.”

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E13: Now What? Apex appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E12: Expectations

Ryan Miller — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 02:37:56 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry as he hosts Dr. Tara Horrall to discuss expectations and how, when properly used, they can change your practice.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E12: Expectations appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E11: How To Increase Retention (Part 2)

Ryan Miller — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 11:07:44 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Greg Miller as they conclude their discussion on retention and how it can double your practice!

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E11: How To Increase Retention (Part 2) appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E10: How To Increase Retention

Ryan Miller — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 23:44:49 +0000

Join Tom Owen as he hosts Dr. Greg Miller to discuss the important topic of retention and how it can change your practice.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E10: How To Increase Retention appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E9: Diversity in Chiropractic

Ryan Miller — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 01:21:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they host Dr. JP Whittaker for a special discussion on AMC’s Diversity Outreach Program.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E9: Diversity in Chiropractic appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to Know if Chiropractic is Working for Your Patients

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 18:59:35 +0000

Patients seek chiropractic care for pain relief, improved functionality, and overall wellness.

To keep patients informed and to keep treatment plans on track, chiropractors must continuously assess the progress that’s being made. However, because patients have different concerns, receive different treatments, and respond differently to care, the criteria for evaluating results is not always clear.

Patients need to know if their treatment is having an effect. While some benefits are obvious and immediate, it’s also important to keep patients tuned into the more gradual progress that’s being made, as they experience subtle but steady improvements in areas like daily pain, functionality, and energy levels.

Today, we’re reviewing the importance of progress assessment. In the sections below, we’ll discuss the tools, techniques, and principles of evaluating and communicating the progress achieved during chiropractic care.

Assessing Patient Progress: Quantitative Measures

Quantitative measures are important for tracking patients’ progress objectively. Quantitative measures also provide data that may be pooled for research purposes or to evaluate the success of particular interventions.

Useful quantitative measures for chiropractic include:

Scales and questionnaires for measuring pain and function, such as the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Numeric Rating Scale, and the Oswestry Low Back Pain Questionnaire
Range of motion and flexibility tests
Posture assessments
Functional activity tests

Quantitative assessments help practitioners and patients to compare progress against goals. Assessment results are also used to inform modifications to treatment plans.

Assessing Patient Progress: Qualitative Measures

Qualitative measures complement quantitative data in evaluating chiropractic treatment effectiveness. Qualitative information is less easy to track and compare, but it’s often more direct and revealing than qualitative data.

To gather qualitative data in useful formats, collect and save patient testimonials, feedback reports, and satisfaction surveys. Additionally, always record detailed SOAP notes and use practice management software to maintain diligent records.

The Importance of Communication and Patient Education

Chiropractors must be clear and compassionate communicators in order to build the trust required for hands-on treatment. Communication skills are also crucial for assessing progress.

A communication style that’s positive, clear, and respectful is used to educate patients on their conditions and treatment plans and to engage in two-way discussions regarding progress.

Patients should always be encouraged to express doubts and admit when they aren’t yet seeing the benefits that they hoped for. Patients sometimes want to make their doctors happy, resulting in an overstatement of progress. However, this tendency can result in changing or terminating a treatment plan at the wrong time.

The Role of Technology in Evaluating Chiropractic Treatment

New tools and software offer chiropractors the opportunity to monitor patient progress more closely. Emerging technologies for assisting with assessment include:

Chiropractic practice management software with patient progress tracking tools
Wearable devices and health-tracking apps
Telemedicine for remote checkups and monitoring

Integrating new technologies helps chiropractors gather more precise data for tracking progress and demonstrating the benefits of treatment.

Challenges in Assessing Chiropractic Outcomes

Quantitative and qualitative tools, expert communication skills, and useful new technologies all help considerably—but there’s no single method or simple approach to assessing patient outcomes.

Obstacles to straightforward assessment include:

The complexity of patient conditions and coexisting issues
Subjectivity in assessment techniques
The placebo effect and the nocebo effect

Always be aware of the factors that may obscure assessment clarity, and employ a variety of assessment approaches to overcome these challenges.

Establishing Continuous Improvement Strategies

Your ongoing growth as a practitioner includes continuously assessing the efficacy of your care and adjusting your approach accordingly.

To maintain high standards for your approach to assessment:

Include assessment activities at regular intervals for all patients
Keep up with industry trends regarding assessment measures
Collaborate with other healthcare professionals to participate in a holistic approach to patient progress assessments
Communicate thoughtfully and compassionately with patients to create a comfortable environment for discussing progress

Commitment to assessment helps your practice create success stories that are tracked from start to finish, helping patients to understand and appreciate their progress.

Learn More Strategies for Optimizing Your Chiropractic Practice Today

At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we’re here to enrich the professional, personal, and financial life of each chiropractor we work with. Our coaching brings transformative results to chiropractors in all career stages.
To learn more, contact AMC today to schedule a consultation with one of our chiropractic industry experts.

The post How to Know if Chiropractic is Working for Your Patients appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Patient Retention Strategies Chiropractors Should Consider

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 18:53:55 +0000

Attracting new patients vs. retaining existing patients—which is more important? Well, there’s a time for focusing on both.

For example, in a brand-new office, the entire focus is on bringing in new patients. Meanwhile, a well-established practice may be able to focus mainly on retention, allowing referrals to take care of the rest.

In general, it’s easier and more cost-efficient to retain existing patients than to attract a new one.

After all, in the place of expensive marketing efforts, the major aspect of retention is simply providing excellent care—and you already do that. However, you shouldn’t assume that great care alone will keep patients coming back for more.

To improve your retention rates, it’s important to go the extra mile to improve the overall patient experience, communicate effectively, and offer extra benefits that help your practice stand out.

In the following sections, we’ll review the best strategies for improving patient retention at your chiropractic office.

Provide an Exceptional Patient Care Experience

First and foremost, patient retention is a product of exceptional care. Along with high-quality diagnosis and treatment, great care involves continuously updating your knowledge and techniques to offer highly personalized and effective treatment plans.

In addition to the time spent in treatment rooms, the entire patient experience should be thoughtfully designed. A comfortable and welcoming environment includes a friendly staff and a pleasant waiting room. Each of the areas discussed in the sections below offers opportunities for improving the overall patient experience at your practice.

Implement Effective Communication Strategies

Your patients are busy people who are constantly shuffling their priorities. Without reminders, even an appreciative patient may allow chiropractic care to slip away from their scheduling routine.

To effectively keep in touch with patients, leverage multiple communication channels, including phone, text, and email. Don’t overdo it, but provide plenty of timely updates and appointment reminders and stay consistent in your messaging while encouraging patients to maintain their commitment to treatment.

Foster Patient Relationships Through Active Engagement

To build a stronger sense of commitment among your patients, take extra steps that help them feel valued. You may choose to implement a patient loyalty program that offers discounted pricing for long-term patients. Or, you can hold special events such as workshops that bring patients together and foster a sense of community.

Create an Educational Content Hub

To provide even more opportunities to improve retention rates via patient engagement, create an educational content hub. This may consist of a blog, a video series, or webinars with special guests and Q&A sessions. You can post content on your website and send email updates to subscribers.

Educational content serves several purposes. Your articles or videos provide useful information to patients while also positioning yourself as an industry expert. Additionally, your content can be used to highlight patient success stories and testimonials, helping to inspire loyalty among your existing patients.

You can also use your content to offer extra value to existing patients. For example, you may offer paid content that’s free for your patients. Or, you can run promotions such as including coupon codes in your videos or offering raffle links in your articles.

Streamline Appointment Scheduling and Follow-ups

If you want patients to keep booking appointments, make sure it’s easy for them to do so. In addition to setting as many follow-ups as possible before patients step out of the office, provide a user-friendly online appointment booking platform. Additionally, use an automated reminder system to make sure that patients have easy access to their appointment info.

Meanwhile, you may choose to implement a structured follow-up system for tracking patient progress. This may include structured interviews to check on progress after a certain number of appointments, or providing educational info or offers at scheduled time intervals.

Address Patients’ Financial Concerns

For many patients, cost is the biggest deterrent to keeping up with care.

Take the following steps to address cost concerns:

Offer transparent pricing and payment options
Establish payment plans or appointment packages for long-term treatment
Offer occasional promotions or discounts to incentivize return visits

When discussing financial concerns with patients, always aim for a respectful, compassionate, and solutions-oriented approach.

Solicit Patient Feedback and Respond to Concerns

You want to be responsive to patient concerns, but do you have a system in place for collecting feedback?

You can solicit feedback with structured questions after appointments or through a portal on your website. Always communicate to patients that their concerns have been heard and be willing to adjust your practices based on the feedback you receive.

Get More Insights for Retaining Your Patients and Growing Your Practice

At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we serve ambitious chiropractors with expert coaching and guidance. Contact AMC today to schedule your no-pressure consultation.

The post Patient Retention Strategies Chiropractors Should Consider appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E8: Courage

Ryan Miller — Sun, 04 Jun 2023 23:31:24 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry and Dr. Tara Horrall as they discuss this month’s focal topic.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E8: Courage appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E7: Accentuate the Positive Part 2

Ryan Miller — Mon, 29 May 2023 00:03:58 +0000

As we remember the heroes who gave their lives for our freedom, we wish you a blessed Memorial Day weekend with your loved ones! Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry for the remainder of “Accentuate the Positive.”

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E7: Accentuate the Positive Part 2 appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E6: Accentuate the Positive

Ryan Miller — Sun, 21 May 2023 22:19:32 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they share an inspiring message for our negative times.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E6: Accentuate the Positive appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E5: The Need Behind the Need

Ryan Miller — Mon, 15 May 2023 02:06:27 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry and Dr. Greg Miller as they share their personal stories that will inspire you to seek a deeper connection with your patients.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E5: The Need Behind the Need appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

The Complete Guide to Chiropractor SEO

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Wed, 10 May 2023 18:56:45 +0000

As the digital age continues its constant evolution, so does the importance of having a robust online presence for businesses across various industries. In the competitive world of chiropractic care, it has become more vital than ever to set yourself apart and showcase your expertise. That’s where SEO enters the equation.

This comprehensive guide dives deep into the realm of chiropractor SEO, revealing how to leverage its power to enhance your practice’s online visibility, draw in new patients, and achieve growth. Before we get into greater detail, let’s start with some basic information about SEO.

Understanding SEO Basics

Search engine optimization, or SEO, is a process aimed at increasing your website’s visibility within search engine results pages (SERPs) to generate organic (non-paid) traffic. In essence, SEO encompasses a set of best practices designed to optimize your website’s performance, user experience, and content relevancy. This optimization makes it easier for search engines like Google to understand, index, and rank your site.

Search engines perform three primary tasks: crawling, indexing, and ranking. Crawling is the process of scanning the internet to discover new content. Indexing involves organizing and storing the crawled content within an extensive database. Finally, ranking determines the order in which websites appear on SERPs based on factors such as relevancy and authority.

SEO campaigns can be completed by an in-house marketing professional or outsourced to an agency that has experience in these tactics. Due to the ever-changing nature of search engines and their algorithms, many chiropractors prefer to entrust SEO to an external provider, but having a foundation in the fundamentals of SEO can help you best understand what is happening and where your website’s greatest needs are.

Is SEO the Same as SEM?

If you’re looking to increase SEO performance for your practice’s website, you might also come across the term search engine marketing, or SEM. Also called paid search, SEM is the process of running paid advertisements on search engines.

Unlike SEO, which focuses entirely on organic traffic, SEM requires an advertising budget, and the cost can vary based on keywords and how aggressively your competitors are bidding for them. If you are working with a limited marketing budget, you may prefer SEO as it does not incur these additional costs.

Keyword Research for Chiropractors

Keyword research is the process of identifying relevant words and phrases that potential patients use when searching for chiropractic services online. The goal is to optimize your website with these keywords, helping search engines understand your content and rank it higher in search results. By targeting the right keywords, you can increase your website’s visibility and attract more prospective patients.

To conduct keyword research, brainstorm words and phrases related to your chiropractic services, conditions, and locations. Use keyword research tools to refine your list, considering search volume, competition, and keyword difficulty. Focus on highly relevant keywords with moderate-to-low competition and include long-tail keywords. Incorporate these keywords into your website content, titles, meta descriptions, and header tags to enhance your SEO performance.

Researching Competitors

Understanding your competition is essential for crafting an effective chiropractor SEO strategy. Competitor research allows you to identify gaps in your own strategy, discover new opportunities, and stay ahead in the landscape of chiropractic care.

Start by making a list of chiropractic practices in your area that target similar audiences and offer comparable services. Consider both direct competitors (other chiropractors) and indirect competitors (healthcare providers that offer alternative treatments).

Diving deeper, examine your competitors’ websites and blogs, focusing on content quality, topics, structure, and frequency of publication. Identify content gaps and opportunities where you can provide superior information or address unmet needs.

Finally, browse your competitors’ websites to gauge their overall user experience, design, and navigation. Note areas where you can improve your own website to offer a better experience for potential patients.

On-Page SEO for Chiropractor Websites

Optimizing Website Content

Improving your website’s on-page SEO requires careful attention to various elements:

Titles: Devise unique, keyword-rich titles for each page on your site.
Meta descriptions: Compose engaging, keyword-optimized meta descriptions that accurately represent your page’s content.
Header tags: Utilize header tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) to structure your content and integrate relevant keywords.

As you’re analyzing your content, consider updating pages on your site with keywords, relevant internal links, and other tactics that improve searchability, site navigation, and the user experience. By integrating focus keywords into the on-page elements of your site, you are signaling to search engines how you want them to view and index your pages.

Crafting High-Quality Content

Creating valuable and informative content is critical for engaging your audience and demonstrating your chiropractic expertise. Here are some content types to consider for your chiropractic website:

Blog posts: Regularly publish blog articles that address common patient concerns, explain chiropractic treatments, or offer wellness tips. This not only showcases your knowledge but also helps establish your practice, name, and brand as authorities in your field.

Service pages: Provide detailed descriptions of your chiropractic services, outlining the benefits and techniques used. This helps potential patients understand the value of your offerings and how they can address their needs.

Testimonials: Share patient success stories and testimonials to build trust with prospective patients. Authentic, positive reviews from satisfied patients can be a powerful marketing tool.

FAQs: Compile a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and provide clear, concise answers. This can save time for both your staff and prospective patients while simultaneously addressing common concerns and inquiries.

The content that you publish to your website represents an incredible opportunity to showcase your practice’s authority as an expert in the chiropractic field. Create articles centered around patient education and answering common questions that other sources online may want to link back to as a reference or share to their followers on social.

Off-Page SEO for Chiropractors

Guest Posting and Collaboration

One way to acquire valuable backlinks is through guest posting on reputable industry blogs or websites. Reach out to other healthcare professionals, chiropractic associations, or wellness bloggers to propose collaborations or guest posts. This can not only result in backlinks but also expand your audience and strengthen your professional network.

Business Citations and Local SEO

Optimizing your practice for local search is essential, as most patients search for chiropractors within their area. Here’s how you can boost your local SEO:

Google Business Profile: Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile listing, ensuring that your practice’s name, address, phone number, and other pertinent information are accurate and up-to-date.

Bing Places and Yelp: In addition to Google Business Profile, claim and optimize your listings on Bing Places, Yelp, and other relevant platforms.

Online chiropractic directories: Submit your practice to reputable online chiropractic directories, such as in-network insurance listings which can enhance your online presence, gain quality organic traffic, and generate valuable backlinks.

Online Reputation Management

Encourage patients to leave reviews of your practice on platforms like Google, Yelp, and Facebook. Positive reviews can improve your practice’s online reputation and increase the likelihood of attracting new patients. Additionally, address any negative feedback professionally and promptly, demonstrating your commitment to patient satisfaction.

Technical SEO for Chiropractor Websites

Optimizing your website’s technical aspects is crucial for both user experience and search engine performance. Here are some key technical SEO elements to consider:

XML sitemaps: Create and submit an XML sitemap to Google Search Console to help search engines crawl and index your website more efficiently.

URL structure: Use clear, descriptive, and keyword-rich URLs for better search engine understanding and user experience.

Canonical tags: Implement canonical tags to inform search engines of your preferred version of a page and prevent duplicate content issues.

SSL certificates and HTTPS: Secure your website with an SSL certificate and use HTTPS to ensure data privacy and improve user trust.

Optimize images: Avoid uploading massive image and video files to your website, as they require more bandwidth to load, which can slow down your site speed.

Some of these elements can be highly specialized and may prove difficult to perform on your own. If this is the case, consider outsourcing them to a marketing company or a web developer to save you the time and effort.

Measuring and Analyzing SEO Performance

Regularly monitoring your SEO Performance is crucial for understanding the effectiveness of your efforts and identifying areas for improvement.

Establish a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) to track your SEO progress. Some essential KPIs for chiropractors include organic traffic, keyword rankings, conversions, and new patient inquiries. By monitoring these KPIs, you can determine whether your SEO strategy is driving the desired results.

Google Analytics is another powerful tool that provides valuable insights into your website’s traffic, user behavior, and conversions. By analyzing this data, you can identify trends, understand your audience, and make data-driven decisions to improve your SEO strategy, such as selecting content topics to focus on that best align with user behavior on your website.

Google Search Console also offers vital information about your website’s performance in Google search results. It can help you identify technical issues, monitor backlinks, and analyze your site’s visibility for specific keywords. Regularly reviewing your Google Search Console data can help you optimize your website for better search performance.

Ultimately, remember that SEO is an ongoing process that requires constant monitoring and adjustments. Stay informed about the latest SEO trends, algorithm updates, and best practices. As you analyze your data, be prepared to make changes to your strategy to address any weaknesses or capitalize on new opportunities.

Get More Insights to Grow Your Practice with AMC

At AMC, we’re a team of consultants and coaches passionate about assisting chiropractors in growing their businesses into the practices they have always dreamed of owning and operating. Our team can assist you in strategizing the best opportunities for you to engage your patients, identify growth opportunities, streamline your operations, and simply love your profession even more than you already do.
To learn more about other ways we can assist you in achieving your dream chiropractic practice, schedule a discovery session today.

The post The Complete Guide to Chiropractor SEO appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to Find the Perfect Medical Office for Rent

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Wed, 10 May 2023 18:52:48 +0000

As a chiropractor, you require a specific type of medical office that offers sufficient space, maneuverability, and amenities for accommodating your practice.

Your office space is your professional home, where you’ll spend countless hours. Therefore, selecting an office is one of the most important choices you’ll make as a practice owner.

If you’re searching for a new physical location for your chiropractic practice, take the time to thoroughly research your options and hold out until you find a great fit.

In the following sections, we’ll discuss the essential aspects of finding and renting a medical office that caters to your requirements. We’ll review helpful tips for navigating each phase of the process, including:

Determining your needs
Setting a budget
Researching available options
Evaluating the office space
Negotiating the lease agreement
Finalizing the agreement

By following the steps outlined below, you’ll find an office space that fits your needs and budget and supports the growth of your chiropractic practice.

Determine Your Needs

Consider these factors while you determine your requirements for a physical space:

Number and size of treatment rooms (you need a minimum of 1,000 square feet of working space)
Amenity needs, such as electrical supply and outlet requirements
Size of the waiting area and office space
Location and transportation accessibility (safe and convenient routes and entries from local roads)
Number and quality of parking spots
Mobility accessibility (handicap entrances, safe walkways, etc.)

Furthermore, decide whether or not you’re shopping for a space that accommodates your present needs only, or if you want a space that offers room for growth. Moving into a new space may create an opportunity for shared-space partnerships with other chiropractors or even with other business owners.

As you decide on your needs, write them down. Having your priorities written down will help you stay objective and focused when visiting potential rental locations.

Set a Budget

Before beginning your search for an office, decide on a budget. To figure out what you can afford, consider your projected revenue vs expenses and consider what amount of debt you’re willing to carry on a short-term or long-term basis.

Research Available Options

When you’re ready to search for a medical office for rent, browse your region’s online directories and real estate listings. You may choose to work with a broker who specializes in commercial listings or medical practice transactions. You can also contact local real estate offices to request lists of available office space rentals.

When you find a space that you’re interested in, schedule a visit through the landlord’s real estate agent.

Evaluate the Office Space

When you visit a rental location, evaluate it against the list of priorities that you previously compiled. Try to remain objective and unemotional, resisting the urge to quickly say “yes” or “no” to a space.

Ask plenty of questions and check on the condition of essential features like flooring, HVAC systems, and electrical systems. Consider whether or not any repairs or renovations are required and whether or not you would be responsible for the costs.

Negotiate the Lease Agreement

In your lease negotiation, be sure to note any issues with the space that don’t match the advertised description. For example, measure the square footage to confirm that the listed amount is accurate. Unusable square footage should not be counted toward the total.

Next, review the lease agreement carefully. Consider the price, terms, length, and conditions to be negotiable. The landlord will likely be willing to adjust the price or terms to meet you halfway.

Additionally, make sure that the lease includes agreeable renewal terms. Negotiating renewal terms helps you know what to expect when the lease term ends, protecting you from unreasonable changes to the agreement or from the sudden loss of your space.

If you have uncertainty about any aspect of the process, hire a lawyer to review the lease agreement before you sign.

Finalize the Agreement

Finalizing your rental agreement involves signing the lease, making the necessary payments, and obtaining the keys. Allow time for this process to move more slowly than expected since there are always lots of last-minute details to take care of.

Get Your New Chiropractic Venture Off on the Right Foot

Are you preparing to take the next step in your chiropractic career? Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors can help you move forward confidently.
At AMC, we help chiropractors achieve the practices they’ve always dreamed of. To learn more, contact AMC today.

The post How to Find the Perfect Medical Office for Rent appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E4: Who’s been watching you?

Ryan Miller — Sun, 07 May 2023 22:00:00 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry and Dr. Greg Miller as they reveal an exciting new program coming to AMC.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E4: Who’s been watching you? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E3 – Faith Over Fear

Ryan Miller — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 22:00:00 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry and Dr. Zach Wilson as they discuss this month’s AMC focal point, faith.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E3 – Faith Over Fear appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

10 Business Tools for Chiropractors to Try in 2023

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 15:50:58 +0000

When the business side of your chiropractic practice is running smoothly, you have more time to focus on what you do best—providing amazing patient care. However, if you find business administration responsibilities to be the most challenging aspects of your job, you’re not alone. Thriving as a care provider and a small business owner simultaneously isn’t easy.

Fortunately, there are a number of helpful tools that help chiropractors grow their practices, streamline operations, and enhance the patient experience. If you’ve yet to fully embrace technology at your chiropractic practice, then there are a number of meaningful upgrades you can make to transform the way you do business.

Here are 10 of the best business tools that every chiropractor should consider implementing in 2023.

1: Practice Management Software

Practice management software is a digital healthcare solution that organizes an office’s major systems into a central location. Practice management software helps chiropractors manage patient records, appointments, billing, and insurance claims. It can also be used for scheduling, reminders, and administrative task automation.

The primary benefit that practice management software provides is the ability to streamline many low-level tasks that can bog down any busy chiropractor or administrative staff. In turn, this maximizes the value of your time spent at your office and frees up more hours to see patients rather than filing paperwork.

2: Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software

Electronic health records (EHR) software compiles digital versions of patient charts. EHR software helps chiropractors keep track of diagnoses, treatment plans, and progress notes. Information is stored and accessed easily, providing a more reliable and practical alternative to paper filing.

Beyond convenience, EHR provides two other notable benefits to chiropractors: security and compliance. Many EHRs are managed digitally by their developers, where all aspects of security and compliance are painstakingly assured.

3: Online Appointment Scheduling Software

Manual appointment scheduling is time-consuming and prone to human error. Manual appointment scheduling is also restricted by the need to have a staff member on-hand at the exact moment when a patient is attempting to make an appointment.

With online appointment scheduling, it’s easier for patients to make chiropractic appointments when and how they want to. Online scheduling is especially desirable for younger patients who are used to doing everything online.

Patients who prefer to schedule appointments by phone can continue to do so, but offering an online scheduling option makes your practice a more appealing option to a wider patient population.

4: Payment Processing Tools

The easier it is for patients to submit payments, the better. Payment processing tools that enable fast and secure payments include online payment platforms, mobile payment options, and contactless credit card readers.

5: Marketing and Social Media Tools

Marketing isn’t every chiropractor’s favorite activity, but it’s necessary. Fortunately, modern digital marketing methods make it easier to effectively target your marketing toward a receptive audience. Effective use of digital marketing leads to stronger results that require less effort to achieve.

Marketing and social media tools that chiropractors use for advertising and outreach include email marketing, social media campaigns, and website search engine optimization (SEO).

6: Telehealth Software

Telehealth software enables healthcare providers to offer remote consultations and treatment sessions through video conferencing.

While the hands-on nature of chiropractic care limits the scope of telehealth treatment, there are still opportunities for embracing this emerging trend. Video calls may be appropriate for intake sessions, educational sessions, and for patients who can’t always physically visit your office due to mobility or geographical constraints.

7: Patient Engagement Software

To improve patient communication and retention, use patient engagement software. This type of software is used for sending automated appointment reminders, follow-up notes, and feedback requests. Patient engagement tools help chiropractors save time on manual communications while improving patient satisfaction and loyalty.

8: Inventory Management Software

Inventory management software helps chiropractors organize their products and equipment. Inventory management programs help you purchase and store supplies more effectively, cutting down on costs and ensuring that you’re always well-stocked with essential patient care materials.

9: Analytics and Reporting Tools

Analytics and reporting tools are used for tracking a practice’s performance and identifying areas for improvement. Growth-focused chiropractors use analytics and reporting to gain insights into patient volume and patient satisfaction, as well as financial metrics such as revenue and expenses.

10: Electronic Faxing Software

Faxing continues to play an important role in healthcare document transmission. However, fax machines are becoming increasingly outdated, thanks to electronic faxing.

Electronic faxing, or eFaxing, is digital, software-based, and paperless. Compared to traditional faxing, eFaxing offers superior security and convenience and reduces the use of paper and ink.

Get the Resources and Coaching You Need with AMC

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors provides business guidance and coaching for chiropractors in all career stages. Whether you are looking to improve your practice’s current operations, introduce new and innovative ideas, or think outside the box, we can help you achieve the practice you’ve always dreamed of running.

To learn more, contact AMC to book a no-pressure consultation with one of our chiropractic industry experts.

The post 10 Business Tools for Chiropractors to Try in 2023 appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E2 – The Winning Attitude

Ryan Miller — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 22:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they discuss a couple of examples of doctors that have a common approach to their success.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E2 – The Winning Attitude appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

S2E1: A Big Anniversary

Ryan Miller — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 22:18:27 +0000

Join us for a big milestone in Wake Up Aligned history as we celebrate a full year of episodes! We’ve heard great feedback from you and compiled some of your favorite moments from the last year to reflect on our past and begin a new year of inspiring content. If you are new to Wake Up Aligned and want the full episodes from today’s show, check out: Never Kid Yourself (Sep, 12 2022), Consistent Results (Dec 18, 2022), and Moving The Needle (January 15, 2023). Of course, we recommend starting at Episode 1 and catching up fully. Thanks for your continued support in year 2 and happy listening!

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post S2E1: A Big Anniversary appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Celebrating Success

Ryan Miller — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 10:20:50 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they discuss their favorite topic, your success!

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Celebrating Success appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Guide to Buying Chiropractic Tools and Equipment

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 19:56:29 +0000

High-quality chiropractic tools and equipment are crucial for providing effective chiropractic care.

Better tools and equipment enable more effective care and a more comfortable patient experience. However, chiropractors have a lot of options when shopping for equipment.

Choosing between new or used materials and picking between retailers and brands is tricky. You want the best products, but your budget has limits.

In this guide, we’ll offer insights and tips for making informed decisions about your chiropractic tools and equipment investments.

Considerations Before Buying Chiropractic Tools and Equipment

Before shopping for chiropractic tools and equipment, review your budget and set a maximum spending limit. Sticking to a budget might mean purchasing some items now and putting others on a wish list.

Along with price, consider the following factors while comparing products from different brands and vendors:

Return policy and warranty details
Maintenance costs
Customer reviews
Compatibility with your treatment techniques and preferences
Regulatory compliance and safety standards

Ideally, you’ll get many years of use out of each piece of equipment. Therefore, it’s worthwhile to thoroughly research each product and to pay a bit more for top quality.

Types of Chiropractic Tools and Equipment

It takes a lot of physical materials and software to run a chiropractic practice. Chiropractic tools and equipment typically include:

Tables and chairs for treatment rooms
Major medical equipment, such as an X-ray machine
Therapy tools, such as ultrasound machines or electrical stimulation devices
Rehabilitation tools, such as exercise equipment and traction devices
Miscellaneous equipment, such as chiropractic pillows and topical analgesics
Office equipment, such as computers, software, and waiting room furniture

Opening up a new practice involves a major investment in materials. If you’re acquiring items to get a new practice up and running, you may be able to negotiate a discounted bulk purchase from a retailer or a previous practice owner.

How to Choose the Right Chiropractic Tools and Equipment

Some of the medical tools used in chiropractic are fairly complex or high-tech. Purchasing sophisticated tools involves extra research about features, functions, and use. Before opting for a complicated and expensive tool, consider your alternatives: can the same function be performed by a less expensive option or a tool that you already own?

If you purchase major medical equipment, carefully review the product specifications along with warranty information. Does the warranty transfer to new owners? When does its window end? Keep questions like these in mind and prepare to ask them to the seller, especially if purchasing secondhand.

Additionally, always check in with customer service before a major equipment investment. You can get your questions answered and confirm that the level of service is adequate for your needs, in case you need to contact the vendor again in the future for a return or technical support.

Where to Buy Chiropractic Tools and Equipment

You may choose to explore the following sources for chiropractic tools and equipment:

Medical product suppliers
Chiropractic product suppliers
Current or retiring practice owners in your network
Brick-and-mortar or online retailers
E-commerce platforms such as eBay

It’s always better if you can personally view and handle a product before purchasing it, but that’s not always possible. For online purchases, look up as many customer reviews as possible and be careful purchasing from vendors that don’t have established reputations.

Should You Buy Used Equipment?

Buying used equipment presents the opportunity for enormous savings. Often, a piece of equipment suffers minimal wear and tear even after years of use, offering terrific value for a new owner.

There are a number of retailers that buy and sell used equipment, such as chirotables.com. You’ll also find a large volume of used equipment listings on eBay and Craigslist.

Many chiropractors find everything they need on a Facebook group called Chiropractic Garage Sale, which has over 18,000 members and over 200 posts per month.

If you’re buying from a non-local vendor, you might not be able to see the items in person before committing to a purchase. Keep in mind that some forms of damage, such as worn-out table hinges, might not be apparent in photos or could occur during shipping if you order something from a long distance away.

Used goods transactions involve some uncertainty, and you should always be alert against scams. Used goods also carry a greater risk of hidden damage or defects, and you may not have access to a warranty for repairs. However, if you shop carefully, you can find great deals on high-quality used chiropractic equipment.

Ultimately, whenever possible, shop for used equipment through reputable dealers that specialize in curating quality inventory for their customers. Doing so can help reduce uncertainty and you may have greater customer support resources if needed.

Get More Insights to Grow Your Practice from AMC

At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we help chiropractors in all career stages to define and achieve their professional goals. To learn more, contact AMC today to schedule a no-pressure consultation with one of our team members.

The post Guide to Buying Chiropractic Tools and Equipment appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Having The Right Attitude

Ryan Miller — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 11:04:58 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry as he hosts Dr. Todd Osborne to discuss one of the most important aspects of your mental focus.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Having The Right Attitude appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Creating the Proper Culture

Ryan Miller — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 12:04:12 +0000

Join Tom Owen as he hosts Dr. Greg Miller to discuss the importance of culture in your practice.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Creating the Proper Culture appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Budgeting for Marketing

Ryan Miller — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 22:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they continue their series on marketing.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Budgeting for Marketing appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

The Art of Marketing

Ryan Miller — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 22:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they discuss a commonly misunderstood topic.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post The Art of Marketing appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to Sell a Chiropractic Office

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 13:00:00 +0000

You worked hard to build your chiropractic practice, but now it’s time to make a change.

A chiropractor may sell their business as part of the transition to retirement or partial retirement.

Or, you might sell your current practice in order to relocate elsewhere. Sales also occur for a variety of business reasons, such as choosing to bring in a new owner who has more capital to sustain or build the business.

Selling your practice can lead to a wide range of financial outcomes, so it’s important to be strategic and thorough as you navigate the process.

Ready to sell, but not sure where to start? Here are the key steps to take in order to effectively approach and complete the sale of your chiropractic practice.

Examine Your Financials

Begin your preparation for a sale by examining your financial records. Preferably, you’ll perform this process with the help of a financial advisor or business coach. Assemble all of your business’s key financial data, such as current debts, payroll expenses, and tax details.

If possible, make a plan to pay off any outstanding debts before negotiating a sale. Alternatively, plan to allocate funds from the sale to quickly settle your debts after the transaction is final.

Valuate Your Practice

In order to market your practice and negotiate from an informed standing, you need to know the value of your practice. A business’s value is derived from the analysis of factors such as existing assets, projected revenues, and outstanding debts and liabilities.

To acquire an accurate valuation, work with an appraiser who specializes in commercial properties. You may also want to work with an accountant who can value the business, then separately work with an appraiser who values the physical premises of your office.

During the valuation process, pay attention to any structural issues that lower the value of your office building. Consider investing in repairs before pursuing a sale in order to make the practice more appealing to buyers.

Prepare Your Legal Documents

Along with your financial documents and your valuation paperwork, gather all of the legal documents that have been formed concerning your practice. These may include tax records, business licenses, lease agreements, and insurance policies.

Inform Your Staff of Your Intent to Sell

After making the decision to pursue a sale, inform your staff as soon as possible. They should hear the news directly from you.

Let your employees know that you plan on selling the practice but that you will take great care to find a qualified and compassionate new owner. Assure your staff that you’re considering their job security as much as possible. Be transparent about the sale timeline so that they can make whatever arrangements they see fit regarding their own professional futures.

Find the Right Buyer

When you’re ready to find a buyer, work with a real estate broker who has experience in medical practice transactions. Your realtor will use their skills and resources to connect you with as many high-quality candidates as possible.

Once you’ve connected with the right buyer, your realtor will help you negotiate a sale price and execute the sale transaction.

Train the New Owner

As part of your arrangement with the new owner, schedule a training period. This may involve several weeks of co-running the practice before or after the sale. Be sure to put the terms of this arrangement in writing.

Notify Your Patients

Once your sale is finalized, you’ll want to communicate the news to your patients. Let them know that the practice will be overseen by a new chiropractor and that they should expect the same great quality of care that they’re used to from the new owner.

If you plan on continuing to practice in a different location, then you may be able to notify your patients of when and where they can keep receiving treatment from you. If you plan on retaining patients, then the terms of any communications you send to existing patients should be worked out beforehand with the new owners of your prior practice.

Planning a Sale, Merger, or Acquisition? Get Expert Career Coaching from AMC

At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we equip chiropractors with tailored coaching and resources that promote success during any career stage. Whether you’re just getting started or rapidly approaching retirement, we provide personalized mentoring and exclusive ancillary resources that empower your professional and financial progress.

To learn more, contact AMC today to book a no-pressure, no-tactic consultation with our team of chiropractic industry experts.

The post How to Sell a Chiropractic Office appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Applying Persistence In Your Life

Ryan Miller — Sun, 05 Mar 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry for another motivational roundtable with Drs. Brubaker and Wilson.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Applying Persistence In Your Life appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Should You Become a Chiropractic Specialist or Generalist?

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 21:12:44 +0000

As a chiropractor, plotting your career path involves the choice to identify as a specialist or a generalist.
Specialization can potentially lead to higher pay and the ability to follow particular passions. Meanwhile, generalists are able to develop well-rounded skills. Generalists enjoy flexible career growth and are able to pursue expertise in a variety of areas.

So, which option is right for you? Let’s explore the pros and cons of becoming a specialist or generalist chiropractor.

The Pros and Cons of Specialization

Within the broader context of general healthcare, every chiropractor is at the very least a specialist in spine health and back pain. Some chiropractors choose to refine their practice by identifying with a more specific area of expertise.

Specialization may involve focusing on a certain type of patient (such as children or seniors), a certain type of ailment (such as neurological issues), or a certain ancillary discipline (such as nutrition).

Here are a few of the most common chiropractic specialties:

Sports chiropractic
Pediatric chiropractic
Rehab or occupational health chiropractic
Nutrition chiropractic
Chiropractic acupuncture
Chiropractic neurology
Soft tissue therapy

Zoning in on a specialty may involve extra training, nonstandard equipment, and a marketing approach that targets the desired patient group.
Here are the benefits and drawbacks of pursuing a specialty.

Advantages of Becoming a Chiropractic Specialist

As a specialist, you can focus your work and your continuing education on a chiropractic area that most interests you. Developing a unique area of expertise is personally fulfilling and may also bring professional prestige. If you develop a reputation as an expert in your area, this may open up opportunities such as teaching positions and public speaking engagements.

Specialists often demand higher pay, since their services are less common. Specialists can also build lucrative long-term relationships, such as a sports chiropractor whose practice becomes the go-to option for various local sports teams.

Downsides of Specialization

Specialization involves a major commitment and a degree of risk. Some specialties might suffer declining demand, based on shifting trends in healthcare, leaving specialists with less business than they hoped for.

Specialization may also require extra training and education, beyond what’s necessary for generalists. Depending on the specialty, you may also need to invest in expensive equipment that you wouldn’t need as a generalist.

The Pros and Cons of Generalism

A generalist chiropractor does not specialize in a certain area of chiropractic care. Nor do they focus their practice on treating a single specific patient group. Here are the pros and cons of identifying as a generalist.

Advantages of Being a Generalist Chiropractor

Generalists are well-rounded and positioned to market their services to broad groups of potential patients. A generalist can operate their practice flexibly, embracing new treatment ideas and healthcare trends as they come along.

A generalist can engage in specialized training and focus their practice in certain areas, but they aren’t limited to a single area of expertise.

Downsides of Generalism

Generalist chiropractors are often exposed to a great deal of regional competition. Without a specialty that equips them to market to certain patient groups, generalists may struggle to carve out satisfactory market shares.

Although this isn’t always the case, generalism is typically considered to have lower overall earning potential than specialization.

Specialist or Generalist, Which Role Is Best For You?

The choice to become a specialist or a generalist should be based on your unique strengths and preferences. If you’re considering pursuing a specialty, make sure that it’s a choice you’ll be comfortable with in the long term. Research the market demand for that specialty in your region.

You may choose to start your career as a generalist, developing well-rounded skills and testing out your aptitudes. In time, your path toward a certain specialty may become clear, based on the types of patients that you find yourself most enjoying working with.

Get More Insights for Your Chiropractic Career

At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we’re a team of coaches and trainers dedicated entirely to the chiropractic industry. Our approach is tailored to your career stage, professional goals, and unique strengths and challenges.

Over the past several decades, we’ve worked with over 10,000 practices. Last year, 65% of AMC members saw their practices grow by more than $100k.

To learn more, contact AMC today to schedule a no-pressure consultation with one of our team members.

The post Should You Become a Chiropractic Specialist or Generalist? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Persistence

Ryan Miller — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they discuss one of the most important qualities needed to succeed in chiropractic practice.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Persistence appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to Attract Quality New Patients for Chiropractors

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 15:06:15 +0000

Are you a chiropractor who needs to attract high-quality new patients to your practice?

Every patient visit is valuable, but chiropractors love working with patients who are:

In need of and interested in long-term treatment
Compliant with treatment recommendations
Punctual for visits and payments
Pleasant to work with
Eager to refer your practice to others

Great care encourages patients to develop these qualities, but the first step is getting them through the door for the first time.

Attracting new patients requires a variety of marketing approaches along with business practices that make your office a welcoming destination for first-time visitors. Here are a few strategies to employ at your practice to improve new patient recruitment.

Develop a Strong Online Presence

Your practice’s online presence starts with an attractive and user-friendly website, but shouldn’t end there.

A strong online presence may include:

Search engine optimization (SEO) for your website
Consistent updates and content creation, such as blog articles
Creating and sharing educational videos
An active social media presence
Listings on platforms like Yelp and Google Business Profile

First, make a comprehensive effort to improve your online presence. Then, develop a plan for consistently monitoring and updating your website and accounts.

Utilize Local SEO

A beautiful website is wasted if it isn’t seeing any traffic. That’s why SEO is a critical aspect of effective online marketing.

SEO involves the strategic presentation of content that helps your website rank highly on search engine results pages (SERPs). In particular, SEO can improve your SERP rankings for search queries that relate to your geographic region. For example, effective SEO will direct more searchers to your website after entering queries like “chiropractor in (your city)” or “chiropractor near me”.

An existing website’s SEO can often be significantly improved with just a few minor tweaks. Or, to maintain a strong and sustained search engine presence, you can commit to a long-term traffic-driving approach via blog articles and other content.

Some expertise is required to improve your website’s SEO. Fortunately, this work is easily outsourced to talented and affordable digital marketing agencies or consultants.

Offer Free Consultations

A free consultation is one of a chiropractor’s best tools for converting a prospect into a patient.

During a free consultation, a patient can come into the office and get familiar with your practice without making a financial commitment.

Free consultations create an opportunity for you to offer enticing evidence about the benefits of your care. For chiropractors who successfully convert free consultations into long-term patients, free consultations are great investments.

Run Promotions or Specials

Similar to free consultations, promotions, and price specials motivate cost-sensitive prospects to give your practice a try.

Some simple approaches to discounts and specials include:

Offering discounted prices for first visits
Offering discounted prices during certain time periods, such as holiday specials
Distributing coupons
Running contests or giveaways that new patients can enter to win free appointments

Like free consultations, discounts, and specials represent small investments with major potential payoffs. By offering minor short-term savings, your practice earns lucrative opportunities to win over patients who might otherwise look elsewhere.

Partner with Other Businesses

Many chiropractors find value in partnering with other local businesses in order to cross-promote and gain exposure to more potential patients. For example, your practice can partner with a local gym or spa to offer package deals that include discounted rates to both businesses.

You may also choose to network with other small business owners through referral groups such as Business Network International (BNI). These organizations connect you with other local entrepreneurs who are motivated to establish mutually-beneficial connections.

Be Strategic About Using Insurance

There are pros and cons to accepting insurance. Many chiropractors choose the cash-only route. Cash-only practices don’t have to deal with insurance companies that typically offer restricted coverage and aren’t generally supportive of preventive care or long-term treatment plans.

However, while accepting insurance can be very frustrating, it may broaden a practice’s appeal to a wider group of patients In certain marketplaces. Some consumers may not consider making health care appointments that aren’t at least partially covered by their insurance, but many will if value and results are what they are looking for. Thus, while accepting insurance may seem to offer a competitive edge over cash-only practices, it is imperative to weigh out the pros and cons of private pay vs. insurance participation.

Get More Tips for Attracting Quality Patients

At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we work with ambitious chiropractors who want to grow their practices. If you’re eager to make moves that quickly and substantially increase your new patient bookings, we can help.

To learn more, contact AMC today to schedule a no-pressure consultation.

The post How to Attract Quality New Patients for Chiropractors appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

What to Look for When Buying a Chiropractic Office

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 14:53:35 +0000

Buying a practice from another chiropractor is an ambitious and exciting career move.
When approaching a major undertaking such as a practice acquisition, it’s best to begin the process with a thorough action plan.

Have you found an existing chiropractic office that you’d like to explore as an acquisition target? Here are the most important factors to consider before proceeding with a purchase.

Determine the Value of the Practice

After identifying a chiropractic office that you might want to purchase, the first thing you need to do is get an idea of how much the practice is currently worth.

While you’re in the early stages of exploring a number of practices, you can produce your own preliminary ballpark figures. However, when it’s time to zero in on a target, you should have the practice professionally appraised in order to gain an accurate valuation. Work with a broker who specializes in medical practice appraisals and transactions.

As you get a feel for the market and review your financial capacity, determine a price range that you’re willing to consider. Additionally, decide how important price is compared to other factors, such as location. These steps will help you efficiently eliminate practices from consideration, or short-list them, after determining their values.

Examine the Practice’s Financials

Once you’ve gained an idea of what the practice is worth, you can begin to examine whatever financial records are available, either through public access or by request.

Financials include reports and statements that document the practice’s financial performance and financial health. The data you should review include revenue, expenses, outstanding debts, and profit margins. If possible, acquire performance data such as how many patients the practice treats on a monthly basis.

Additionally, get an idea of the monetary value and condition of the physical products owned by the practice, many of which would likely be included in a sale. These may include x-ray machines, adjustment tables, massage chairs, computers and monitors, and software.

If the practice is currently carrying extensive debt, you’ll need to make sure that your sale agreement clearly outlines debt responsibilities. The previous owner may retain their debts after the sale, or you may be able to negotiate a lower sale price in exchange for assuming business debts.

Analyze the Practice’s Location

Where is the practice located? Just because an office is within the geographic range that you’re considering doesn’t mean that it’s in a location that meets your needs.

An ideal chiropractic office location is:

Highly-visible from the street
Accessible from major thoroughfares and/or public transit options
Near a population center
A convenient commute from your home or your other office locations
Not too close to competing practices

Along with geographic location, review the physical details of the space. These include parking, accessibility features, structural concerns (roofing, carpeting, etc.), and the overall attractiveness of the office building’s interior and exterior.

Learn About the Practice’s Staff, Vendors, and Contractors

Learn about the people behind the practice’s current operations. How large is the staff? How experienced are they?

Additionally, look into the non-staff contractors or companies that provide goods and services for the practice. Even a small chiropractic practice may be maintaining a surprisingly large number of professional relationships, from labs and software firms to landscapers and cleaners.

As you review the practice’s staff, vendors, and contractors, consider which relationships you would keep or move on from as a new owner. Look for potentially wasteful spending as well as areas that may need additional investment.

Consider the Practice’s Property Lease

A final factor that bears careful consideration is the lease agreement for the space that the practice currently occupies. Learn the length of the lease, the monthly rent, and any use restrictions that are in place.

In the transfer of medical practice ownership, a landlord may end up serving as a key third party. The landlord may not be motivated to consent to an ownership transfer within an existing leasing term, so it’s wise to anticipate and deal with lease-related issues at the onset of your negotiations.

Get More Tips for Practice Acquisition Today

At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we help dedicated chiropractors grow their practices. Whether or not you’re currently in the market for a new office, there are growth strategies that the AMC team can help you implement.

To learn more, book a no-pressure consultation with Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors today.

The post What to Look for When Buying a Chiropractic Office appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Operating at Abundance

Ryan Miller — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they discuss an exercise you can do this week to bring your practice to a new level.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Operating at Abundance appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Teaching Patients to Share Their Story

Ryan Miller — Sun, 12 Feb 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen as he hosts Dr. Greg Miller for a discussion on techniques to spread the word about your practice using “troops on the ground.”

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Teaching Patients to Share Their Story appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Philosophy Roundtable – With Drs. Brubaker and Wilson

Ryan Miller — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they host two special guests for a discussion about chiropractic philosophy and how it has more practical applications than you may think.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Philosophy Roundtable – With Drs. Brubaker and Wilson appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Celebrating the Wins of Chiropractors

Ryan Miller — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they inspire you with some of the major successes of Aligned members last year.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Celebrating the Wins of Chiropractors appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Know Your Numbers

Ryan Miller — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen as he hosts Vitalleo Health CEO, John McGuire, to discuss the business side of your chiropractic practice.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Know Your Numbers appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Moving the Needle

Ryan Miller — Sun, 15 Jan 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen as he introduces Dr. Greg Miller to discuss new opportunities for the new year.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Moving the Needle appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to Integrate Chiropractic Education at Your Practice

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 16:54:17 +0000

As a chiropractor, educating your patients on how to get the best possible benefits from their care is an important part of your services.

Educational discussions and materials help patients to better understand their medical conditions and the value of chiropractic care. Patient education leads to better outcomes for patients as well as positive results for the care provider, such as referrals and five-star reviews.

Patient education also improves compliance with treatment recommendations. Educated patients are more likely to trust and follow your guidance while making chiropractic care a part of their long-term wellness plans.

To effectively incorporate patient education at your practice, what are the best ways to draw patients into meaningful conversations about their treatment?

Ways to Integrate Patient Education at Your Practice

Let’s explore the most productive approaches for integrating patient education at your practice. While you likely already use one or two of these methods, we hope this guide inspires a few new ideas for effectively communicating the value of your care to your patients.

Provide Educational Materials

While the specific media used may vary, every chiropractic office should provide some type of educational materials. These can include pamphlets, posters, books, or videos that explain various aspects of chiropractic care.

Educational materials don’t need to be super complex. Simple guides can make a major difference in a patient’s understanding of the condition they’re suffering from, how chiropractic care can help, and what to expect during treatment sessions.

Write Blog Posts or Articles

Not all educational material you provide needs to be passed along directly during appointments. Your website is another useful platform for sharing information.

Blog posts or articles that you author and share on your website accomplish the following:

Attract traffic to your website, exposing potential new patients to your practice
Position your practice as an authority on chiropractic care

Use your posts to go in-depth about topics in which you possess particular expertise. You can also describe basic chiropractic concepts, discuss general health and wellness topics, and tackle chiropractic myth-busting.

Create Videos

Educational videos are a great way to provide clear, informative looks at chiropractic care in action. You can post videos to YouTube and/or your website, or show them in your office during visits. To make the best use of videos, keep them short and sweet and work with a professional editor to ensure high-quality production.

Give Talks or Presentations

Presentations provide an opportunity to demonstrate your expertise as you delve into the details of chiropractic care. Presentations can be offered in your office to groups of patients, one-on-one during initial consultations, or at events such as health fairs.

Use Visual Aids

Visual aids are helpful tools to employ while describing conditions and procedures to patients. These may include charts and posters or 3D models of a spine or a full skeleton.

The use of visual aids comes in handy when working with patients who have lots of questions or who are nervous about receiving adjustments.

Develop a Social Media Presence

Is social media a worthwhile use of your work hours? It certainly can be.

You can use your practice’s social media accounts to share photos, videos, and blog posts. Your posts can range from informative to emotional to silly. You can also use social media to promote events such as presentations you’ll be giving or promotional discounts offered at your practice.

Of course, social media isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. If you’d like to reap the benefits of social media outreach without personally running your accounts, there are lots of professional social media consultants and account managers who would love to work with you.

Grow Your Chiropractic Office With Guidance from AMC

Successful chiropractors don’t just provide excellent care. Rather, they develop business savvy, embrace soft skills, and use every tool at their disposal—such as educational materials—to provide patients with the best possible experience during every visit.

At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we work with talented chiropractors who want to grow their practices. Our resources and services enrich the lives of our members professionally, financially, and personally.

The chiropractic practices that we work with increase their collections by an average of 55%. We work exclusively in the chiropractic industry and we’ve helped over 10,000 practices.
To learn how AMC can support your chiropractic career goals, schedule a no-pressure consultation with our team of experts today.

The post How to Integrate Chiropractic Education at Your Practice appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Enthusiasm

Ryan Miller — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 14:03:11 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry as he breaks down a critical character trait that will elevate your performance as a doctor.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Enthusiasm appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Importance of Building a Rapport with Patients at Your Chiropractic Office

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 21:41:00 +0000

Rapport is the foundation of a strong doctor-patient relationship. When patients feel comfortable, everybody wins—treatment plans are trusted and followed and health outcomes improve.

From a chiropractor’s point of view, rapport should be considered a critical precursor to patient loyalty. Great care leads to satisfied patients, but it’s the personal connection that generates repeat visits, positive reviews, and precious referrals.

How to Initiate Rapport Building With New Patients

Research on rapport building suggests these five actions that healthcare providers can take to put patients at ease:
Provide verbal reassurance
Encourage patients to ask questions
Discuss test results with patients
Avoid judgmental or disrespectful speech toward patients
Ask patients to describe their health goals and treatment preferences

Taking these simple steps can get any doctor-patient relationship off to a promising start.

Benefits of Prioritizing Patient Rapport at Your Chiropractic Practice

Patient rapport comes naturally to some healthcare professionals, while others need to devote special attention to this aspect of care. In any case, rapport-building is always worth the effort.
Here are a few key benefits of effectively building patient rapport at your chiropractic practice.

Rapport Reduces Patient Anxieties and Doubts About Treatment

Some patients experience fear or discomfort during physical touch, especially during the vulnerable moments that precede chiropractic adjustments.

Sometimes, the anxieties a patient brings to an appointment aren’t directly related to the treatment itself. Some people experience generalized anxiety, or they may be in the midst of a hard time.

Whatever the reason for a patient’s anxious state, it’s important to establish a sense of comfort before initiating hands-on treatment. Taking the time to put a nervous patient at ease helps them to think of your office as a safe and pleasant space, which increases the likelihood that they’ll stick with treatment.

Rapport is also helpful when working with doubtful patients. Just because someone booked and showed up for an appointment, doesn’t mean they actually believe your treatment can help them.

A patient may have been reluctantly convinced by a family member to just “give it a try.” Or, they may have suffered from pain for so long that they no longer believe any medical intervention can help them, even though they keep trying new types of treatment.

Rapport building is the best way to begin turning a doubter into a believer. Once a patient sees that you’re willing to listen to their concerns and treat them with respect, they may become more open to embracing the benefits of your care.

Rapport Helps Patients Feel Comfortable Discussing Sensitive Topics

Patients are often reluctant to disclose sensitive information about their health. For example, if a patient is embarrassed about their body weight, they might not like discussing certain aches and pains that they associate with that issue.

Rapport helps patients overcome the awkwardness that gets in the way of productive communication. Once a trusting and comfortable rapport is established, the patient and practitioner can engage in frank discussions that lead to more helpful appointments.

Rapport Motivates Patients to Stick With Their Treatment Plans

Rapport is linked to trust. Patients who feel personally connected to a care provider are more likely to develop faith in the treatment program recommended for them. When a patient recognizes that their care provider is personally invested in their well-being, the two parties develop a shared commitment to treatment.

Rapport Leads to Better Health Outcomes for Patients

A trusting and supportive rapport helps patients feel motivated, optimistic, and committed—the perfect recipe for positive health outcomes.

When rapport is absent, patients may think of their appointments as chores, or even sources of stress.

When rapport is present, appointments can be relaxing, fun, and inspiring. The positive energy that patients feel during their visits has direct benefits for their health and motivates them to stick with treatment.

Rapport Generates More Positive Reviews and Referrals

In addition to improving patient health outcomes and helping your workdays pass more pleasantly, rapport is a major driver of business growth.

When patients respect you not only as a practitioner but as a person, they take an interest in the success of your practice. This leads to the five-star reviews, referrals, and word-of-mouth advertising that drive your practice’s growth and prosperity.

Build Better Rapport and Grow Your Practice With Coaching From AMC

At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we provide transformative business coaching for chiropractors.

Our team of mentors and trainers helps growth-focused chiropractors build the thriving practices they desire and deserve.

The post Importance of Building a Rapport with Patients at Your Chiropractic Office appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Residual Streams of Income

Ryan Miller — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and John McGuire as they discuss opportunities that will grow your practice in 2023.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Residual Streams of Income appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Expectations

Ryan Miller — Sun, 25 Dec 2022 23:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they close out the year and discuss what it takes to succeed in 2023.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Expectations appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Consistent Results

Ryan Miller — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 00:04:37 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Tara Horrall as they discuss ways to improve consistency in your practice.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Consistent Results appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to Get Your Chiropractor License

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 16:06:00 +0000

If you’ve recently earned your Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), congratulations. You’ve come a long way and the career you’ve dreamed of is within close reach.

Now, it’s time to move on to the next step: obtaining your license.

Earning and maintaining a license is an essential qualification to work as a chiropractor in the United States, including Washington D.C. and all US territories.

While the exact requirements differ from state to state, the licensing process is roughly the same throughout the US.

Let’s review the steps you’ll take to earn your license. Use this guide as a starting point, then learn more about the specific requirements in the state where you plan on practicing.

Step 1: Obtain Your Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)

Despite the substantial role of chiropractic in modern healthcare, there are only 19 accredited chiropractic schools in the US, and that’s nearly half of the worldwide total.

Before seeking a license, a future chiropractor must complete a chiropractic curriculum at one of these institutions. A chiropractic school graduate earns a DC, the universal prerequisite for any licensure.

Earning your DC proves that you’ve acquired a well-rounded education that covers all aspects of chiropractic care.

Step 2: Complete the NBCE Exam Series

Each state has its own licensing requirements, but a series of national exams are used to standardize licensing nationwide. Future chiropractors must pass these exams in order to pursue a state license.

National exams are administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) and consist of these four parts:

Part I tests basic science knowledge. Part I is taken during the second year of chiropractic school.
Part II tests six different clinical science areas. Part II can be taken during the third year of chiropractic school.
Part III tests knowledge of numerous clinical practice topics, including physical examination and diagnosis. Part III can be taken by students who have already completed Part I and are within nine months of graduation.
Part IV covers chiropractic technique and case management. Part IV can be taken by students who have completed Part I and are within six months of graduation.

Parts I and II are computer-based multiple-choice exams. Part III includes multiple-choice questions and vignettes, while Part IV requires hands-on demonstrations.

States can establish their own standards for what constitutes a passing grade, but the NBCE recommends a score of 375/800 for each part. If you don’t pass a test on your first try, you can retake the individual sections that resulted in a failing score.

Chiropractic schools help facilitate the test-taking process for students as they work towards their degrees.

If you’re still deciding on a school, review the quality of exam support offered by the schools that you’re considering. Exam success rates published by schools indicate the level of exam preparedness that their curriculums provide.

Step 3: Complete Your State’s Licensing Requirements

After you’ve earned your DC and passed the NBCE exams, you can apply for a license to practice chiropractic in your state or territory.

Each state has a regulatory board that determines and oversees the requirements for becoming a licensed chiropractor.

State requirements vary. Depending on where you want to practice, you may need to:

Complete a background test and fingerprinting
Provide proof of malpractice insurance
Provide personal references
Answer questions or complete training courses related to morals or ethics
Complete a chiropractic jurisprudence (legal and regulatory) exam
Obtain certifications for subspecialties or additional disciplines

Some states have their own state exams that are administered by the NBCE. These include Oregon, Florida, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Most states also require chiropractors to earn continuing education credits.

Once you’ve earned your license, you’ll need to renew it as frequently as your state requires, usually every year or every two years.

Seek Insights for Further Education in Your Chiropractic Career

Wherever you’re at in your chiropractic career, Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors can help. At AMC, we’re a team of coaches and mentors 100% committed to the chiropractic field.

Our experience and expertise are unmatched in the industry. We’ve helped over 1,000 offices open and achieve profitable status within 90 days. AMC members enjoy a 55% average increase in collections.

If you’re interested in growing your practice or continuing your chiropractic education, contact AMC today for a no-pressure, no-tactics consultation.

The post How to Get Your Chiropractor License appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Never Leave Your Foundation

Ryan Miller — Sun, 11 Dec 2022 23:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they discuss the concerns about adding the newest ancillaries to your practice without reinforcing your core chiropractic practice.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Never Leave Your Foundation appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Benefits of Business Training for Chiropractors

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 15:42:25 +0000

As a chiropractor who’s taken the leap of faith to open your own practice, you have a deep belief in the quality of care that you provide. But do you have that same level of confidence in your business acumen?

Your business should be growing into the practice you’ve always dreamed of, but quality care alone won’t get you there.

Often, early-stage or sole-proprietor practices don’t have the benefit of an in-house finance manager or an executive assistant. That leaves busy chiropractors to juggle their patient care duties along with a surprisingly complex array of tasks related to business administration, bookkeeping, and strategic planning.

By engaging with ongoing business training tailored specifically to chiropractors, you can grow into a more complete and visionary practice owner. Once your growth strategy takes hold, your practice can grow continuously and sustainably even as you’re able to focus the bulk of your efforts towards direct patient care.

Here are some key benefits of chiropractic business training that can help you grow your business.

1: Learn About the Latest Treatments and Technology in the Chiropractic Field

Business training involves keeping up with the latest technology and innovations in your industry. For chiropractors, this includes treatment developments as well as complementary tech such as healthcare software.

By receiving regular training and consultation, you’ll be among the first to learn about exciting new changes in your field. You’ll also benefit from valuable second opinions on each new innovation you consider implementing at your practice.

2: Offer a More Complete Set of Services to Your Patients

Chiropractors are forward-thinking and always looking to improve the care they provide. An ongoing commitment to continuing education helps the best practitioners to keep learning and growing throughout their careers.

By combining a passion for great care with an improved business sense, you’ll continue to expand and refine the set of services provided at your practice.

3: Make the Best Use of Your Business Hours

The best business owners design schedules that squeeze the most productivity into the least amount of hours. As you learn to run your practice as a finely-tuned business, you’ll begin to put every task in its place, fully meeting patient demand while minimizing empty time slots.

4: Optimize Your Budgets and Cash Flow for Profitability

Chiropractic education leaves little room for mastering the entirely separate disciplines of accounting and bookkeeping.

However, the more expertise you gain in these areas, the better. Your chiropractic business training should include learning how to build and manage a budget and accurately track your revenue and expenses.

5: Become More Competitive in Your Local Market

How well do you understand the breadth of your local market? How familiar are you with the local offices that compete for the same patients that you’d like to be working with?

Business training involves acquiring skills and insights that help you evaluate your local market and pursue angles that set your practice apart from the crowd.

To grow your market share, you may pursue traditional marketing campaigns as well as targeted online advertising and search engine optimization techniques for your website.

6: Prepare for the Future Growth of Your Business

As a chiropractor, each day involves immersion in the present moment as you provide patient care to the best of your abilities.

As a business owner, you’re more mindful of the future. Growth is key, but stability is essential.

Business training helps you plan your practice’s future one step at a time, growing at a pace that’s both rapid and sustainable.

Improving your business know-how helps you see the big picture that transcends the day-to-day. As you master financial operations and business management skills, your vision for the future of your business continues to evolve and expand.

Get Business Training for Your Chiropractic Practice Today

At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we equip talented, passionate chiropractors with the skills and strategies that take practices to the next level. Whether your practice is new, in need of an energy boost, or already thriving, we tailor a custom approach to help you get where you want to be.

Chiropractic offices that receive AMC mentoring see an average 55% increase in collections. Our sole focus is the chiropractic industry and we’ve worked with over 10,000 practices. To learn more, schedule a no-pressure consultation with our team of chiropractic mentors today.

The post Benefits of Business Training for Chiropractors appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Goals

Ryan Miller — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 23:00:00 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry as he brings some fresh ideas to a very important topic for the New Year.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Goals appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Less Than Ideal Arrangements

Ryan Miller — Sun, 27 Nov 2022 23:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMutry as they host Dr. Tara Horrall for a discussion focused on some of the situations in the chiropractic community that do not lead to the desired outcomes.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Less Than Ideal Arrangements appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

The Complete Guide to Streamlining Your Chiropractic Billing

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 18:52:11 +0000

Unless you run a cash-only practice, your chiropractic office relies on medical claims billing.
In order to generate revenue in a timely and reliable manner, your billing process must be scalable, predictable, and transparent.

In this guide, we’ll share our best tips for streamlining your chiropractic billing. Spend less time bookkeeping and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a smooth and efficient billing system.

Tips for Streamlining Your Chiropractic Billing

Effective chiropractic billing involves organization, communication, and the willingness to embrace new technologies. Follow these tips for improving your billing process.

Be Transparent with Your Patients

According to ChiroTouch, approximately 30% of chiropractic patients don’t pay their bills immediately after their appointments. Chiropractors and their teams have to devote time and resources to following up and working with debt collection agencies.

Miscommunications regarding payments can be time-consuming, unpleasant, and costly. Even if a patient is thrilled with the care they receive, confusion regarding payment may discourage them from coming back. Payment issues are also a common source of damaging negative online reviews.

To streamline and dispute-proof your billing process, always be transparent with your patients about their out-of-pocket costs. Transparency builds trust and helps patients to avoid surprise payments and prepare for their financial obligations.

For best results, communicate clearly and via multiple channels, including verbal, written, and digital messages.

Integrate Automated Tools

There are numerous software programs for streamlining medical billing, including some designed specifically for chiropractic. The best billing software systems allow chiropractors to automate and simplify granular data-entry billing tasks.

Look for a system that:

Is easy to use and not loaded with features you don’t need
Is well-reviewed
Fits your budget
Generates real-time financial data that you can use for tracking earnings
Engages with patients with reminders and appointment confirmations to reduce no-shows and misunderstandings

After choosing a system, first learn the ins and outs of the system yourself, then train your staff.
Shopping for billing software is challenging because the market is highly competitive and fluid. For advice that’s informed and unbiased, discuss the decision with your business coach.

Improve Your Organizational System

How long does it take you to locate a file that you’re looking for? Do you lose time sorting through paperwork or retracing your steps just to remember how your own organizational system works?

Disorganization slows down your entire operation, including your billing process. Taking the time to get organized might seem like a hassle, but the effort should be viewed as an investment.
If your office is too reliant on paper files, consider developing a new system for digitizing all of your documents. Digitization should occur during the origination of a document, not after the fact when a large stack of papers has developed.

As you adopt new software and organizational methods, bring your entire staff up to speed—including yourself. Back-ups and messes occur when some team members have to rely on others to perform certain tasks that require a bit of tech-savvy.

If you aren’t sure where to start, talk to your business coach about organizational strategies.

If Necessary, Outsource Your Billing

If billing is overwhelming your staff or slowing down your operations, consider outsourcing.
Outsourcing involves contracting with a third-party company for handling all or some of your back-end billing. Your billing service provider may perform any of these tasks:

Coding review
Claim submission
Payment posting
Appeals processing and claim rejection reprocessing

For busy and growing practices, outsourcing is often a more scalable and affordable solution compared to hiring an in-house billing specialist. Outsourcing allows your staff to focus on core duties where their talents are most useful.

Keep Up to Date With Insurance Regulations

Insurance regulations are always changing. To avoid billing problems and delays, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest insurance requirements and options.

If you work with a chiropractic coach, they can help you to learn about and adjust to the latest regulatory updates that may impact your practice.

Get Expert Guidance for Your Chiropractic Practice

At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we provide in-depth business coaching exclusively for chiropractors. Our dedicated team of mentors and trainers helps chiropractors build their practices into the ones they’ve always dreamed of owning.

To learn more, contact AMC today to discuss how we can help you grow and sustain your practice.

The post The Complete Guide to Streamlining Your Chiropractic Billing appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Having A Thankful Heart

Ryan Miller — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 23:00:00 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry for a special edition of Wake Up Aligned in honor of Thanksgiving.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Having A Thankful Heart appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Starting With The Right Concepts

Ryan Miller — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 23:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they host Dr. Tara Horrall to discuss the Right Start program and how it sets new chiropractors apart from the many who struggle during their first five years.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Starting With The Right Concepts appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Why Continuing Education is Essential for Chiropractors

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 15:15:00 +0000

Your chiropractic education didn’t end when you earned your degree. No matter where you are in your career, you should always make time for continuing education.

Chiropractors who continue to expand their knowledge base stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the profession, acquire new skills, and become more well-rounded practitioners. These gains equip chiropractors to offer superior care and treat a more diverse set of patients and ailments.

Continuing education also provides a competitive advantage in your local region. By continuously improving your skills and adapting to changes in the market, you can establish your practice as the most innovative and forward-thinking provider in your area.

Ideas for Continuing Your Education

Continuing education can be as involved as a long-term training course or as simple as tuning in to a podcast. If you’re not sure where to look for the latest continuing education opportunities, use this guide as a starting point.

Chiropractic Podcasts and YouTube Channels

Some of the most useful chiropractic educational materials are free and easily accessible in the form of podcasts and YouTube channels. Many veteran chiropractors use these mediums to build their own brands and share their expertise.

The best podcasts and YouTube videos present treatments and business concepts in clear and simple terms. Some content is made specifically for chiropractors, but content designed for the general public can also be informative.

Here are a few podcasts and YouTube channels that we recommend:

These resources can be rapidly consumed in bite-sized portions when your schedule permits, providing easy opportunities to learn from your professional peers.

It’s also helpful to absorb educational materials from other fields, such as physical therapy, massage, psychology, and general medicine.

Subscribe to a Research Journal or Trade Magazine

Research journals communicate the latest and most intriguing studies and developments in the chiropractic field.

There are dozens of journals devoted to chiropractic as well as related subjects like neck pain, back pain, and pediatrics. A few of the most prominent chiropractic research journals are:

For content that’s less dense but nevertheless quite informative, subscribe to a chiropractic trade magazine.

The top trade publications for chiropractors include:

Trade magazines cover treatment topics, business strategies, human interest stories, and product reviews. Most are available via online subscription models for easy on-the-go access via your phone or laptop.

Seminars and Trade Shows

Seminars and trade shows are educational and enjoyable. They also provide valuable opportunities to connect with your professional peers.

At seminars, conferences, and training sessions, you can explore research and techniques that help you grow as a practitioner. The Sherman College of Chiropractic’s International Research and Philosophy Symposium and Life University’s Life Vision Extravaganza are two examples of excellent events that present some of the most insightful and innovative information related to the chiropractic profession each year.

At trade shows, you’ll gain access to the latest tools and products serving your industry, providing opportunities to evaluate industry trends before they take off.

Many chiropractic events can be attended remotely, making it possible to participate in the best or most relevant events regardless of where they’re held.

Work With a Chiropractic Business Coach

One of the most meaningful ways to continue your education as a chiropractor is to work with a chiropractic business coach.

A good coach is:

A business growth expert
Invested in the success of your business
Specialized in your industry

The guidance you receive from a coach may cover business management, care philosophy, marketing, and any other areas where you’d like to focus. Business coaching helps you straighten out your operations so that you can focus the bulk of your energy on patient care.

Your coach also serves as a sounding board for new ideas and a partner for navigating your toughest challenges as a practitioner or business owner.

Get Chiropractic Coaching for Your Practice

At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, our team of mentors and trainers is focused exclusively on the chiropractic industry. We help talented chiropractors to build and operate thriving practices.

We’ve worked with over 10,000 practices. Teams that join the AMC family enjoy a 55% average increase in collections.

To learn more, book a no-pressure consultation with AMC today.

The post Why Continuing Education is Essential for Chiropractors appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

APEX: Interview with Dr. Wayland Part 2

Ryan Miller — Sun, 06 Nov 2022 23:00:00 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry as he continues his dialogue with Dr. Jered Wayland about the APEX program.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post APEX: Interview with Dr. Wayland Part 2 appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Chiropractic Coaching vs Consulting: What Sets AMC Apart?

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 16:00:00 +0000

Whether you are starting a new chiropractic office or looking to take your existing practice to the next level, you may have considered partnering with a coach or consultant to assist you. Both coaching and consulting services are intended to provide business leaders with strategic guidance toward accomplishing their goals, but are they the same?

Oftentimes, the words “coach” and “consultant” are used interchangeably. However, there are some distinct differences regarding the services provided as well as the general philosophy behind these two types of advising.

To help you decide whether a coach or consultant is right for your chiropractic practice, we are going to compare coaching vs consulting today. First, let’s begin with coaching.

What is Business Coaching?

Business coaching is a collaborative process between the coach and client that focuses on the present with an eye toward the future. The coaching relationship is based on trust and mutual respect. Coaches work with their clients to help them identify areas of opportunity, set goals, and create action plans to achieve those goals.

A business coach will:

Help you develop a clear vision for your practice
Identify your unique strengths and how to leverage them
Set goals and create an action plan to achieve those goals
Hold you accountable to taking action steps and achieving results
Provide support and guidance as you navigate challenges and roadblocks

Coaching starts from your own personal goals as a business owner and provides guidance and insights toward helping you achieve them. Instead of telling you what you “should” or “should not” do, the goals that you create for yourself are what they help you work toward achieving.

As a chiropractor, your practice extends beyond business hours. It represents your entire livelihood and years of hard work to achieve the success you already have. If you have identified where you want your practice to take you next in life, or need help realizing that vision, a coach is a perfect resource to help you start moving the needle in that direction.

How is Business Consulting Different from Coaching?

Now that we have a clear understanding of business coaching, let’s compare it to business consulting.

Business consulting is a professional service provided by individuals who use their expertise to provide objective advice and recommendations to businesses. The focus of consulting is often on solving specific problems or improving specific areas within the company based on the consultant’s professional opinions.

Rather than starting from your own personal goals, a consultant applies their knowledge of best practices relative to your industry. For example, if you are struggling with marketing your practice, a consultant may provide you with a list of marketing strategies that have worked well for other businesses in your industry.

A business consultant will:

Assess your current situation and identify areas of opportunity
Provide insights and recommendations based on their professional expertise
Help you implement specific changes within your business
Monitor your business’s progress and provide feedback along the way

If you are looking for someone to provide objective advice and help you implement specific changes within your business, then a consultant may be the right fit for you. However, a consultant will often focus on what they believe are the best solutions for your business, rather than what you as the practice owner want to achieve.

While there are many friendly and personable consultants in the marketplace, the relationship between a consultant and their clients is often more transactional. Conversely, a coach’s services emphasize a strong, trusting relationship with their clients as a foundational component of their services.

Should You Hire a Coach or a Consultant?

Deciding whether to hire a coach or consultant often depends on how you operate your practice and the level of personal involvement you wish to have in its growth. If you are someone that plans to remain actively involved in your business and have a clear vision for its mission in your local market, a coach might prove the right solution.

If you are someone that wants to delegate as much responsibility to other parties as possible and gradually pull away from the operational aspects of the business, you may prefer the convenience that a consultant can provide. Rather than having a hand in these aspects of the practice, you can trust them to a consultant who will use industry best practices to create a solution for a problem or pain point you are experiencing with your office.

Get Chiropractic Coaching for Your Business Today

At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we are a team of chiropractic coaches dedicated to helping you achieve the practice that you have always dreamed of operating. We begin by helping you realize your ideal vision for your office and then providing strategic guidance to help you on your journey to making it a reality.

To learn more about how our team can assist you, contact us today to learn more.

The post Chiropractic Coaching vs Consulting: What Sets AMC Apart? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Introducing Dr. Jered Wayland

Ryan Miller — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 22:00:00 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry as he hosts Dr. Jered Wayland, a special mentor for the APEX program.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Introducing Dr. Jered Wayland appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Who Can Own a Chiropractic Office?

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 17:14:03 +0000

Does It Need to be a Chiropractor?

Have you thought of starting your own chiropractic business? If so, you may have considered whether or not you need to have a degree in the field to do so.

Chiropractors and non-chiropractors alike pursue goals of owning their own chiropractic office for a variety of reasons. From more freedom to choose your schedule to the financial rewards of entrepreneurship, there are multiple benefits of doing so.

Not every chiropractic office is owned by a chiropractor. Ownership may belong to a chiropractor’s family member, business partner, or simply an entrepreneur who saw the chiropractic field as a unique opportunity for growth.

If you don’t have a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree, you may be wondering if it’s possible for you to own a chiropractic office. The answer to that question depends on where you’re located, since some states allow non-DCs to own practices, and others do not.

In this chiropractic ownership primer, we’ll review who can own a chiropractic business and what factors should be considered before pursuing ownership.

Owning a Chiropractic Office Is a Major Commitment

Entrepreneurship requires a high amount of personal motivation and willingness to sacrifice the structure that often comes with working for someone else. To arrive at the point of successful ownership, you will likely need to spend long hours at the office to grow your business and build a patient base.

Business ownership isn’t for everyone. There is nothing wrong with choosing to work for an owner of a chiropractic office instead of opening one yourself. It requires long hours and sacrifices to one’s personal life, especially in the early stages, to build a profitable and sustainable business.

For businesses that administer health care services, there are additional pressures and liabilities. Patient care is personal, intense, and complicated.

Most people would never want to take on the burdens of owning a medical office. However, if you possess a certain mix of ambition and the desire to help others, owning a practice might be your calling.

Who Can Own a Chiropractic Office?

Every US state allows chiropractors to own their practices. Any DC that meets the applicable licensing and regulatory conditions is qualified for ownership.

A non-DC can own a chiropractic office in around half of US states. Other states restrict ownership to DCs. The details of these rules vary from state to state.

If you want to find out if your state permits non-DCs to own a chiropractic office, we recommend reaching out to a local lawyer that specializes in healthcare. They will be able to provide you with a conclusive answer as to whether or not you are allowed to do so.

Even in states that don’t allow non-DCs to own chiropractic offices, it’s not a black-and-white issue.

Don’t give up quickly if ownership is your goal. Entrepreneurs in restrictive states sometimes take on co-ownership with a chiropractor. Another option is to become the owner of a franchised office that is parent-owned by a management company (which is owned by a chiropractor).

Factors to Consider for Non-DC Owners

As a non-chiropractor seeking to own a chiropractic office, you’ll have to overcome a few hurdles. The following challenges are by no means insurmountable but should be carefully considered as you plan your business venture.

Industry Knowledge

As a non-DC owner, you’ll lack the hands-on experience and education that’s only possessed by chiropractors. However, you don’t need to be a practitioner to become an expert in the industry. By working closely with the DCs in your office, you can gain the necessary knowledge to operate as a well-informed owner.

Labor

To perform chiropractic services, an individual must have a DC degree and a license to practice.

For your business to succeed, you’ll need to be able to hire and retain skilled chiropractors who will stick with your office over the long term. As a non-DC owner, you need to build a practice with enough revenue to provide your own income along with the salaries of your DCs and support staff.

Insurance

Insuring a medical practice is complex and expensive. As a non-DC owner, special insurance requirements may apply, depending on your state.

Unique Benefits That Non-DC Owners Can Provide

As a non-practitioner owner of a medical practice, you bring a unique perspective to the field. Non-DC owners operate thriving chiropractic offices by making the most of the following advantages.

Business Acumen

If you enter the chiropractic industry with management and ownership experience, you have a competitive advantage over DC-owned offices.

You can hire great chiropractors to handle patient care, while you put your skills to work on day-to-day operations, marketing, and business growth.

Networking

If you’re an established professional in another field, your new chiropractic office can benefit from your existing network. You can use your connections to reach out to potential patients as well as businesses that provide services that your office needs.

Partnership

Some chiropractors choose to partner with a co-owner who can use their business experience to help the practice thrive.

For the DC, this arrangement provides relief from some of the administrative and financial responsibilities of ownership.

For the partner, purchasing a stake in an existing chiropractic business is an alternative to opening a brand-new practice. Due to ownership restrictions in some states, a partnership is sometimes the best way for a non-DC to enter the field.

Grow Your Chiropractic Office Into Your Dream Practice

At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we help chiropractic business owners grow their practices.

To learn more, schedule a no-pressure consultation with our team.

The post Who Can Own a Chiropractic Office? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Million Dollar Practices – with Dr. Brubaker

Ryan Miller — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 08:30:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they host Dr. Jeremy Brubaker, Aligned Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer, to discuss what sets apart the top-performing practices.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Million Dollar Practices – with Dr. Brubaker appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Interview with Dr. Neil Cohen

Ryan Miller — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 08:30:00 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry as he hosts a special guest, Dr. Neil Cohen, Senior Vice President for College Relations for Sherman College of Chiropractic.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Interview with Dr. Neil Cohen appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Next Month’s Appointments

Ryan Miller — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 08:30:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they discuss an important (yet often overlooked) statistic, next month’s appointments.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Next Month’s Appointments appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Compliance

Ryan Miller — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 08:30:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they host a special guest, Dr. Tara Horrall, leader of the Aligned Right Start Program, to discuss the topic of compliance (or lack thereof).

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Compliance appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

New Patients

Ryan Miller — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 08:30:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they discuss the topic of new patients and what you may not realize about them.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post New Patients appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Chiropractic Marketing Ideas on Social Media to Gain New Patients

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 18:26:00 +0000

For any business that serves a local population, the quality of your marketing can differentiate you from your competitors and inspire new patients to schedule an appointment with your chiropractic practice. However, with so many digital and traditional marketing channels available, how do you know which ones are right for you?

Social media is one of the most scalable and effective ways for chiropractors to engage with their ideal patients. Leveraging these platforms can provide you with both organic and paid opportunities to capture the attention of the users you want to click through to your website and request an appointment at your office.

Today, we are going to cover some practical chiropractic marketing ideas to help you leverage your own business’s social media accounts. We are going to cover some essential tips that will pertain to multiple platforms so that you can best capture as many users’ attention as possible.

Understanding Paid vs. Organic Social Media Marketing

Anyone who has ever scrolled through any social media feed has undoubtedly come across a combination of both paid and organic marketing. But what, exactly, is the difference between the two?

Quite simply, paid social media marketing involves companies paying to have their products or services promoted on these platforms. This can take the form of sponsored posts, ads, or even influencer partnerships.

Organic marketing, conversely, refers to when businesses promote their products or services without directly paying for it. This might involve creating engaging content, participating in relevant hashtags, or even just making sure your branding is consistent and stylish across all channels.

You might be wondering, which is better? This depends on your individual goals for your marketing efforts, though it is usually recommended to use both tactics to reach the most amount of people.

Paid marketing proves effective for reaching large amounts of people in a short amount of time. You can also use targeting features that many of these platforms provide so that you can reach specific users based on multiple factors such as their geographic location, age group, and many others.

Organic marketing requires more time and effort to achieve results, but it is often more effective for building brand awareness and loyalty. Building a following through your organic content will also generate longer-term engagement for your accounts.

The Big 3 Content Formats: Text, Photo, Video

Most social media platforms emphasize three primary content formats: text, photo, and video. Some, like Instagram for example, do not allow text posts to be shared by themselves, but you can pair an engaging caption with a photo or video that you are sharing to add more context to the visual content.

For your visual elements, make sure that your branding is consistent. You can use a simple graphic design tool like Canva to create a template for your photo posts with pre-sized dimensions specifically for sharing on specific platforms.

For chiropractors specifically, video can often prove a powerful marketing tool. Sharing videos of specific procedures and treatments that you perform on your patients can help to establish your credibility, authority, and trustworthiness and put a potential patient’s mind at ease if they are apprehensive about scheduling an appointment with your practice.

You can also leverage the story feature on many platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to add temporary, short-form video content that expires within a certain time frame. This can prove valuable for timely announcements and you can also use integrated features to host interactive Q&A’s with your followers.

What Types of Content Should You Post to Social Media?

Generally, a combination of text, photo, and video content across all of your platforms is recommended. However, if you can only pick one, it should be video.

Patient education is largely a visual experience for the user. Someone may want to hear what you have to say as well as see some of your treatments demonstrated for them before deciding if it is something that they want to pursue. You can also post videos that share general information about chiropractic so that they can learn more about the philosophy behind the specific treatments you offer.

When posting videos, be sure to remain personable and authentic. If a patient feels like they know about you from your marketing efforts prior to visiting your website, they may feel more inspired to request an appointment with you.

You can also use photo posts to share quick facts, images that highlight your company culture and overlay text on images to share information like positive patient testimonials. Similarly to video, you can educate visually and create a shareable asset that your followers can repost.

Get More Chiropractic Marketing Ideas from the AMC Team

At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we partner with both longtime and new practice owners to help them grow their chiropractic business into the one they have always wanted to own and operate. To learn more about how we can help you strategically grow your own chiropractic office, contact us today to speak with someone from our team.

The post Chiropractic Marketing Ideas on Social Media to Gain New Patients appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Closing Percentage

Ryan Miller — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 08:30:00 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry as he discusses an important stat to keep in mind that reflects your ability to get your patients to accept care.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Closing Percentage appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Never Kid Yourself

Ryan Miller — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they tell a classic story from Dr. Tom Owen and discuss the important lesson that it holds for the chiropractor.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Never Kid Yourself appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How Chiropractic Medicare Training Can Improve Your Practice

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 17:57:03 +0000

Medicare is one of the most important programs in the United States, and chiropractors who want to improve their practice should start medicare training as soon as possible.

Medicare chiropractic training can help chiropractors understand the program and how to get started working with patients who are covered by it. There are many benefits to working with Medicare patients, including increased revenue and improved patient satisfaction.

In this post, we will be discussing the importance of medicare training, how it can benefit your practice, and how chiropractors can get started today.

Why Medicare Training is Important

Medicare is one of the largest forms of healthcare coverage in the United States. It provides coverage for adults who may no longer be working and do not have private insurance through their employers.

By accepting Medicare, you can open your practice up to a whole new group of patients who may not have been able to afford your services previously. In addition, Medicare chiropractic training can help you understand the program and how it works.

As with private insurance, federally funded Medicare coverage may involve some complex documentation and red tape. With proper training, you can learn how to easily follow their processes so that you can be compensated on time for your work.

This is important because it will allow you to provide the best possible care for your patients and ensure that they are getting the coverage that they need. It will also help you to easily integrate Medicare billing processes into your operations so that you can expand your sources of revenue for your business efficiently.

Benefits of Medicare Training

Create More Streams of Revenue

As we mentioned above, Medicare can create a new revenue stream for your business. Practices require a steady influx of new and returning patients to sustain themselves financially. By accepting this form of coverage, you can create another pathway for more individuals to easily schedule appointments and pay for them without having to furnish the full cost out of pocket.

Establish a Niche in Your Market

Medicare is available for eligible adults ages 65 and older. By accepting this form of coverage, you can also establish a niche in your local community as a practice that both accepts Medicare and specializes in treating the needs of seniors.

As the large baby boomer generation continues to age, more of them will become eligible for Medicare coverage. This creates an opportunity for your practice to attract these individuals who may need assistance managing symptoms of aging like posture dysfunctions and back pain.

Finally, if you are a chiropractor opening a new practice, accepting Medicare and knowing how to bill it accurately can also prove a fruitful path to generating revenue early. When you are starting a business from scratch, establishing niches where you can draw new patients can quickly help to grow your business’s reputation for your services.

Increase Patient Satisfaction

Chiropractors who participate in Medicare training often see an increase in patient satisfaction. This is because patients feel more confident knowing that their chiropractor is knowledgeable about the program and can provide them with the care that they need and the assurance that they will receive proper coverage for receiving your services.

Streamline Your Bottom Line

Lastly, but most importantly for your business, Medicare training helps to streamline and strengthen your bottom line. When you know how to navigate the program and its complexities, you can ensure that your billing is accurate so that your patients can receive the most coverage possible and your business can receive the most revenue. This will help create a strong source of income for your practice so that you can continue expanding and growing it into the one you have always dreamed of operating.

Getting Started with Medicare Training

Chiropractors who want to participate in chiropractic Medicare training can get started by contacting their local chiropractic association. Many associations offer seminars and other educational programs that can help chiropractors learn more about the program and how to get started working with Medicare patients.
In addition, there are many online resources that chiropractors can use to learn more about the program. The federal government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website is a simple and straightforward place to start. This site provides an overview of the program and includes information on how to enroll in the program and how to bill for services.

Get More Business Guidance for Your Chiropractic Practice

Chiropractors who want to improve their practice and expand their patient base should consider chiropractic Medicare training. This training can help you understand the program and how it works, which will enable you to provide better care for your patients.

At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we provide you with the strategic guidance needed to help transform your practice into the one you have always dreamt of owning. To turn your vision for your business into reality, contact us today to see how we can help you grow scalably.

The post How Chiropractic Medicare Training Can Improve Your Practice appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Work Smarter – Not Harder, with John McGuire

Ryan Miller — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 07:52:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they conclude their interview with special guest, John McGuire.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Work Smarter – Not Harder, with John McGuire appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Tips for Starting a Chiropractic Practice

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 14:09:46 +0000

If you are a chiropractor that is looking to start your own chiropractic practice, you know that launching any business requires many hours of hard, yet rewarding work. While you can look to what other chiropractors in your local market have done to build their own success, the journey is unique to each individual.

However, that does not mean that there are no universal tips that you can utilize when starting your practice. Today, we are going to offer some of our best tips for starting a new practice to help you prepare to open a successful business sooner while avoiding many common pitfalls that many early-stage entrepreneurs encounter.

Before we get started, it’s important to have the right mindset when embarking on this journey. Running your own business will require immense dedication, passion, and resilience. You will face many challenges along the way but if you believe in what you are doing and remain focused on your goals, you will be able to build your practice into something you can proudly put your name on.

Start By Creating a Detailed Business Plan

Launching a business without having a plan is one of the quickest ways to fail. You need to know what your goals are, how you are going to achieve them, and what you need to do on a day-to-day basis to make your vision come to life. Putting these thoughts down on paper will help bring clarity and structure to your ideas.

As you begin to draft your business plan, here are some key points that you should cover:

Company overview: Write a summary of what your company does and what services you offer.
Market analysis: Research your local market and identify any potential competitors. What is the demand for chiropractic services in your area?
Target market: Who is your target market? How will you reach them?
Sales and marketing strategy: What sales and marketing strategies will you use to attract new patients/customers?
Financial projections: Estimate how much money you will need to get started and to keep the business running for the first few months/years.
Company structure: Are you going to be a sole proprietor or will you have partners?
Operating plan: What are your day-to-day operations going to look like? What hours will you be open? How many staff members will you need?

Drafting a comprehensive and thorough business plan is an essential first step in starting your own chiropractic practice. By taking the time to do your research and plan for success, you will be putting yourself in a better position to achieve your desired goals.

Build a Strong Team From the Ground Up

One of the most important aspects of any successful business is the team that is built to support it. As the old adage states, “there is no ‘I’ in team,” and this could not be more true than when launching your own practice. You will need to wear many hats in the early stages but as you start to grow, it will be important to delegate tasks and build a strong team to support your operations.

When hiring for your practice, look for individuals that share your vision and values. They should be passionate about what they do and be able to work well with others. It is also important to find people that complement your skillset.

For example, if you are not strong in sales or marketing, look for someone that has experience in those areas. Start by hiring people that can fill essential roles that you struggle with or may not have as much time to dedicate when you are not with patients.

Building a great team is an ongoing process but it is important to start with the right foundation. By hiring individuals that share your vision and complement your skillset, you will be putting yourself in a much better position to succeed.

You may also decide to outsource some of your operations to keep costs scalable and work with the peace of mind that they are being handled by professional service providers. For example, you could pay a CPA to manage your accounting and bookkeeping needs, an HR service to manage your payroll and benefits, and an attorney to provide legal guidance and representation without having to hire any of these roles full-time.

Develop a Strategic Marketing Plan

Attracting new patients is one of the most important aspects of running a successful practice. If you don’t have a steady stream of new patients, your business will not be able to sustain itself.

That’s why it’s so important to develop a strategic marketing plan that covers all of the bases. You need to identify your target market and figure out the best way to reach them. What marketing channels are they using? How can you reach them where they are already spending their time?

You also need to create a strong message that resonates with your target market. What are their pain points? Why should they choose your practice over the competition? By answering these questions, you will be able to develop a marketing plan that is much more likely to be successful.

Finally, you need to keep track of your results and adjust your marketing strategy as needed. There is no single universal approach to marketing, however there are proven processes and principles to follow to maximize your effectiveness and limit experimentation while discovering what works best for your practice. The only way to do this is to track your results and make informed changes as needed.

Let AMC Help You Launch the Practice of Your Dreams

At Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors, we equip chiropractors with tailored strategies specifically designed to help them grow their unique practices into the ones they have always dreamed of operating. If you are looking to start a new practice and build toward your entrepreneurial vision, contact us today to see how we can assist you.

The post Tips for Starting a Chiropractic Practice appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Considerations for Ancillary Programs, with John McGuire

Ryan Miller — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 08:30:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they host a special guest, John McGuire, AMC Director of Business and Operations, and CEO for Vitalleo Health.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Considerations for Ancillary Programs, with John McGuire appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

A Phenomenal Fall

Ryan Miller — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 23:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they discuss how to effectively conduct Patient Appreciation Days and other marketing events as we lead up to the winter season.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post A Phenomenal Fall appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Our Tips for Effective Chiropractic Marketing

Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 13:57:00 +0000

When the digital ecosystem seems like a vast ocean, how do you market your chiropractic business effectively? Should you focus on paid advertising, SEO, social media, or posting videos to YouTube?

As a business owner, you want to invest your marketing budget where it will generate the most value. In a competitive industry like chiropractic, there are plenty of opportunities to create compelling marketing assets that differentiate you from others online that are vying for the same patients.

Today, our team at Aligned Mentoring for Chiropractors is going to share some tips for the most effective chiropractic marketing strategies to help you grow your practice, attract the patients you desire, and to remain competitive in your local market. Before you can begin a new campaign, we need to discuss the foundation of it all: your website.

1: Invest in a Patient-Centric Website

Your website should be positioned as the cornerstone of all of your marketing efforts. This is where patients will encounter your practice on search engines, learn about your business, and ultimately request appointments.

Content on your website should focus on speaking to patients with their user experiences in mind. For example, you can use your blog to answer common questions that patients have asked you in-depth to inspire confidence in their decisions to request appointments with your practice. Service pages can expand on the philosophy behind the treatments you offer and their intended benefits.

Design your site so that the layout is simple to navigate and directs patients to easily contact your business or schedule an appointment with your office. You can also add a digital intake portal to your site so that they can complete any initial paperwork before arriving at their scheduled date and time.

2: Make Leaving Reviews Simple and Seamless

For any practice, patient reviews are the lifeblood of their marketing efforts. Make sure that your listings on review platforms like Google Business Profile and Yelp are up to date with your accurate business information and encourage patients to share their experience with your practice online.

For example, you can link to your Google Business Profile or Yelp profile directly on your website so that patients can easily find where to leave reviews of your business. You can also create a sign with a QR code to utilize in your office that will take them to these platforms.

Lastly, you can also share patient testimonials on other platforms as well. With a patient’s consent, you can ask them to provide a quote or participate in a quick video where they communicate their satisfaction with your services. You can then share these on your website, social media profiles, YouTube channel, and more.

3: Share Video Content

Any and all chiropractic practices can benefit from sharing their videos online. You can demonstrate your treatments, the techniques behind them, and how they work with patients. Not only can this inspire current patients to share your content but it can also put any potential new patient’s mind at ease if they feel apprehensive about scheduling an appointment.

Right now, the three largest video-sharing platforms are Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Instagram and TikTok benefit most from short-form clips that provide information quickly while you can go more in-depth with longer videos on your YouTube channel.

4: Target the Right People with Your Paid Advertising

If you are investing in paid digital media campaigns, make sure that you are targeting the right individuals who are most likely to seek your services. For example, if you are based in New York, you likely want to avoid spending money on serving advertisements online to people in Oklahoma.

When you are determining the right targeting parameters for your campaigns, make sure that you are focusing your efforts on local keywords, geographic regions, and demographic information that align with your profile of an ideal patient.

Some channels also allow you to create a virtual geo-fence around physical locations to ensure your ads are served to people who visit these areas. For example, you could create a geo-fence around a local competitor’s practice so that ads are served to people who visit their building.

5: Be Yourself!

No matter the types of content that you are posting online, whether paid or organic, make sure that it remains authentic and communicates your passion for caring for patients. When a person feels like they can relate or connect to your brand, they are more likely to engage with it!

Get More Business Advice from the AMC Team

At AMC, we provide strategic guidance to chiropractors to help them grow their practices, attract more patients, and retain them long-term. If you are ready to grow your practice into the one you have always dreamed of having, contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you.

The post Our Tips for Effective Chiropractic Marketing appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

You’ve Spoken

Ryan Miller — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 23:00:00 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they reveal some of the amazing feedback they’ve been receiving from the audience.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post You’ve Spoken appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Love. Your First Technique

Ryan Miller — Sun, 07 Aug 2022 23:00:00 +0000

Join us this week for a special presentation by Dr. Neil Cohen, Senior Vice President for College Relations at Sherman College of Chiropractic.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://amcfamily.com.

The post Love. Your First Technique appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

APEX: Interview with Dr. Todd Osborne

Ryan Miller — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 00:14:52 +0000

Join Dr. Shannon McMurtry and Dr. Todd Osborne as they discuss Dr. Oz’s background and the new APEX program.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://www.amcfamily.com.

The post APEX: Interview with Dr. Todd Osborne appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Aligned For Your Success

Ryan Miller — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 01:04:05 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they are finally able to reveal the back story to the re-branding of Aligned.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about Aligned, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://www.amcfamily.com.

The post Aligned For Your Success appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Hope

Ryan Miller — Sun, 17 Jul 2022 23:05:49 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they provide hope for the chiropractor that is struggling during these unprecedented times.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about AMC, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://www.amcfamily.com.

The post Hope appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Tools To Apply If You’re Struggling

Ryan Miller — Sun, 10 Jul 2022 23:44:52 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they continue their discussion on downturns in the economy and how a chiropractor can safely navigate these tougher waters.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@amcfamily.com

For more information about AMC, and how it can help your practice, visit https://amcfamily.com.

The post Tools To Apply If You’re Struggling appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Handling Downturns in the Economy

Ryan Miller — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 02:32:49 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurty as they discuss the reality for chiropractic when the economy takes a turn for the worse.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@www.amcfamily.com

For more information about AMC, and how it can help your practice, visit https://www.amcfamily.com/innate.

The post Handling Downturns in the Economy appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Aligning Marketing with your Technique or Philosophy

Ryan Miller — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 00:24:54 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they continue their discussion on marketing and how you can’t simply buy more patients.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@www.amcfamily.com

For more information about AMC, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://www.amcfamily.com/innate.

The post Aligning Marketing with your Technique or Philosophy appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

The Foundations of Marketing

Ryan Miller — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 01:32:53 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they discuss a crucial factor of marketing that many forget.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@www.amcfamily.com

For more information about AMC, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://www.amcfamily.com/innate.

The post The Foundations of Marketing appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Overcoming Fear

Ryan Miller — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 11:39:54 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they discuss the topic of fear and how it can hold you back from reaching your true potential as a chiropractor.

Send us your questions and comments! You can reach us at: mailbag@www.amcfamily.com

For more information about AMC, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://www.amcfamily.com/innate.

The post Overcoming Fear appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Aligning Your Concepts

Ryan Miller — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 23:03:18 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they discuss how you can align your concepts to improve your practice and your life.

Send us your questions and comments! Email us at: mailbag@www.amcfamily.com

For more information about AMC, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://www.amcfamily.com/innate.

The post Aligning Your Concepts appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

What is a concept?

Ryan Miller — Wed, 25 May 2022 12:55:19 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they discuss concepts and how they apply to your chiropractic practice.

For more information about AMC, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://www.amcfamily.com/innate.

The post What is a concept? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Under the Hood: Interview with Snacks

Ryan Miller — Sun, 22 May 2022 23:32:01 +0000

In a change of pace this week, join Dr. Shannon McMurtry as he briefly interviews the Wake Up Aligned producer to introduce him to the audience.

For more information about AMC, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://www.amcfamily.com/innate.

The post Under the Hood: Interview with Snacks appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Your Worth and Value

Ryan Miller — Sun, 15 May 2022 23:04:14 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they discuss the true value of chiropractic and how it impacts your community.

For more information about AMC, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://www.amcfamily.com/innate.

The post Your Worth and Value appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Choosing Love

Ryan Miller — Sun, 08 May 2022 23:13:21 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Doctor Shannon McMurtry as they discuss the concept of love and how it can transform the life of a chiropractor.

For more information about AMC, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://www.amcfamily.com/innate.

The post Choosing Love appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Making Commitments

Ryan Miller — Sun, 01 May 2022 18:26:37 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they discuss the commitment it takes to achieve success in the chiropractic industry.

For more information about AMC, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://www.amcfamily.com/innate.

The post Making Commitments appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

A Heart of Service

Ryan Miller — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 00:02:57 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry as they discuss the reasons behind the Wake Up Aligned podcast and how they translate to success in a chiropractor’s life.

For more information about AMC, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://www.amcfamily.com/innate.

The post A Heart of Service appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Welcome to Wake Up Aligned: Part 2

Ryan Miller — Sun, 17 Apr 2022 23:27:08 +0000

Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry continue their discussion of the new programs that will be fully revealed at the 2022 Family Appreciation Boot Camp in Orlando, FL. Don’t miss it!

For more information about AMC, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://www.amcfamily.com/innate.

The post Welcome to Wake Up Aligned: Part 2 appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Welcome to Wake Up Aligned

Ryan Miller — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 00:19:51 +0000

Join Tom Owen and Dr. Shannon McMurtry on their first podcast where they will tease some of the new AMC programs coming online soon!

For more information about AMC, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://www.amcfamily.com/innate.

The post Welcome to Wake Up Aligned appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

A Successful Chiropractor is more than new patients

Joel Slack — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 21:58:11 +0000

Let’s just jump right in and talk about a factor that I know can impact every chiropractic practice out there. Regardless of your background, regardless of the philosophies, the different techniques that are out there for that matter all the different models. The key to all these regardless: you’re in the people business.

More than marketing to new patients

Always remember that it doesn’t matter about your marketing, doesn’t matter about your insurance problems, it doesn’t matter about your overhead. As a chiropractor you know you’re an educated entrepreneur, you know you’re the bill payer. You’re the boss and you have to be the jack of all trades. You have to wear a lot of different hats. But it really boils down to in a chiropractic office you’re still in the people business. It comes down to that doctor-patient relationship and the individual patient experience.

If you’re in a typical modeled practice you’ve got all those hats different hats to wear and you may look at your schedule. You’re going to see 20 in the morning and 40 in the afternoon. You really need to look at it as going, “There’s 20 different individuals and there’s 40 different individuals in the afternoon.” They all have to get the same experience if you want that practice to sustain itself and to grow long-term. It’s not about the volume; it’s about the individual. How do you make sure on a daily basis?

Look, we’re all human and each and every day is unique. Some days we wake up and the birds are singing, right? Some days the bird poops on your windshield on the way to the office, right? Some days you’re having staff issues and some days there’s you get a bill in the mail that you weren’t expecting. There’s all kinds of distractions out there, especially in today’s society.

You could jump up and wake up in a great mood and jump on social media and by the time you get off the social media for three minutes your mood has completely changed. There’s all kinds of things to take the distraction away from the fact that when you’re inside that practice, that’s your world and it’s not about you. It’s about how you serve and how you connect with each and individual each and every individual patient and the experience they have with their doctor.

Chiropractic Practice Building

Now unless you’re wanting to practice one of those niche practices where you’re spending a lot of money on equipment, capital expenditure, and you’re spending thousands and thousands of dollars to market new patients and you’re constantly processing new patients over and over and over, well it really doesn’t matter that much about the patient experience in those situations because you’re not going to retain that relationship.

But if you’re building a model that’s self-sustaining, referral-based, stress-free model, that’s going to create a relationship over a period of time maybe a lifetime with that patient. If that’s the kind of practice you’re looking for then we need to talk about consistency. If there’s one word I want you to write down today, first and foremost it’s “consistency”.

Because as I said, each and every day is different in its own right. The staff could be different; we have different challenges. We do have decisions to make, but the bottom line is you have to be consistent in applying that patient. Each and every one of them have the same experience whether it’s 9:30 in the morning, 2:30 in the afternoon. When you’re yawning after lunch or it’s the last patient of the day and you’re ready to go home, regardless consistency is going to be the key factor.

I’m just going to go through a couple of different exercises that I know will impact the effectiveness of that day. You can have all the numbers and you want, but don’t confuse motion with progress. Just because you’re seeing a different a lot of different volume doesn’t mean that we’re being effective.

There’s an old saying that says, “blessed are those that go in circles for they shall be called wheels.” If we’re not efficiently seeing those patients, we’re not proficient in our quality of work with those patients. When we’re not productive with those patients then ultimately you’re not going to be as profitable. Unless you’re going to do a charity practice, where you’re just seeing as many people as you can in an erratic format and you don’t really all care about the bottom line at the end of the day then do whatever you want to.

The Chiropractic Coaching Key: Consistency

But if you’re interested in building that self-sustaining, referral-based, stress-free practice then consistency is the key. I’m gonna give you two components that you can take from this and implement tomorrow and measure it at the end of the day. Measure: did today feel more effective? That is, I’m more in tune and it’s something that doesn’t cost you a dime. You can do it every day and you can have that same feeling at the end of the day. You can know, “Wow the day was a lot more effective and productive than it would have been without it.” That is called visualization.

How many of you show up five to ten minutes before you see your first patient? You expect the staff to open the office up and get everything ready and you’re gonna hit the ground running with full synergy? You’re going to be ready to serve consistently for however many patients you’re going to see?

First and foremost: don’t do that! You want to get in the habit of getting to your office 30 minutes, or more likely an hour, and have time in an empty office to go through and set the expectation. You’re the leader; no one else is coming. You’re the educated entrepreneur; you’re the one that wears all the different hats. You’re the bill payer, you’re everything, the jack of all trades. It all stops with you and if you don’t set an expectation of what we’re going to see and produce in that day then who’s going to do it?

You would be wise just to walk through your office and start visualizing. If you don’t have a vision the Word says, “Without vision my people perish.” Okay, do you look at that practice as being your practice? What sets you apart from the person down the street? You set yourself apart from the person down the street. It’s not what people say, it’s what you do that sets it apart.

This could be the one thing that the patient comes in and goes, “Man, there’s just something different about coming to this office compared to all other chiropractic offices.” It could be as simple as you setting the experience, you setting the vision. So walk through your office. It takes 10 minutes. Walk through and speak out and it set an expectation of what we’re going to see today.

“I see people getting the healing and the care that they need. I see people talking about their condition and talking about their results with other patients. I see people paying; I see people interacting. I see a functioning practice. I see people sitting in the reception room waiting to be seen. I see a smooth process.”

Speak out Success with Chiropractic Patients

Speak out what you want to see and you’re going to find that that starts following you. Now, on top of that I’m going to give you that’s the volume that’s kind of like the big picture of the day. Set an expectation for the day. Set an expectation for your practice. It’s your practice! It’s your career! I can tell you, you’ve only got so many days in your career.

There’s learning years, there’s earning years, and then there’s yearning years. I can assure you, you only have so many earning years. Each and every day that you use loosely and inefficiently are days that you won’t get back. You think that this is a small factor, but I’m telling you it will impact the production and the effectiveness of that practice.

Get in the habit consistently applying a visualization factor to the Google Earth version of the day, of the practice. Set the expectation now on top of that. How many of you stop and pause because you have a long one patient that’s really talkative that day? You’re getting behind and you find yourself: “I’m 5, 10, 15 minutes behind!” Now you’re starting to rush yourself and you’re just moving into the next patient and the next patient.

Those people down the line, they deserve the best care as possible as well they deserve the best you can provide. It’s not their fault that you’re running behind or you could have a bad experience with a patient, right?

Let’s say you did a report of findings and the patient rejected and didn’t accept care. That rejection could follow you and go into the next the next office visit that’s waiting for you. Now you’re carrying that into it. Stop and realize that each and every visit is important and the sum of all those visits make up the production of the day. That patient deserves your best, so how can you just ensure that each and every patient is different and they’ll be treated as an individual?

Visualize New Chiropractic Patients

It’s called the visualization process. Again, you walk through the office and set the pace for the day. Now, start doing what’s called the door knob principle. The doorknob principle is that every time you reach for a doorknob, whether it’s going into the 1st visit, 5th visit, 15th visit, 74th visit, doesn’t matter.

You’re going into whether it’s a consultation, exam, or report of findings, or re-exam. If you turn a doorknob in your office you need to stop. Take that extra three seconds and just whether you close your eyes, you just reach and you just stop and pause. Say, “There is a lifetime chiropractic patient on the other side of this door that’s going to stay pay and refer and they’re going to get the best care possible today.”

You could say that under your breath in a matter of just three to four or five seconds. That patient’s gonna have a better experience than they would had you had been rejected in the care in the visit before and then you just carried that rejection into the office visit. All of a sudden three four or five patients have gone by before you get back in the saddle. Visualization, whether you’re walking through at the beginning of the day or individually turning each and every doorknob.

I’ll give you one more. If when your feet are just cut out from underneath it and you’re having a bad day, something happened to you. You got a phone call, you got something in the mail, some kind of big distraction. Take the time, I give you permission. Take 15, 30 seconds and just find you a quiet spot and reset. Reset through visualization.

There’s more to chiropractic mentoring

These are small factors and they’re not how to do a proper consultation. They’re not how to increase your closing ratios. It’s not your collection ratios, it’s not marketing. Let me tell you, new patients typically is not the answer to your problems.

That’s what the problem with these niche practices. They’re coming and going they’re not long-term relationships. When they’re gone they’re not returning. That’s not a long-term answer, it’s short-term gain. I can assure you when you’re focused on the details of each and every patient you’re going to find a productive a jump in your production.

Test me! Try it out! Do nothing more than just do this for three days in a row. Do a visualization walk through in the beginning of the morning. Be there early. Set the tone, then go through and do an expectation as you turn the doorknob. You can contact me directly if you want to and tell me at the end of that day was that day more productive and more effective than a day without. Compare it and you’ll find just like the thousands before you. You can’t argue with a principle.

Opinions can be challenged schemes and strategies will fail, but principles will never fail you. This is built on principle.

The post A Successful Chiropractor is more than new patients appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Chiropractic Business Coach finds the wealth hidden in your practice

Joel Slack — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 16:27:35 +0000

Chiropractic Business Plan Coaching

Hi, I’m John McGuire and today we’re going to talk about budgeting for wealth. Now with many of your practices you’re always looking to develop new patients as well as maintaining the patients that you have. That is a good start and a key element to the overall success of the clinic and how that relates to budgeting for wealth is quite simple.

When you have new patients coming in as well as maintaining patients you also have to worry about your entire overhead and bringing new patients in existing patients is one of your single most important things for your your collections and your total revenue. You do have to watch your number of staff, your overhead, your rent, and all those things included. However, keeping an eye on what’s coming in and what’s going out is going to be a key element for budgeting for wealth.

Grow your Chiropractic Clinic

Now let me explain that a little further. If you have a consistent record on your collections and you’re forecasting where you’re going to be in the future simply by growth and your track record and previous clinic performance you’re going to be able to adjust some of your overhead, streamline some of your processes, and increase your collections over time. Again, all these things have a tremendous way of really developing wealth for you. If you look back as an example say, last year, you did $500,000 in collections but your overhead was $400,000 and that may include paying yourself as the doctor as an owner draw or through salary or both. At the end of the day what’s left over and how much is your net profit. But how much cash you took in and how much cash went out are two very important things.

Every month when you’re looking at your financial statements (and if you don’t have good financial statements I suggest you get with an accountant and really review that) start getting some on a regular monthly basis. Because if you don’t have great reporting and you don’t understand your full financial picture of the business as well as where you are with things, it’s going to be very difficult to budget for wealth.

If you have a very good profit and loss statement, a very good cash flow analysis, and balance sheet those are three extraordinary things that will help you plan out to really better earn for yourself and better plan for the future. So every month if you’ve got X number of dollars coming in and at the end of the month your profit and loss statement shows a net profit. After all your revenue comes in all your overhead and then your administrative, this is what your net profit was depending on what that dollar amount is.

How to run a chiropractic office

You’ll also want to look at your cash flow statement because your cash flow statement may reflect a positive cash balance or even a negative one. Even though you have a profitable profit and loss statement you don’t want a negative cash flow statement. So if you’re showing profitable but you really don’t have extra cash to invest in or save for the future, those two things are very, very key when you’re looking at managing your practice, where you can perform better and actually build out a plan for wealth and retirement or just moving into something else.

Each month as you get your corrected and balanced financial statements done, whether you have someone on staff that’s qualified or an outside CPA source, you’ll want to one look at how you can improve your revenue. Two, you’ll want to really take a close eye on your spend. You know that may be marketing, that may be rent, staff, it could be some ancillary services you’re doing what’s that costing compared to revenue coming in. Perfect example, if you do massage and it’s costing you each month $1,500 but you’re only doing $2,000, is that worth the space in your clinic and is it worth the time for employment when you could be generating higher revenues or higher services?

You really want to look at each line item and be sure that you’re taking full advantage of your profit and loss. You want to budget that out and you want to take a look at each line item and see where you can focus on to do and perform better in. Once you get to that habit you can certainly build out better plans and working with your patients. In other words, you know a lot of chiropractors don’t necessarily want to tell the patients exactly all the things they need but rather what the cheapest way is to help them.

You should really totally focus on what they need and don’t worry about the dollars. I know that’s tough to hear but in reality if your mission is to help your community and help your patients you shouldn’t have to worry about that it’s something that you can work out with the patient. The patient knows what they need or will want because their health is that important to them. First and foremost, find tools and services that are really going to impact your patients. Find things that can have a direct benefit for them and also help you grow and sustain a much more successful higher profitable practice.

How to have a successful chiropractic practice

Some of those items are nutrition, some of those things could be ancillary services, some can be diagnostic tools and so forth. There’s a lot of valuable things that will assist the patients dramatically add to your profit margin, add to your profit and loss, as well as your cash flow. For example, if you currently just have an average of $55 per chiropractic visit and you do some of those things and you reassess the value that you’re providing you could go from $55 to $95 per visit even if you sustain the same numbers of patient visits each month.

You’re still going to do considerably better on a collection standpoint and a profitability. Those are really, really fundamental things that are very important to really develop a better profit and loss statement, net profit, and cash flow. If you had the same number of patients every month but increased your value per patient visit you’ll see a much better net profit and you’ll see a much better cash flow. Then, when you have that positive each month (because I’m a big fan at looking at the profit and loss statement and the cash flow statement), and if those are those positive or both of those have positive numbers you should have a plan in place.

Improve your collections per patient

Allocate a certain portion of that to stay with the practice. In other words if you have a positive cash flow and a positive profit and loss profit and loss, let’s say was $10,000 for the month of September, and cash flow was a positive $12,000. Take the higher of the two, cut it in half, keep one half reserve into the practice. Keep it in the practice and use the other portion to allocate with the financial planner or someone that you know that can help you build that wealth and budget.

Again, let me rephrase that. If the month of September’s profit and loss statement ended as a net profit of $12,000 and the cash flow was $10,000, take the higher the two. In this case that’s the $12,000. Keep 50% reserved because you want to keep money in the business so that you can grow. If certain things may happen or there’s an emergency or issue that you have to deal with, you’ve got to maintain the level of cash within the practice.

Your practice isn’t going to grow if you’re not putting money back into it, keeping some in reserve for a number of different reasons. Once you split that in half, take that other half and use part of it for your owner draw, and part of it for planning for the future. However you see fit, whatever a financial planner or an expert could help you with; those are great ways to really utilize your practice to prepare yourself for later in life, a new career, or whatever else that you would like to do in your future.

If you really stay disciplined to this approach it’s going to help your practice, it’s going to help you personally, and it’s certainly going to help your future. As you start develop out a plan there’s many things that many doctors do with this. This is a simple plan that we think is very effective and at the same time it’s a healthy approach to your practice. It’s a healthy attitude towards your patients, because first and foremost if you don’t have happy and patients who are satisfied with their outcomes it’s going to be very difficult. First and foremost focus on them, focus on what their needs are.

Utilize that to give them what they need. Increase your collections, bring in new patients from referrals as well as keep keeping and managing your overhead. All those simple things would seem difficult really aren’t. It’s just a matter of spending the time understanding them all and putting yourself in a position to where you’ve got that positive net profit and positive cash flow to utilize those funds both for the practice and for yourself and future.

The post Chiropractic Business Coach finds the wealth hidden in your practice appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Chiropractor Coaching for a High Volume, Fear Free Practice

Joel Slack — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 15:01:55 +0000

Hello AMC Family, Dr Beighle here coming to you for just a few minutes to talk about a very important topic. If I asked each one of you to just take a moment and answer this question to yourself: “What is the number one killer of dreams and goals?”

Everybody got it? The number one killer of dreams and goals is procrastination.

My definition of procrastination is the action of ruining your life for no apparent reason at all. Procrastination is a learned habit and habits can be good or habits can be bad. In this particular situation procrastination, I think we can all pretty much agree, is a bad habit. But procrastination can be unlearned. It can be changed. You can learn to become an action taker; you can learn to move towards the things that you want to do.

How to be a successful chiropractor

How many of us are guilty of going to a boot camp and getting all fired up about a topic or “I’m gonna go home and I’m gonna start doing a consult,” or, “I’m gonna start doing a [Patient Orientation Class],” and we stay fired up about that maybe until about Wednesday of the following week and then that notebook or all those notes or that binder gets pushed aside we never take any action on it.

That will absolutely put the fire out in everyone involved because you will not move forward towards your dreams and your goals. So a question that I would have for you is, why do you procrastinate or why do people not take action when they know that’s exactly what they need to do? I think there are three top reasons. The first one is fear. Fear is so alive and well in the spirits of most people: fear of failure, fear of looking silly, fear of being rejected, fear of falling on your face. So fear is one reason why we don’t take action.

Another reason why we don’t take action is maybe you don’t have all the tools you need. Maybe you need to tell your coach, “I need some more help on this,” or maybe you need a mentor or maybe you need to be in Toastmasters. It’s okay not to have all of the tools and that’s what holds you back but it’s not okay if you know you don’t have the tools and you don’t seek them out.

Okay the final reason i think a lot of people don’t take action is because they’re completely disorganized. Disorganization makes it very hard to take the first couple of steps forward to start implementing what you know needs to be done. There are many different styles of organization, there are many different day planners out there; computer apps, to do lists, whatever works best for you. The whole point is to get a system, get it put together so you’re not so disorganized and you can start taking the steps that you need.

Tips from a Chiropractic Coach

Let’s talk about the steps for a minute. How you spur action? You have to have action steps so you know what your dream is or you know what your goal is. Let’s just say I’m going to do a perfect consult, examination, and report. Okay great, but break that down into action steps. This week I’m going to listen to the consultation one time a day every day. I’m going to record it, I’m going to send it to my coach or I’m going to make a new patient packet. I’m going to get those all printed out ahead of time so that I am ready for the influx of new patients. Whatever it is that your heart desires that you want to do, break it down into steps that you can manage because that’s going to help you overcome inaction.

Grow a Chiropractic Business

Action creates enthusiasm. It’s not the other way around. Action also creates courage. The more action you take the more successes you have, the more courage you have to take bigger steps. Let’s talk finally here for just a moment about how can you create and manage a patient experience that’s positive for your office.

As we’re talking about action maybe you need to walk up to your front door look at your waiting room. What action steps do you possibly need to take so that that patient has a better experience? Maybe it’s plants and flowers, maybe it’s painting your building, maybe it’s clean your office. What about the person answering the phone and greeting your new patients?

Do you need to take the action steps so that they are properly trained either with Chiropractic Assistant coaching or coming to the boot camps so that patient is getting a very pleasant experience inside your office? I would encourage you not just to sit down and think about your dreams, think about your goals for your personal life for your business. Include your staff in that and start writing some small action steps down.

If you need help with those in any way reach out to your Chiropractic coach, reach out to a mentor, reach out to somebody that knows more in that area than you do and ask them to start giving you the tools or help you become better at that topic or whatever it is you want to do so that you are no longer frozen by fear and stuck in procrastination and not taking action on your life.

The post Chiropractor Coaching for a High Volume, Fear Free Practice appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to talk confidently to your community about chiropractic

Joel Slack — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 11:00:00 +0000

We’re in a series on Marketing and Promotions, and today Dr. Ben Lerner shares tips on how you can talk confidently about chiropractic with your community.

For more information about AMC, and how it can help your practice, visit us at https://www.amcfamily.com.

The post How to talk confidently to your community about chiropractic appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to Market Effectively with the Town Square Concept – New Patients

Joel Slack — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +0000

Getting New Patients to Your Chiropractic Practice

Let’s talk about a topic that every chiropractor is interested in: the acquisition of new patients. When chiropractors step across the stage the day they earned their diploma, they usually envision a stress-free, self-sustaining, referral-based type of practice. They think they can hang the shingle and people will come to their practice from all directions. But that is not what the average chiropractor experiences. In fact, they find themselves having to build a brand new business off of one or two sources. The problem is, building your business off of one or two sources can mean not a strong enough foundation. It can make the business unpredictable, and in many cases, it can be very expensive financially and expend your energy. I am going to share with you how you can gain more certainty with your practice.

New Patient Avenues

A visual exercise I would like for you to try is called the Town Square Concept. Take a blank piece of paper and draw one inch by one inch square block in the middle of your paper. Now, draw straight lines like rays of sunshine and do it as much as possible. Now “name the streets” and write at the end of each line of each source. One could be called referrals, one social media, one health talks, etc. The idea is to figure out just how many sources do you currently have that produce new patients.

The box in the middle is the “town square”, or in this specific case, your practice. Most small towns that expanded and grew into larger cities came from the concept of time squares. They built the city around the town square, and essentially create a spider web of roads that were interconnected, all leading to the town square. In this case, this is what we want to build.

Finding New Avenues

The key to expanding your practice is to find as many avenues of referral sources as possible, rather than only depending on the one or two sources that started the business. Marketing is an art, not a science, and it is important to remain flexible by being fluid with your sources of referrals as well as creating new sources. Marketing changes, and the marketing that was used five to ten years ago is not working now. For example, a lot of chiropractors have a marketing source that uses a lot of equipment that have debt tied to it. Sure, it produces a lot of business, but eventually it will burn out. When we are just relying on marketing alone, that is a dangerous business. Marketing is important but it is not the science of building the practice of your dreams.

Thinking big about new patients

My question to you is this: how many different streets can we name? How many creative ways can we find to get new patients into your practice every month? In most cases chiropractors are modeling their business like the interstate practice. They all come from one or two sources, get off the exit, and are then never seen again. Instead, envision the town square, where one street is named recalls. When a staff is properly trained, motivated, and directed, we can count on more people walking down your street and into your office.

Depending on your market, you could be marketing through social media, television, or radio. But what about direct word of mouth? Internal promotions? Spinal screenings? Health talks? Those last two words might have gave a shiver down your spine, as many chiropractors do not feel comfortable with stepping out of their comfort zone and their practice and speaking to an audience about chiropractic. Here is the key: we are interested in helping you build a long-term, successful, and self-sustaining referral based practice. We want to get to a point where we can get to a statistical number of people walking down the street and becoming referrals.

Community Streets to bring patients in

Spinal screenings are also a strong street for your town square. I have known and studied a lot about marketing, and what I know is that certain people are motivated by certain factors in marketing at certain times. In other words, we are trying to find the right person at the right time with the right need where we provide the right inspiration. Yes, social media and television does work. However, some people will not come into your office unless they meet you and hear you talk passionately about your art, your science, and your philosophy.

Whatever it is that you may talk about (fibromyalgia, sinus headaches, lower back pain) they are not going to get that form the television or a social media ad. So if you are not willing to do the spinal screening at the home and garden show, that is okay and you should not have to do that every weekend. However, if you never do spinal screenings, you could be not building a would-be street for your town square. It is essentially a road block, and no one would walk down that street.

How many streets can you think of?

A doctor that I know of has 287 named streets for his town square. 287 ways of people finding his office. He had the practice of his dreams, the patients, came stayed, paid and referred and he only had to see a certain number of new patients. He did not have to work and take away from his family time and have his life off-balance. Be aware, however – this will take the “whatever-it-takes” attitude. If you are not quite sure what you are talking about when it comes to the town square concept, just remember that if you do not understand it, does not mean it is not true.

I have an uncle who is a retired chemical engineer and he can talk about polyethylene. He could lose me so fast in conversation because I do not understand what he is talking about. But does that mean the science that he is talking about is not true? Of course not! The town square concept is similar, so I encourage you to number one: expand the concepts. Go through the exercise and you find yourself saying “Man, I need to get back into doing this” or “I have not done this yet.”

The pieces fit together

Remember this: business is a one thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle. You could get nine-hundred and ninety-seven pieces together, but three could be lost on the floor and swept up a long time ago. You could be looking at the great journey it was to get to those pieces together, but instead you fixate on the three missing pieces. Is the picture complete? No. Is the picture effective? No. But you could be just a few small steps away of having the completed practice you want. So I encourage you to use the town square concept and to keep streets open. Be creative when adding new streets, and if you need any help, please let us know.

The post How to Market Effectively with the Town Square Concept – New Patients appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to Educate Your Patients and Grow Referrals – New Patients

Joel Slack — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 19:15:52 +0000

Educating Your Patients

Today I wanted to talk about Patient Orientation Classes. It is imperative that you have a class or orientation for every new patient that comes into your office. A weekly orientation will not only do extraordinary things for your patients but for you and your staff as well. The benefits of holding a weekly orientation include your patients being more likely to stay on their care plans and make referrals and re-energizing you and your staff. I would recommend starting off with a one hour class every week and really take the opportunity to educate your patients.

People need to learn about chiropractic

We as chiropractors don’t have time – whether it be consultation, examination, reports, or daily visits – to really have the time to educate our patients about chiropractic. What the hour of weekly orientation provides is the opportunity to show your patients what chiropractic is about. What conditions chiropractors help with, how the nervous system functions – these are just a few things that can help patients know more about what you do. And the more your patients know, the more they want to buy in.

Back when computers were just starting to be commonplace, software really had to be taught to be used. Compared to today, where software is very accessible, software was rather complex. One particular computer company started to give free classes to people who wanted to learn their software and their programs. What the company found was once their costumers get educated, they were more willing to pay for the more expensive computers because they were accustomed to using the product.

Going beyond education

This is a lot like how your patient orientation class would be. The more they know about chiropractic, they more willing they are to buy into it. In addition, educating your patients shows how many issues chiropractic can help with, thus creating more referral opportunities. Whether it be headaches, lower back pain, or digestive issues, showing your patients the great range of issues chiropractic deals with will create opportunities for your patients to talk with family and friends who may have those issues to see you and your practice.

The biggest impact that weekly orientations will have will be for you, the doctor. If you have never done one, I can not really explain it – you would have to experience it for yourself. Once you get up there and walk your walk and talk your talk, it really energizes you. The first patient orientation class I did, I really did not want to do it. I did not want to stick around for an hour after my hard day’s work. However, someone told me I had to do it, and so I did it and I did not regret it.

Energizing You and Your Staff

I guarantee you, the one who will be most energized and excited about chiropractic was not my patients, but me. I remember very clearly it was Monday night I did my first orientation and I had 6 o’clock appointments the next morning, but I could not sleep. I was so excited to get back to my office and work with my patients. That’s the type of energy and enthusiasm it will give you and your staff. Because of the media, the medical profession, and general people who do not believe in chiropractic, we can use extra motivation and enthusiasm from time to time.

I promise you: the best way to do that is with a patient orientation class. So, what will you be educating them about? You are going to give them some basic anatomy and physiology of the spine and nervous system. Just explaining the basics of how chiropractic works. In addition, it gives you an opportunity to tell your patients your story. People want to know why you do what you do, and they find it inspiring. Whether it be you had a chiropractic experience, or whether it was through school, whatever the case is, everyone has a story of why they do it.

See the results

Again, this can be very motivating for your patients as well as your staff. The orientation can also be used to show results. Showing your patients before and after x-rays of a patient’s spine allows you to provide evidence of how chiropractic can work. Not only that, but you can tell the story of that patient. Sometimes showing the evidence is not enough, it is the motivational and inspiring story of the patient that can really energize your patients.

The post How to Educate Your Patients and Grow Referrals – New Patients appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to Generate More Referrals – New Patients

Joel Slack — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 19:11:55 +0000

What is referral marketing?

Greetings! I’m Dr. Greg Miller and I would like to talk about referral marketing. There are a lot of questions you may be asking, the first of which is probably “what is referral marketing?” Referral marketing is the method of promoting products or services to new customers through referrals, usually of word of mouth. Such referrals often happen spontaneously, but business can influence this through appropriate strategies. So naturally, what are some of those appropriate strategies? Well, when I did a quick google search there were literally thousands of documents, videos, articles, blogs – just a plethora of different ideas to increase referrals in an office. This shows that referrals are very important to the growth of a practice.

Let patients know who you are

Patients who become referrals key to growing a practice, as the referral patient can show the new patients they refer to who you really are. They know coming in that you are someone that they can trust and helping them determine the cause of their problem. The first obstacle you may be facing when entering the area of referrals is that your patients probably do not know how to refer. Most of the patients we as chiropractors tend to are patients coming from MD’s offices, and MD’s do not teach patients to refer as they often already have a referral service built into their system. I have a friend of mine who is an internist and his responsibility is to see patients annually. If the patient has an issue, he refers them to the appropriate doctor – whether it be a dermatologist, a pediatrist, or oncologist. Well, guess who is often missing in those referrals? Chiropractors. Therefore, it is important to teach our patients how to refer, as we can see that chiropractic can fall through the cracks.

Who Refers?

So, the next question should be, “who refers?” Which one of those patients that you have been adjusting for weeks, months, or years will be the one doing referring? You are probably thinking the one who does not have headaches or pains anymore. The truth is, the one that should be referring does not necessarily mean the patient with the most results since being in your practice. Instead, the patients you should be focusing on are ultimately the patients who like you and respect the work that you do. It is not about how great of an adjuster you are or what your results are. It might be a tough pill to swallow, but this is true as we have seen this happen for years on end.

Once you have the patients in mind, you can now cultivate a referral culture in your office. Start with the expectation that every patient refers, and many refer more. If you start your practice day as the goal in mind, I promise you that you will start to see results. It is an expectation you place not only for your patients but for your office, staff, and most certainly yourself.

Setting Expectations

“How do I do that?” you ask? This is probably a whole other topic, but I would say now to get accustomed to the concept of affirmations. If you do that, you will find out how important it is set expectations for yourself and your practice. Affirmations effect positively how you start your day as well as your staff. Affirmations include making sure your office is a place where patients want to be and morning walkthroughs. Morning walkthroughs can help create a referral culture by checking on the reception area, the staff area, the exam room, etc. Morning walkthroughs are almost ritualistic – how a day start is how a day goes.

It is very important for you to understand this concept as starting the day off right will follow everything else. Your confidence levels and overall office flow and organization is a big factor of whether or not your patients will refer. You should also be having staff meetings every morning. Make it a point in your staff meetings to discuss patients coming in and referrals. It shows that you have expectations for your staff, and thus they have expectations set on the patients to refer.

The Power of a Story

The most important, albeit critical, thing I want you to know when it comes to referrals is to gather testimonials. Your patients need to learn how to share their chiropractic story, and you must teach them how to do so. The next question that might sprout up for you: “How do I do that?” If that is your question, we implore you to contact us as we will be happy to help you how to do that. The next step is internal invitations. A mentor of mine used to ask me: “Dr. Miller, do you know the easiest way of getting referrals into your office? You just need to ask for them.” That may sound simple, but it is true. You have to be present with your patient.

You can’t be thinking about the bills on your desk, the next patient, or talking about superfluous things other than the task at hand. I can’t stress this enough: you must be listening to your patient, because chances are they are giving you opportunities for new referrals. What about a patient appreciation day? This is an important tool that we use to bring in referred new patients to your office. If you would like to know more about that, again, feel free to contact us as we are more than happy to help you.

The Value of Invitation

The last thing I wanted to share with you is to create a warm and inviting office for your new patients. You want the office to appear expensive, as if the patient will ask “will this hurt?” Believe it or not, you want that to be the case. You want to make sure that everything in your office has the appearance of value, success, and encouragement to refer. Certainly having an office with those things in place will create referrals. Your patients expect and demand value, even if they don’t outright say it. As I close, please understand that a healthy office with these positive systems in place should expect 3% or more of last month’s patient visits to be referred into the office next month.

For example, if last month you had 500 patients, the next month should see 15 new patients for your practice. At minimum, we should be talking around $2,500 for each care plan. If we see 90% of those 15 patients to be repeat patients, that is 13 new patients and about $32,000 worth of care. Now, imagine those 13 new patients referring to new patients and the profitability that comes from that. That is the power of referrals when you do it right way.

The post How to Generate More Referrals – New Patients appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to Find New Patients with Community Outreach – New Patients

Joel Slack — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +0000

Educating Your Community About Chiropractic

You would probably agree with me that most people do not know what chiropractic is. They do not know what conditions we can help and they don’t know how chiropractic works. If they think they do, they probably have it wrong. I think you would also agree with me that they are not going to learn what we do by watching drug commercials on TV, and they are not going to learn about it from their family medical doctor. The only way people are going to learn is by reaching out to the community and contacting them.

There are many ways you can do this. You can do print advertising, radio advertising and certainly online advertising works as well. However, one of the things I have found in 23 years in practice is that many people do not want to pick there chiropractor from any ordinary advertisement. They want to actually have an interaction with you as the doctor and get to know you a little bit or they want to come in as a referral through someone who has already known you for a bit of time. Community outreach is one of the best ways of going directly to potential customers.

Meeting your community where they are

There are many ways you can implement community outreach. Number one is networking. Go outside the office personally and go to social service organizations like the Chamber of Commerce. Number two is spinal screenings, which has proven to be very successful for generating new patients. Number three, the one that I love doing the most and have had the most success with, is doing public speaking health talks. You can do a public health talk for forty-five minutes to an hour for only five to ten people and could potentially get four to six new patients out of it.

The real value that comes from these public health talks is the ability to make a real personal connection with potential patients. You can also teach them the truth about chiropractors. A lot of people are very afraid of public speaking. I assure you, once you start doing more and more often it becomes a lot of fun.

Speaking to your community about chiropractic

So, if you want to do presentations as a part of you community outreach, you are probably asking “how do you do them?” First of all, it is really important to have a wonderful introduction during your talk. You want to share something about yourself and your background. Explain to them how you became a chiropractor in the first place. They start to have a personal connection with you right at the beginning. I always know when I am speaking with a group if I have done a good job with the introduction, instead of them looking around, talking to their friends or taking notes, their attention is directly at me because they are interested, engaged, and they want to know what comes next.

Chiropractic Talk Topics

The next area that a lot of chiropractors get hung up about is “what should I talk about?” To be quite honest with you, the middle part of your talk is not that important! It is information that you are there to convey, but it is not the critical reason why people will come into your office and under chiropractor care. With that being said, there are some pointers I can give you that are effective topics to deliver. Managing stress naturally is a go-to of mine, as it applies everywhere. Whether you are talking to a business, a group of mothers, or nursing assistants, bottom line is everyone has stress.

Another great topic is the concept of “how to protect your back while…” This phrase can be injected into many different things – how to protect your back at home, how to protect your back while fishing, how to protect your back while sleeping. I very strongly suggest that you weave chiropractic into whatever you are talking about. The fact is, the benefits of chiropractic are universal to everyone. The key here is to have the information accurate and to have your citations prepared so that the audience knows how you verified this information.

Bringing Your Community in to your Chiropractic Practice

Finally, the last part of the public talk is the most crucial part of the entire speech. When I first got into practice, I was asked by a local company to come and do a talk for one hundred and twenty employees on how to protect your back while working. These folks were pouring concrete all day long – it is hard work. I went and did the presentation as they asked. They were very pleased and asked me to come back the following year.

So I went back to the company and made the same presentation to the same people and they loved it, so they asked me to come back and do it a third time. The problem was, despite them loving my presentation, I gained zero new patients from the first two talks I did. Why? Because I never closed the talk. The third time around I closed the talk, and at that time I left with sixty new patients that signed up, half the people in the room.

So, make sure that you have an effective closing and make an invitation to come in and see you. If you can do these things effectively, you are going to have a lot fun educating your community and changing the mindset in your community. I have started two practices using these methods basically from scratch, and have had a ton of fun doing it. I hope these ideas have been helpful to you, and I also want to encourage you to tell your story and speak the truth about chiropractic. There are a ton of people out there in your community who do not know the answer to their problems is chiropractic. They may never know unless you go out their and tell them.

The post How to Find New Patients with Community Outreach – New Patients appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Ways Wellness Care Can Grow Your Practice

Joel Slack — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 19:36:00 +0000

The Value of Wellness

Do you know the benefits of Maintenance Care in your practice? You may also call it Wellness Care or Enhancement Care. Whatever the term that you want to use for that type of care, there are benefits and value to creating a lifetime wellness culture in your practice. One of the things that frustrates chiropractors today is running a pain practice.

Pain Practices: Short Term and High Turnover

Pain practices are short term care. Pain is the last to show and the first to go. A pain practice is going to average six visits per patient (Patient Visit Average, or PVA). In turn, that short average creates roller coaster practices. Pain practices must produce a ton of new patients regularly. It is a practice that will have its ups and downs all based on the number of new patients generated. This type of “Replacement Practice,” if you will, features constant turnover. 20 new patients came in this month and they’re all gone. Next month you’ve got to chase down 20 new patients to replace them.

These practices are very difficult to grow because the focus is on constantly replacing patients versus a practice that is concentrating on Wellness and Maintenance. In our office I prefer to call it “Enhancement Care,” because our goal and our vision is to continue enhancing people’s health for their entire life, not to just maintain it. We want to enhance that care and help our patients and their families experience true Wellness throughout their life. As a result, I spend a lot of time focusing on that in our practice.

Practice Growth Fundamentals

Now, you still need new patients, especially when first opening. You have to start by generating the new patients and have those patients coming into your practice regularly. Over time, though, you should continue to grow that practice by keeping those new patients in your practice. By having that long-term care in your practice, those patients will stay on not just a year but even two years, three years, five years, or even a lifetime.

Wellness Practices: Stability and Growth

That is true practice growth in my mind. Lifetime Wellness Care allows you to not have the generating of new patients be the sole determiner of what your month is going to look like. This is especially important if you hit a bump in the road and for whatever reason you can’t market. We’ve had practices shut down or closed down because they weren’t out able to go do screenings or talks. If you have that stable maintenance practice (and the referral-based practice that naturally results from that), you can continue going in and won’t have that big roller coaster of big dips and dives.

The key to true practice growth is keeping the patients. The first part of that is in your concepts and understanding that there is something way beyond the pain practice. If you’re running a pain practice, please understand that this is a concept change for you. The only way pain practices gain lifetime patients is when patients come back every time they hurt. That’s like running to the medicine cabinet for the Advil or Tylenol every time that they have a pain or ache.

Next, you can work to create that wellness culture in your practice. Patients want to come in no matter what their symptoms. They want to come in and they want to be Wellness-type patients. Wellness patients want to live up to the best of their health potential. That style of patient takes a culture to create.

Wellness Examples

Let me share some examples with you to help open your mind up to this a little bit. First, when I look at practices, especially newer practices, I expect they should be gaining a bare minimum of 20% growth a year. How many new patients would that level of growth require in a Replacement Practice? We’ll say they are seeing currently 20 new patients a month (you can substitute whatever numbers want with this example). A Replacement Practice that wants to grow 20% a year would have to average 41 new patients per month in year five to have grown 20% every year. In year 10, that practice would have to average 103 new patients a month! Clearly you can see the writing on the wall with that.

Pain Practice: Unsustainable Growth Required

Number one, you can only process so many new patients in a month. Number two, what marketing can you do to continually produce that type of level of new patients? What if you go 20 years, or 30 years into practice? You would have to be getting hundreds upon hundreds of new patients a month. Now, let’s look at 20% growth a year if you’re running a Maintenance or Wellness and Enhancement Care practice.

We’ll take that same 20 new patients per month. Let’s say you convert 80% of those patients to a care plan and let’s say that average is 24 visits. Those patients are going to end up producing 384 patient visits a month. Year after year, if you get 20 new patients and a 24 visit care plan with 80% of those, then you’re looking at 384 patient visits per month whether you’re in year one, year five, year 10 that’s what it’s going to produce if your new patient count stays stable.

Wellness Practice: Low Stress, Self-Sustaining Growth

Next, let’s look at this if you added a system that can train and educate your patients and help them to understand making the intelligent choice for both them and their entire family’s health. What if you had a system that could conservatively convert 60% of those 20 new patients to maintenance plans? For simplicity, let’s use an average of 1-2 visits a month as your maintenance or Wellness plan. This results in approximately 18 visits over the next year.

Again, these are conservative numbers. If you do that and you continue getting your 20 new patients a month, in year three the practice would be seeing 860+ patient visits a month. In year five there are over 1,000 patient visits a month! Looking further, in year 10 there are north of 1,300 patient visits a month. You can see very quickly how getting new patients in and keeping them not only maintains the practice, but also grows exponentially by keeping the Wellness and Maintenance patients.

Try It Yourself

You can run the numbers yourself to calculate these out. A practice that is only doing 250-400 patient visits a month can move to the 2,000 patient visits per month range very quickly by keeping patients. The key to note here is that this is a lower stress practice that is self-sustaining because you don’t have to continually produce new patients. A Wellness system will produce the new patients for you because this is going to be a referral-based practice.

In a Wellness Practice not only do you not have the stress of going out to get new patients, your practice is also growing on its own by keeping the patients. Additionally, the referrals that come in are going to be patients that are looking for that lifetime Wellness-type care also.

I would encourage all of you to use a system that allows you to operate this type of practice. It can take a ton of stress off you and it can really increase your productivity and your profitability moving forward in your practice.

The post Ways Wellness Care Can Grow Your Practice appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How Ancillary Services can add value to your practice

Joel Slack — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 12:00:00 +0000

What are your averages?

Our goal with our clients is that they would collect more than $100 per visit as an average, something we call the CPV (collection per visit average). Consider someone who goes to a normal medical visit. For that assessment, which isn’t much, they’re going to pay an average of $120-$150 for a medical doctor to do relatively nothing. As chiropractors, we’re going to do a lot of work to get them well so we believe you should be over that $100 line every time somebody walks in your door.

Efficacious Services

There are several ways to reach this average. One way is providing ancillary services that you provide in addition to a chiropractic adjustment. Ancillary services help raise those average fees for every visit. The first doctor I worked for had a package when you started care. I came from a very straight chiropractic background so the packages I was used to only had an adjustment. To have over $100 per visit average, your adjustment would have to cost more than $100. That’s kind of hard to do. This doctor had a package of things that you got, so you came in for your visit and you got your supplements, you got maybe some supports or an ice pack, or a pillow. When you looked at the average per visit for his plan it was over $100 per visit. With this method, I got to see right off the bat in my first job how you could drive those collection per visit averages up by offering some ancillary products and services that go along with the care.

Gonstead’s Method

Many people have heard of Clarence Gonstead, an icon in chiropractic. My mentor, Dr. Tom Owen worked for Clarence Gonstead. His family were patients of Dr. Gonstead, and when he first went to the clinic, they were surprised that there was a lab there. Dr. Gonstead was lab testing for the patients there. Based on those lab findings you were given supplements or food recommendations in addition to maybe one of the best adjustments you can get in the history of chiropractic, an adjustment from Clarence Gonstead.

At the front of the clinic there was a gigantic golden cash register and Dr. Owen said to Dr. Gonstead, “Hey, what’s that giant golden cash register for?” Dr. Gonstead said, “It’s for all the money.” Even back then he was probably collecting over $100 per visit based on not only a very powerful adjustment, but also a lot of additional services.

You can collect a fair amount per visit

We have many doctors who collect over $120 per patient visit on average. When you include a program similar to my first boss or similar to Dr. Gonstead with that sort of approach you’re actually adding in other products other services. When it all adds up and you divide the total number you have collected from the patient by the visits, we end up well north of the $100 average.

These are high quality products and services. When we talk about ancillary services these are from organizations like Vitalleo Health, where you’re getting the right nutrients into that patient’s life to help not just with their case but their overall health. We also have testing that a lot of our doctors do. For example, we have doctors who, as part of your first visit ask you when you were last x-rayed. If it has been more than 90 days, they will do that x-ray, which is a service in addition to an adjustment. Additionally, they will ask if you had your inflammation and CRP tested, or if you have had Vitamin D testing because these are really foundational needs. If your CRP is high you have a radically higher risk of heart attack or stroke and other things like cancer. If Vitamin D is low then you’re more susceptible to everything including infections like Covid.

Nutrition, Diagnostics, and services

Of course there’s an ongoing assessments and education that go along with this testing and these products, but when somebody adds an ancillary service like Vitalleo Health, the average care plan is going to be an additional $700-$3,000 on top of the chiropractic care plan. Now you are talking about a cost per visit for those patients that may be $300-$400 per visit on the average. It is not hard to see with the sort of plans that include these ancillary services and products, particularly like an entire testing and series of products and protocols to manage the findings on that test. It is easy to see how a practice can radically increase what they are collecting every visit on an average.

I came from a volume background. I saw 2,000 patients a week and taught hundreds of others to see 1,000-2,000 adjustments a week also. In those cases, usually you see people only collecting $30-$50 at the most per visit. However now we have really looked more to, “How do you help somebody who is seeing 200 patients a week make $1,000,000 a year?” In fact, how do you help somebody seeing 100-150 patients a week make $1,000,000 a year?

Our goal is to help doctors that are not going to see thousands of people every month still put $500,00 to $1,000,000 a year in their pocket to take home to their families. That is the whole goal of our program. It’s quality care at a high cost per visit without this need to see a mass number of new patients. Again, it’s not just a theory or philosophy, it’s what we’re doing with hundreds and hundreds of doctors right now.

The post How Ancillary Services can add value to your practice appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to work smarter, not harder

Joel Slack — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:34:05 +0000

Working harder?

I have always believed that working hard is a great principle in life. I’m all about working hard and being as productive as possible. That’s where the key to this comes in. Being as productive as possible doesn’t mean just grinding harder into it and “working harder.” When we talk about working smarter, not harder what that really means is, “What can you do to be more efficient, productive, and profitable in either less time or less effort on your part?”

What you will find is that building efficiency into your practice leads to proficiency. Proficiency in practice leads to productivity, and productivity leads ultimately to profitability (which we all must have to run a successful business). Most people are looking for the keys to the secrets to profitability and productivity. Many doctors think if they just work harder or spend more hours grinding a little more on it, then that will lead to the productivity and the profitability. Truthfully, all of that comes first from efficiency and so you must have efficiency first. That’s the smarter part. The smarter you are, the more efficiency you have. Ultimately efficiency means less work, effort, or time to get to productivity and profitability.

Get a system

Let’s cover a few subjects of the many subjects on working smarter, not harder in your practice. Number one is your system. Do you even have a system? When I talk about system I’m talking about your protocols and procedures in your office for you as a doctor and for your staff members. Without a system you DO have efficiency breakdowns. As soon as you have the efficiency breakdowns you are working harder not smarter. Do you have that system for your consultation, your examinations, and your reports of findings? How about a system for educating your patients, for your care plan for your patients? What about systems at your front desk with your therapy CA, with your other CA? Do they have a protocol and procedures to follow that can make them as efficient as possible?

How’s your efficiency?

Efficiency allows us to accomplish more with less effort and in a shorter amount of time. Again, that’s working smarter. Your daily office visits need a system too. Do you have a system for that, or is everything just shoot-from-the-hip in your office? Are you running around putting out fires all day? “This needs attention, that needs attention, oh this person has a question, this staff member needs help with this, this staff member has a question about this.” First and foremost when you want to work smarter is making sure you have systems in place and the training that goes with that. You should be getting trained. Your staff member should be getting trained, whether that is by you or by other coaches or other people that are consulting and helping you with your practice.

Secondly, is your office set up properly? This includes details such as your patient flow and your flow through the office as the doctor. Early in my career I had two adjusting rooms at opposite ends of the building. I was spending half my day running up and down the hallway in between there. Then I built an office where I was able to work out of one room, so I was able to see hundreds of patients a week. That one change vastly improved my efficiency and I was able to see many, many more patients there with less effort and in less time because I eliminated all the time that was going up and down the hallway each and every day.

Patient Flow Matters

Another thing to think about is your patient flow. Are you sitting around waiting on patients? Do they have to walk up and down the hallways? Does it not flow well? Is a therapy area or the resting area not set up correctly so that flow can be efficient for you and your staff members? Also are your CAs set up where they can be as efficient as possible? This may involve placing your front desk close to the therapy area so that they are able to efficiently serve both of those areas in your office. There are many things that can come into play with that.

Over the years of setting up offices to be as efficient as possible for productivity and profitability I’ve seen small things make a big difference. Once a chair (one chair!) moved in the office to the proper place allowed this doctor and his staff to increase that practice by $10,000 a month. I would say that’s being much smarter instead of working harder. It took about 30 seconds to move that chair and it increased profitability by $10,000 a month.

The third thing I want to talk about is educating your patients. When I say educating your patients that means a lot of things to a lot of people in the chiropractic world. This is not only educating them on what chiropractic is and what chiropractic is about. To work smarter and not harder you want to educate your patients so they can make intelligent choices in your office.

Educate your patients

If you want to keep working harder just keep trying to sell them and just keep trying to convince them that chiropractic is what they need. That’s not only working harder but that’s frustrating and that gets old after a while. I hear complaints from chiropractors all the time, “I feel like I’m selling all the time,” or, “I’m tired of feeling like a used car salesman.” How do we work smarter and not harder with that?

The first thing you need to realize is that everyone wants to buy but no one wants to be sold. I’ll say that one more time. Everyone wants to buy but no one wants to be sold. How do we work smarter with this? Again, it’s back to your system. You have to give the patients the knowledge they need to make the correct decision so they’re not just basing their decision on money, or on being in or out of pain. They understand their health, the problem that they have, and what needs to be done to correct that problem.

What’s your goal?

If you can do that, you’re going to have a lot less energy and effort put forward because the patient is making the decision. They want to buy. They understand the need that they have, they understand the product that you have in your office, and how that product can make a difference in their health moving forward. These are just three of dozens or hundreds of things that you can do in your office to work smarter and not harder.

The rest is up to you. Maybe your desire to be more productive and efficient is because you want to go from seeing 50, 100, or 150 patient visits a week to seeing 300, 400, or 500 patient visits a week. Maybe you want to work less. You would like to stay right where you’re at with 300 patient visits a week but instead of working four and a half or five days a week fitting those same patient visits into three days, three and a half days, or even two and a half days a week. Having that productivity is working smarter not harder.

– Dr. Todd Osborne

The post How to work smarter, not harder appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to boost your chiropractic collections per visit

Joel Slack — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 20:17:31 +0000

For the last 20 years, my business has been the business of chiropractic, helping doctors run stronger, healthier better businesses across the country and contributing and rendering better care to their community by doing so. Today we are going to talk about Collection Visit Average (CVA). You may call this a different term, but it is basically dollars generated or gross revenue generated per patient visit on average. Whatever you call it, it’s all about the bottom line in your clinic. What is the gross revenue generated on a per visit average?

Before we begin and get into that, we need to get on the same page about something. The ethical standard in our profession is to render care that is needed and efficacious. We never render care that is not needed and that isn’t beneficial because that is not what our ethical standard is. Don’t be tempted to do that! You can run an ethical business without going into any type of grey area and render the care that is needed and best effective for that patient.

Are you worth it?

With that being said, if you if you are adhering to that standard then you are a great candidate to talk about collection visit average. Why talk about collection visit average?

It’s easy to change

Number one, it’s easy to do. Honestly it’s one of the easiest things I’ve found to change in an office because it doesn’t tinker with any of the clinical approach, it doesn’t mess with any of the methodology that the doctor uses, and it doesn’t create new systems for the staff. It is simply just changing the structure of the clinic on the business side of the clinic, not the clinical side so it’s super easy to do.

We want balance

Secondly, we talk about it because many people now want better balance between their professional and their personal sides. When I graduated chiropractic school decades ago the thought of the day was, “You see a lot of people and you have a string of clinics.” That’s great if that is still your driver and that’s your mission and you feel that’s how you were called to serve, but a lot of us decided we wanted better balance. We had obligations and hobbies and commitments outside of the office and we weren’t able to be in the clinic 60, 70, 80 hours a week. If you’re going to have a limited approach like that you have to look at what you are generating on a per person average. Otherwise you don’t generate enough to make your obligations, pay your staff, and take home money for your family budget.

Third, the question shouldn’t be “Why?”, the question should really be, “Are you worth it?” It’s not about why do we do it. It’s really about “Are we worth it?” That’s an important question because there is no such thing as something for nothing. If you are providing care to your patients and you’re getting the amazing results that I suspect you are, that care is valuable. It is pennies on a dollar compared to what the patients can get elsewhere, especially through the medical model. We are typically undervalued. Why is that?

Reasons for undervaluing chiropractic care

Fear

The number one reason: Fear. Chiropractors feel that if they price their services up to a point or beyond it is going to cost them patient visit volume in new patients and somebody will go down the street for cheaper. Look, you’re not selling gasoline. People are not only basing their decision to do business with you because you are the cheapest person in town; in fact, it’s really just the opposite. In the patient’s mind what you charge is a big, significant determination of how good they think you are. As my doctors raised their prices and set equitable fees, they’re actually getting better results and the patients are more compliant. Why? Because there’s better appreciation for what the patients got.

The truth of the matter is the health care consumer wants the very best they can find at an affordable price, and that affordable price is what they can budget. You must get out of the fear game and the “What if?” because I can tell you from looking at thousands of stats over the past 20 years. If you do it the right way the new patients won’t change, the referrals won’t change, the patient visits won’t change, and the maintenance won’t change. Literally your clinic just takes a stair step up in financial health and the relationship that you have with your patients is still retained and maintained.

Are my chiropractic services worth it?

The other reason I think doctors don’t do this more it is they’re not sure their services are worth it. I promise you, if you are decent at your adjusting technique and you know how to manage your patients through a problem and you’re getting results that are pretty consistent, then your care is worth it. I have family who work in the medical field and compared to what we do there is really no comparison. We keep patients working and moving, and we keep them functional. There are no side effects to what we do except good health. So are you worth it? Absolutely, you’re worth! I believe it, and if you don’t believe it, you talk to me and I’ll try to help you see straight, okay?

Fixing the problem

Now, how are we going to do it? This is very easy. First, we have to have to give you a word of caution. You need to make sure that you are using a comprehensive patient management system that manages the patient not just through pain control but really into a better quality of life and manages them to a rehabilitated and stable state. If you don’t have a strong, comprehensive patient management system that would be the first thing to look for. If you don’t have that that in place on the front side the things that I’m going to recommend will really fall apart for you.

Increase fees

Once we have that comprehensive management system place here is step number one: simply increase fees. Increase fees to where they should be. Not where your buddy is charging them, not where the guy down the street is charging them, not what the insurance company says they are worth. You charge and set your fees based on what they are legitimately and really worth. If you don’t know that, reach out to me and I’ll guide you through that process.

Charge for your services

Number two: you charge for your services. This is all your services. One thing I love about chiropractors is that we all have that that patient that we just give care to they can’t afford it and they’re down on their luck, or whatever the case is. I think that is a noble thing that we do in our profession. The other thing that I know about us is that we tend to give away to store. We will do extremity adjustments and will do exams and will do therapies and we won’t charge people.

You must get out of that habit. Get out of their purse and out of their wallet and let your fees stand for what they are and expect to be paid. You have to stop sabotaging the financial health of your clinic by getting in the way and saying, “We’re going to no-charge that,” or “We’re not going to charge that fee today,” or “We’re going to give it to you for free.” I understand doing that on a limited basis, but you cannot always have that as a blanket policy and apply it to everyone in your clinic.

End counterproductive discount programs

Third: you want to end those counterproductive discount programs. I see so many doctors who do that because they think it entices commitment and entices payment. It is one of the most insidious, counterproductive things I’ve ever seen chiropractors do. What happens is that you discount, discount, discount for plans and for families and others. The more the discount is applied, the more the patient is thinking, “Is this care even really worth it?” You get into a dynamic where you’re treating the patient and you’re giving the very best that you can, and they have little to no skin in the game. Their compliance isn’t good, they’re not doing their home instructions, and when they have setbacks they blame you and they’re really grumpy with you. They do that even though you are giving all this discount away.

Think about it: do you want to see a clinic full of your family and friends? Why not? They don’t stay, they don’t pay, they don’t refer, and they are headaches to work with. That is what you are actually creating by enticing people with these discount programs. I know that may be counterintuitive and it may be completely opposite from what someone else has told you, but I can tell you without any doubt that is a problem to get your fees where they need to be and get you compensated equitably for what you are doing for your patients.

Add Ancillary Services

The last step: add ancillary services. Some of you already have that shiny object that attracted your attention way back when. Maybe you have laser, or you have STIM, or you have rehab, and it kind of fell out of favor once the once the novelty wore off. You forgot about it and it is in a back room collecting dust. Dust that thing off if that service is efficacious! If it’s real and it does something beneficial to your patient, let’s recommend it!

Let’s put it in your plan for that patient to get the results they need to get and let’s get paid for that. It doesn’t matter to me what the ancillary service is. What matters to me is that you know it is helpful and needed for that patient. Nutrition, orthotics like foot orthotics pillows, home stretching devices, TENS units therapy, massage, you name the ancillary service that is outside of chiropractic, not the adjustment. If you feel that is needed and beneficial for your patients, you recommend that, and you charge for that service.

Don’t be afraid

Raising fees and getting your revenue where it is, these are some of the easiest things that you can do. However, you have to make sure that you aren’t afraid of it and that your clinic is structured the right way so that this will be a win for you and actually a win for your patients. What they acquire too cheaply they esteem too lightly, so if you’re having problems with patient compliance or if you’re not getting the referrals, you need to see if you are undervaluing your fees and your services.

– Dr. Shannon McMurtry

The post How to boost your chiropractic collections per visit appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Chiropractic From A Businessman’s Perspective

Tom Owen — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 03:41:15 +0000

This post is only available to members.

The post Chiropractic From A Businessman’s Perspective appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Don’t Sell, Educate: 3 Things You Should Tell Potential Patients

Tom Owen — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 18:33:37 +0000

The key to winning clients isn’t to pitch and sell to them, but to educate them. The more people know about how wonderful chiropractic services are, the more likely they are to pursue treatment.

Here are just a few of the points worth telling people more about.

Let People Know About Your Training
It takes a lot to be a chiropractor. A doctoral education for chiropractors typically takes about four years to complete, and requires at least three years of undergraduate college education for admission. In addition to the seven years of training, these health care practitioners need to have a state license, further validating their expertise. Letting people know just how much training and experience you have is a great way to build patients’ trust.

Let People Know Chiropractic Medicine Can Help Back Pain
More people suffer from back pain than you might think. According to the American Chiropractic Association, between 80% and 90% of the American population suffers from back pain. Consequently, Americans spend about $50 billion on back pain treatments every year. This is a huge market that chiropractors can — and do — tap into. Over 35% of patients receiving chiropractic care are treated for mid- or lower-back pain, and almost 20% are treated for neck pain. Letting people know that chiropractic medicine can help with back pain is another great way to win patients over.

Let People Know About the Benefits of Chiropractic Medicine
It’s also a great idea to let people know about all the other benefits of chiropractic medicine. For example, let them know that chiropractic care can reduce the chance of needing surgery. One study found that patients with back injuries are more likely to get surgery if their care starts with a surgeon: 42.7% of injured workers who first went to a surgeon wound up having surgery, while only 1.5% of those who went to a chiropractor first wound up having surgery.

If you have any questions about educating people on chiropractic medicine, or know of any other great chiropractic marketing ideas, feel free to share in the comments.

The post Don’t Sell, Educate: 3 Things You Should Tell Potential Patients appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Four Challenges Chiropractors Face When Trying to Market Their Clinics

Tom Owen — Tue, 05 May 2015 18:43:47 +0000

One of the most important qualities of a successful business is the ability to offer an effective solution to a prevalent problem or need. For this reason, owning and running a chiropractor’s office is a great venture: according to the American Chiropractic Association, 80 to 90% of Americans suffer from back pain, causing the population to spend approximately $50 billion a year on treatments for this common problem.

…

Four Challenges Chiropractors Face When Trying to Market Their ClinicsRead More »

The post Four Challenges Chiropractors Face When Trying to Market Their Clinics appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Three Tips for Designing a Chiropractic Website

Tom Owen — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 21:16:16 +0000

It could be said that the 21st century is a good time to be a chiropractor. After all, research shows that there are an estimated 44,400 of these specialists working in the United States today, and employment in this profession is projected to grow 15% by 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. However, shrewd chiropractors will realize that this demand and increase in chiropractic services will also raise the level of competition. For this reason, it is important to start thinking up chiropractic marketing ideas now. In many cases, the first step is usually creating or improving a practice’s chiropractic websites. However, this can be easier said than done. Read on to learn about the steps you should take to make sure your online resource will stand out from the other chiropractic websites in your area.

Find the Right Agency or Person to Build Your Website
Any number of people can create or redesign a website, but it takes a certain level of skill and experience to create chiropractic websites that will stand out from the crowd and help you draw new customers. Look for a service that is local to your area, well-rated and regarded, and has some experience creating websites for medical practices. Don’t be afraid to ask for references or to see their portfolio before you hire them, and make sure you discuss exactly what you want from your site and what they can provide before you commit.

Communicate Information Effectively
Good chiropractic websites know what their users are looking for and how they can convey that information in an effective manner. Typically, this starts with the chiropractor’s name, phone number and other contact information, industry name, location and hours. From there, the website can add information about their services, qualifications, and history, although perhaps not on the home page. All of this content should be created with potential clients in mind: for example, while chiropractors are required to earn a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree and a state license, the average person isn’t going to know what a D.C. is. For this reason, while it can help to talk about the chiropractors’ qualifications on a services page, they should largely be referred to simply as a chiropractor.

Use Images Carefully
It is possible to use pictures and graphics in a way that can help you stand out and engage with your patients. However, it is important to stand out in the right ways. Try to avoid boring professional business photos, pictures of empty adjusting tables or a deserted chiropractic clinic, or bad staff photos. Instead, try to convey the mission and personality behind the practice: post pictures of sporting events you participated in or helped with, charity events you assisted, and more. Tell your visitors something about your clinic and the people behind it!

Every small business looking to improve its marketing strategies will have to create a website at some point or another. This process can be challenging, but if implemented correctly, can be extremely effective. The same is true for chiropractic websites. If you’re interested in helping your practice, look into this and other chiropractic marketing opportunities today!

The post Three Tips for Designing a Chiropractic Website appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Three Marketing Ideas for Chiropractic Services

Tom Owen — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 15:56:57 +0000

As a chiropractor, you know there are plenty of reasons for patients to take advantage of your chiropractic services. For example, you treat a variety of neuromusculoskeletal issues, helping people live more comfortable and healthy lives. This can have a huge impact on their treatment and experience: studies show that 42.7% of injured workers were found to end up having surgery if they started care with a surgeon, whereas only 1.5% of those who started with a chiropractor had surgery.

Despite these benefits, however, it can be difficult to draw new business. And because most chiropractors work in a solo practice, it can be difficult to find the time to implement chiropractic marketing campaigns. However, even group chiropractic practices might struggle to find the time to market their practice. Fortunately, there are a number of easy chiropractic marketing ideas that can help any practice connect and appeal to customers. Read on to learn how these chiropractic marketing ideas can help your business!

Create a Great Website
In the modern age, having a website is often essential to running a successful business. However, quality is key. To compete with other chiropractic services in the area, make sure you have the best site of all of the local chiropractic websites that might show up in a search.

Get Involved With a Charity or Your Community
One of the best ways to draw attention to your business is by reaching out. Offer your services to local nonprofit organizations, schools and other local programs, whether you offer a free spinal adjustment as a raffle prize or help care for injuries resulting from a local sports game. If done sincerely and correctly, this can be a great way to draw attention and improve the image of your brand while doing something that will make you feel great.

Learn a New Skill or Earn Accreditation
You’ve spent enough time training to be a chiropractor to know your way around chiropractic schools. But because the field is always evolving, it can be helpful to regularly expand your knowledge and demonstrate your expertise. This will not only assure patients that you are a trustworthy professional, but may also inspire some new chiropractic marketing ideas.

Marketing any business can be a challenge. However, because of the medical nature of chiropractic services, chiropractors often have even more to consider if they are to maintain a respectable position in their community. As a result, typical marketing efforts like social media and billboards must be supplemented with demonstrations of quality and integrity. How can your practice accomplish this?

The post Three Marketing Ideas for Chiropractic Services appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Two Ways Chiropractors Can Win Over More Customers

Tom Owen — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 20:25:33 +0000

There are approximately 44,400 chiropractic offices in the U.S., and — although back pain is a prevalent and serious problem (with 80 to 90% of the U.S. population suffering from back pain) — many qualified professionals do not know the most effective ways to market their business and attract new patrons. Here are a few ways chiropractors can help more men and women get relief from persistent, nagging pain.

Build Trust And Strong Customer Relationships
First and foremost, let your credentials speak for you. Make it clear on your website that you have a state license and Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree. Although this is required in nearly all states, customers don’t know that — and they like any chiropractors expertise and chiropractors education to be as clear and blatant as possible. If you have been practicing for several years or have any other accomplishments that will add to a strong foundation of credibility, make sure to include them on your website. And a final note from chiropractic marketing experts and chiropractic consultants: it’s not just about what your website says, it’s also how you say it. Even if you have years of service and plenty of credentials, presenting them on a website that is sleek, clean, and professional should always be a top priority.

Be Accessible
The key to drawing more customers — and keeping them — is to stand out from your competition. There are several ways to do this. One way is to be one of the most affordable chiropractic services in the local area. Another option is to provide excellent customer service. Make sure that you are available to answer customer questions and concerns as often as possible. Set up channels to talk to patrons on your website, on social media, over-the-phone, and in-person. Make a point of responding to all customers in a prompt, professional, and timely manner.

Chiropractors provide an invaluable service to people all across the U.S. Keep your business going strong by carefully executing chiropractic marketing, building customer trust, and going above and beyond for your customers.

The post Two Ways Chiropractors Can Win Over More Customers appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Doctor, Where is Your Focus?

Tom Owen — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 12:00:33 +0000

Chiropractic Practic Management — Have you noticed how some days, weeks or even months go better in the practice than others? At times, everything you touch “turns to gold” and at other times, nothing seems to go right.

Is it you? The insurance companies? Your spouse? The kids? Your staff?

In our experience in AMC, as Dr. Owen taught me over 40 years ago… “Where your focus flows, your practice goes”.

Many years ago, Dr. Jim Parker taught a principle called “PTC” which stands for Present Time Consciousness. It is just another description for focus. Today we hear Psychologists and motivational speakers telling us to “be in the moment”.

One of the core principles of AMC is to control your thinking. First, and best said by Jackie Owen, Dr. Tom’s Wife, “it’s important to think but it is 10,000 times more important to control your thinking…and…since you have to think anyway, why not think abundantly”.

Getting back to focus, we also need to realize how important emotions can be in our thinking. AMC teaches that anything which draws your focus away from the practice, especially if you get emotional about it, will hurt the practice. The most interesting part of this principle I have noticed in my 11 years of coaching with AMC is that the thing which draws your focus from your practice can be a very positive thing like a marriage, having a baby, or winning an award.

The key to controlling your thinking and stabilizing your practice is to first be aware of this principle of focus. It is had to be objective about your practice and your life which is where a good business coach can be invaluable.

I will close this article with a true story about a your coaching client of mine from the Midwest who cheerfully announced to me one day on our coaching call that he and his wife were breaking ground and building a new house. My first thought was if anything had the potential to divert focus and get you emotionally entangled, building a house had to be close to the top of the list. Marriages have been destroyed in this process more than once.

My AMC Family Member did not have a clue how this could impact his practice which at the time was doing extremely well. So, I explained the AMC principle to him and instructed him to make the strongest effort he could to focus 100% on the practice when he was in the office and then focus 100% on his family and the new house project when he was not in the office. I call it “compartmentalizing”.

Dr. H was a quick study and did a great job of following my suggestions. It took something over 3 months to complete the new home. And to my amazement, Dr. H set new practice records during that time! If he had only been seeing a few patients a day those numbers might not be so impressive. What I failed to mention earlier is that her was seeing 1,000 visits a month when he started the building project!

Focus on what you want and go after it. AMC can help you get there with minimal distractions.

The post Doctor, Where is Your Focus? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

What Does It Take to Succeed as a Chiropractic Entrepreneur?

Tom Owen — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 17:04:23 +0000

Chiropractic Practice Management — Making the decision to open your own chiropractic practice can be both exciting and terrifying. Taking a leap into the unknown by becoming your own boss is risky, but that risk is an essential ingredient in your success to an entrepreneur.

As chiropractors, we are more inclined to the technical aspects of both our work and lives. Having a love for the technicalities of your work is great! This knowledge, as well as your passion for chiropractic philosophy, is what got you through chiropractic school in the first place. To succeed in your running your own practice, however, you will need to harness your inner business person – and business involves both risk-taking and creativity.

If you haven’t picked up a copy of Michael Gerber’s book, The E-Myth, I would highly recommend that you do so. Here, Gerber teaches his readers to not fall victim to a common entrepreneurship myth (or, “E-Myth”). This myth tells us that if we know how to handle the technical side of our business, that we have an understanding of the entire business.

A chiropractic business is more than just the technical aspect of service. While it is true that the business would not exist without the service, we have to understand how to manage a business and maintain a customer base in order to succeed. In addition to handling the patients and problems that arise in the moment, we must look ahead and plan for the future.

Success tip #1: Know what you need

Your particular skill set is what makes your practice possible, but do you have what it takes to turn your skills into a successful business? You may find it necessary to hire help for administrative duties, reception, and billing. The key here is to keep any overhead expense at a minimum. Try to hire employees who are capable of handling multiple tasks, or find software programs that can reduce and simplify administrative or billing work.

Success tip #2: Manage your staff

Until now, you have only worn one hat – as the chiropractor. When operating your own practice, however, you must also put on the “boss” hat. Though your staff may be trained in skills beyond your particular areas of expertise, it is important that you hire knowledgeable, experienced employees with whom you can work closely and trust. Ask questions and be involved with the business side of your business. It is imperative for the success of your entrepreneurship that you have a solid grasp on what is going on with your accounting books, appointments, etc. at all times. You must also work closely with your staff to ensure good morale and customer service practices. Your administrative staff will likely be the first that your clients will encounter, and first impressions are everything.

Success tip #3: Market yourself

In order to succeed, you must make yourself known! Develop a mission statement that clearly conveys to your potential clients what it is that you can do for them. Reach out to the public through social media (Facebook, Twitter), radio advertisements, mailers… even going door to door. It’s important that you get creative when trying to establish a solid client base. Host an open house, develop special promotions – whatever it takes to get people walking in through your doors.

Success tip #4: Maintain your clients

Once the people are making appointments, the ball is in your court. This is your time to shine with your technical expertise and ability to help others. Make customer service a priority in order to retain your clients. Again, it is key here that your entire staff is on board with keeping clients happy. From answering phones to answering questions, you and your employees should all represent your practice with eloquence, authority, and knowledge. You will find that the majority of your new business will come from reviews and referrals, so it is essential to your entrepreneurship that you maintain 100% customer satisfaction.

Success tip #5: Educate and expand

Besides recommending you to other prospective clients, happy patients can aid in the growth of your entrepreneurship in other ways. Though you may be taking care of one problem for a client, they may not realize how many other ways you can improve their health and quality of life. It is your job to educate your patrons on the various services and educational products that you can offer to them. This is a mutually beneficial tool that will both increase your revenue and customer satisfaction.

Remember that of utmost importance in your journey into chiropractic entrepreneurship is your constant passion for your work and your business. Never become comfortable with the status-quo. To keep your practice vibrant and successful, you must always work to improve and grow your business.

Have Questions About AMC?

If you have questions about AMC or the Right Start program, click HERE to watch a video by AMC’s President, Tom Owen, that addresses the top questions we receive about AMC or simply fill out our Contact Form by clicking on the word “HERE” in the box below.

The post What Does It Take to Succeed as a Chiropractic Entrepreneur? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

The “C” Word -> Commitment

Tom Owen — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 12:00:23 +0000

Much of the theme in this post was borrowed, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. It was an article written by kettlebell instructor extrodinaire, Geoff Neupert, directed towards those seeking to improve their physical fitness… As I read it nearly 2 years ago, I remember thinking how EXACTLY this applied to success in practice… so here it is. Enjoy. More importantly, learn…

SOME OBSERVATIONS THAT APPLY SPECIFICALLY TO YOU, whether you know it or not.

It can’t really get any “easier.” You have this system of protocols that you must study, learn, understand, and implement precisely. Then, repeat what you just did. Again.

This brings up that “C – Word” – Commitment. Yes, I said it. The one word that most of us are afraid of. Commitment. I mean, it’s not like you’re at the alter saying “I Do” or anything. But maybe that’s a bit too simplistic, because before commitment comes that other “C – Word” – Choice. 

Here’s an age-old question… Is it Nature or is it Nurture? It’s Neither!

Paul Zane Pilzer, renowned economist, author, and multimillionaire entrepreneur, gave this answer to the “Nature vs Nurture” question. Pilzer was speaking about his research on rising millionaires. Pay attention, as you can easily draw the same conclusion about those who are building successful practices today.

Pilzer said: “One of the most fascinating parts of my research is — becoming a millionaire seems to have less correlation each year with your race, religion, country of origin, or even your parents or your education.“

Pilzer used the Forbes 400 list of the richest 400 Americans to support his findings. In 1981, the list contained a host of family names once synonymous with American wealth… the Rockefellers, Morgans, Astors, etc. By 1995, only 40 of the original 400 (or their children) remained on the list, and none were in the top 10. All of those in the new top 10 were born poor or middle class, and only two had finished college. Further, many if not most of the people on the Forbes 400 had a brother or sister who was as great a failure in life, sometimes involving a prison sentence, as they were a success.

We have seen this often times among our presidents… anyone remember Billy Carter? Roger Clinton? Pilzer explains the phenomenon…

“None of these people were nurtured or natured to fail, and most had the same family upbringing and educational opportunities as their successful sibling. Great success is now, more than ever before in human history, about making a choice.”

Your free will to commit or not to commit, is the choice. You have the free will to take the protocols you’ve been given and make something with them, or to neglect them. You also have the choice to misuse them. Have you ever used a pair of pliers to pound down a nail?

Follow the AMC protocol precisely. Stop tweaking it and watering it down unless you want watered down results. Consider this: “Changing part of it to “fit you better” is changing the wrong variable… it’s not the procedure, it’s your concepts or understanding that needs adjusting”.

All you have to do is study, learn, gain understanding, and implement it precisely. And then, repeat. If you’re struggling with the protocol, do this: decide to study some part of the protocol 5 days a week for 30 minutes.

That’s it! You’re going to do it for a month – just ONE month – that’s not very long in the grand scheme of things – it’s only 1/12 of a year.

Then, you’re going to reassess your progress and your stats. That’s it. Nothing less. Study, learn, gain understanding, implement precisely. That’s it.

I don’t care when or how you get this done either – You just need to do it. And you do have 30 minutes in your day.

 To learn more about AMC and our proven management system, click here.

The post The “C” Word -> Commitment appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Don’t Make This Mistake With Your Staff!

Tom Owen — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 11:00:55 +0000

Many doctors make this mistake in their offices, they hire staff to do a job, and then fail to give them proper training. They may show the new CA what they want done once or twice, and then turn their whole business (and reputation) over to them, expecting greatness.

Or, even worse, having a mediocre staff member, or one who is leaving, train the new staff member! I have often hear assistants say the following: “Well, they taught us this way but the way I do it is… “, or, “we really don’t do it that way here it really doesn’t work for us” and the doctors do nothing about it.

WHY?

…

Don’t Make This Mistake With Your Staff!Read More »

The post Don’t Make This Mistake With Your Staff! appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Need More Time In Your Day? Try This!

Tom Owen — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:01 +0000

“There is just no time.” “I can’t seem to get it all done.” “How can I grow my practice when I can’t handle what I already have?

Sound familiar?

If so, then perhaps you should consider an old concept known as cluster booking. Cluster booking can be very liberating when done properly. Please notice, I said “properly.” Many doctors will tell me that they are already cluster booking, when in reality they are not.

In addition to time management, cluster booking is beneficial for giving the appearance of a busy office. This is really important when you are in the early stages of growth! “People go where people go, because people go where people go.” It’s an old adage, but it is true. You especially want your new patients to arrive when other patients are there. It speaks volumes to their innate. Likewise, if they arrive when the office is empty, well, that speaks volumes too!

So, how do you master the appointment book? The simplest way to start is to begin booking patients at the exact same time. If you are just starting out, and you have 4 patients to schedule in the 9 to 10 hour, then give 2 of them 9 o’clock and 2 of them 9:15. If you schedule them throughout the hour, you are wasting time, and inviting frustration. We all know how it goes: one is on time, one is late, one is early. So, they won’t be there at the same time anyway. In fact, in the scenario above, you could give all four of them 9 o’clock, and you would be just fine!

To summarize, you want to work the ends of the schedule toward the middle. Cluster them as indicated above, but leave the middle of the schedule open. That way, if your morning isn’t full, you’ll have a nice, uninterrupted hole in the schedule where you can work on other things like paperwork, reading x-rays, and whatever else needs to be done. You will also have good spacing for other new patients to fill, but remember to schedule the new patients at the tail end of the cluster, so that they will arrive and begin filling out their paperwork while other patients are there.

Take charge of your time! You will be glad you did.

Dr. Rick Barrows

To learn about AMC and the chiropractors who are currently using our system, click here.

The post Need More Time In Your Day? Try This! appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Chiropractor Chooses AMC Instead of Bankruptcy

Tom Owen — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:50:05 +0000

Chiropractic Practice Management — Chiropractors are an unique breed. Unlike medical doctors, they have no unified set business model or system to plug into upon graduation. This is frightening for many and can lead to absolute failure for most.

Fortunately, however, Affordable Management & Consulting was founded on business principles and a system that’s been successfully used for well over 50 years. AMC has literally saved thousands upon thousands of chiropractors from failing in practice and leaving the profession.

One recent example was articulated to AMC and future chiropractors through the following letter:

Dear future Doctor,

I wanted to get this letter to you before you joined us in the real world. I thought you should know being a Chiropractor isn’t easy and I wanted to share a little bit of my story.

In 2010 I had reached the end of my rope. I was in a mountain of debt and had completely lost my love for Chiropractic. In the previous 3 years I had sat in a bankruptcy lawyer’s office with the intention of giving up. All three times I backed out and prayed for another solution. For three long years I prayed.

The funny thing is for 3 years I had been receiving info from AMC practice management and kept tossing it in the trash. You see I had already been in 5 other practice management groups and seriously doubted they had anything else to offer.

Then I just couldn’t do it anymore. I hated what I was doing and how it was affecting my family and my whole life. I decided to go to an AMC seminar and then I had every intention of filing bankruptcy the very next week. THANK GOD I went to that meeting. I was incredibly impressed and decided I would try their procedures and give it three months. If it didn’t work I would file bankruptcy at that time.

Well, that didn’t happen. I now have a busy, growing practice. AMC is truly the best. They have strong Christian values and they have completely changed my whole outlook on life and Chiropractic. I LOVE being a Chiropractor again.

I have heard that 80% of Chiropractors are struggling to pay their bills. I don’t how accurate that is but I have watched many Chiropractors suffer and just get out all together.

I don’t want you to go thru what I endured. AMC has an amazing program just for you. At least come and sit in one meeting and see what they can do for you. Then let your heart and instincts help you make your decision. I wish I had gotten this letter when I was in school. It would have made life so much easier on me.

If you have any questions you can call AMC at 877-262-7117 or please feel free to contact me directly at 785-742-1800(work) or 785-742-6999(Home).

I’m rooting for you.

Your Brother in Chiropractic,

Dr. Sean Binkley

Thank you, Dr. Binkley, for sharing your story! We trust many will find hope and encouragement in its message.

But more importantly we hope struggling chiropractors will stop the insanity by picking up the phone and calling us.

If you’re tired of the struggle, call us today at (877) 262-7117.

We’re HERE to HELP chiropractors!

Have Questions About AMC?

The post Chiropractor Chooses AMC Instead of Bankruptcy appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Why You Should Consider a Chiropractic Coach

Tom Owen — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:22:54 +0000

Although chiropractors are generally hardworking professionals, they often have no idea what it takes to build a profitable practice. Technique, expertise, and talent are not enough!

Here is something you’ve all heard before. “Get your degree, drive down the road until you run out of gas, throw up a shingle, and watch the new patients flood in.” Any chiropractor practicing today knows this is bogus!

So, how DO you build a profitable practice?
Many successful entrepreneurs will tell you their success stemmed from some form of coaching or consulting. What? You’ve never seen yourself as an entrepreneur? Well face reality doctor, because you are one!

It’s up to YOU to build a business around your definition of chiropractic. Unlike medical doctors, you don’t get to join the local hospital in order to draw a paycheck. Your time, energy, and entrepreneurial spirit are what pay the bills.

Some doctors believe that success requires establishing good rapport and a positive reputation within their community. However, while those things are essential, they aren’t the true foundation of a successful business model. Those doctors could avoid many mistakes, pitfalls, and loss of money simply by following the guidance of a experienced coach.

For the graduating chiropractor, so many variables come into play. You need to understand your market and potential patients. You can do this by performing a thorough demographic analysis which will help you identify your target market and determine how many chiropractors are currently practicing in that market. The physical location of your chiropractic office is also very important. And consider this: what do you need to know before you sign a lease? What about leasehold improvements? Do you know how to negotiate with a landlord for optimal financial benefits? We haven’t even mentioned figuring out which type of marketing is best for the community you’ve chosen!

Although it is a hard to make any accurate comparison between chiropractic and athletes, sports coaching might serve as a good example. Even athletes who have reached a high level of success and expertise hire coaches to supervise their training. This is because they don’t want to forget or miss certain details that will hurt their performance in the long run. The ability to control and keep track of their nutritional requirements, vitamin supplements, staying motivated, and knowing how to handle injuries, is often too much for even the most disciplined athlete.

Pushing one’s self hard enough to reach peak performance is extremely challenging. The principles of this illustration are true regardless of your occupation; and, they apply equally to chiropractors! What better way to reach your full potential than by working with a coach who understands how to run a successful practice or multiple practices?

By working with an experienced coach, you can avoid many headaches and common mistakes. A coach who understands finance, marketing, and business management, will benefit you greatly in the long run. This will allow you to focus on your practice and on refining your chiropractic skills.

To learn more about AMC and hear from chiropractors who are currently using our system, click here.

The post Why You Should Consider a Chiropractic Coach appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

5 Signs Your Staff is Underdeveloped

Tom Owen — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:12:26 +0000

One area of business management which is often overlooked is staff development. Most chiropractors dislike the management side of running a chiropractic business because their hearts are dedicated to serving their patients.

Many doctors continue to improve their clinical skills and techniques long after graduation because they are passionate about healing by nature. However, they aren’t as motivated to improve their business skills, and as a result their business potential is left undeveloped and their practice suffers. Staff development should be a priority for every practicing chiropractor. There will never be a practice that outgrows the development of the people who work within it. Many chiropractors are ignoring the most valuable commodity they have, their staff.

Developing yourself and others is one of the most rewarding privileges that business ownership provides. Staff should feel they are developing daily or they will become disengaged and bored or, even worse, treat their positions like a job rather than a career. Does this sound like your practice environment?

Here are five warning signs of staff under-development:

1. High staff turnover
2. Your greatest source of internal referrals is not your staff
3. Your patients would score higher than your staff on chiropractic knowledge
4. Your services / collection ratios average less than 90% per month
5. You would rather have a root canal than an office staff meeting

Simply put, you are not leading anyone if you are not developing someone. If you are only known as the “check signer” you are the boss, not the leader. Once a doctor takes an active role in leading and mentoring his staff, the production and revenue in that office increases. Fact: you will never reach stress-free production levels without good staff, and that only comes from intentional staff development.

People are starving for leadership and nobody wants a dead end job. However, in work environments suffering from a lack of leadership, that is exactly what you get. But, if you make an effort to become a leader within your practice and require accountability from your staff, you will be surprised with the results! We regularly hear from doctors who have taken an active role in leadership and staff development, that the production in their offices has increased dramatically.

We know that there are many doctors currently struggling to pay their bills and keep their practice afloat. With those priorities on their minds, leadership skills may be overlooked. Nevertheless, developing your staff and leadership skills may be the very thing that provides the growth your practice so desperately needs.

Doctors, you owe it to your staff and your practice to take charge. In fact, your practice will never reach its full potential without staff development.

Find someone who can mentor you and teach you some leadership skills for practice management. Once you gain some confidence, you will find that there is a motivational, worthwhile leader within you who is ready to lead the other members on your team.

Give me a great doctor and a poorly developed staff and you will get mediocre results. Give me a mediocre doctor with a highly developed staff and the practice will flourish!

You may be surprised to learn that you don’t determine the outcome of your production, it’s your staff. An investment in your staff is an investment in your practice. Help them develop personally and professionally. With your help they can thrive, and when they thrive, so will your practice!

To learn more about the AMC System and hear from our members, click here.

The post 5 Signs Your Staff is Underdeveloped appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

10 Steps For Setting Effective Goals

Tom Owen — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:30:59 +0000

The field of positive psychology, a discipline which investigates happiness, has made a surprising discovery. Studies have shown that finding contentment and meaning in life are not achieved by winning the lottery or being young and beautiful. Instead, happiness comes from the pursuing and attaining goals.

Goals can give new meaning to everything you do. Something routine or mundane will take on a new purpose when it is leading you one step closer to attaining a goal.

Goals also give life focus and direction. Those who don’t set goals drift through life, reacting to whatever comes their way. They base their decisions and actions on what their circumstances are in the moment, not on what they hope to accomplish in the future. Then one day, they realize that the days have turned into years, and they’re so far off course that they can’t even remember what their dreams were!

Achieving anything meaningful in life requires two things: knowing where you are going and having a plan to get there; and the decisions you make on a day-to-day basis either take you closer to that goal, or further away.

Here is an interesting illustration. Japanese carp grow according the the size of their environment; so, if they are kept in a small body of water, they stop growing at two to four inches long. However, if they are placed in a larger tank, they grow to many times that size!

The take-away? Your goals determine your actions and habits > Your actions and habits determine your environment. The Japanese carp may have no control over it’s environment, but WE are free to overcome our limitations and can achieve our dreams if we set goals and apply discipline to follow through.

Many people don’t understand that setting goals is a process which requires time and intentional planning. This prevents them from setting achievable goals.

Some of you may have made a goal list in the past, but because you did not achieve what you aimed for, you didn’t repeat the process for fear of failing again. I understand completely. Well structured goals only develop with lot of forethought; otherwise, what you end up with is a wish list. And, your goals will remain wishes unless you set deadlines and have an action plan for achieving them.

10 Steps For Setting Intentional Goals:

Make a list; think about what you really want to accomplish in your lifetime and write those things down.
Be specific. For example, if your goal is a new car, decide on the make, model, color, etc.
Don’t limit your goals to material things. Goals can be physical, mental, and spiritual. Include goals that involve your family, character, relationships, etc.
Align your goals with your core values and beliefs. If a goal contradicts something that you feel strongly about, you will experience inner conflict and confusion as you pursue that goal. Eliminate goals that don’t reflect who you are.
Determine what your values and priorities are, and put your list in order.
Set deadlines for all of your goals. Some may be 30-day goals, while others may be one year, five year, or ten year goals.
Read your goals aloud everyday. Keep a copy of them at your office and at your home.
Share your goals with people who are completely supportive and who will hold you accountable.
Remember that your goals may evolve as you grow. If your goals don’t change, then you may not growing.
Prepare yourself mentally for the hard days ahead. Make a commitment to see your goals through, regardless of the obstacles and difficulties you will face.

Remember this: if you shoot for the moon and land on a star—you are still on higher ground! If you want your practice to double from $20,000 in collections per month to $40,000, but only make it to $36,000, don’t count it as a failure! You have accomplished growth as a direct result of your efforts and your goals!

Challenge yourself to set goals and commit yourself to following through. A well thought out list of goals, an action plan, and a made up mind are crucial components for achieving the happiness and success that your are seeking for your life and your practice.

To hear from chiropractors who are currently achieving their goals using the AMC System, click here.

The post 10 Steps For Setting Effective Goals appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Why Times of Recession are Exciting Times to be a Chiropractor

Tom Owen — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 23:54:39 +0000

One only has to pick up a newspaper or turn on the TV to know the economic state of this country is in tough peril. Many of you reading this may not even have to do that. One look at your recent bottom line may tell you more than you wanted to know about current economics.

I understand that many chiropractic practices will suffer devastating losses from which they may never recover during this difficult time, however, I am also optimistic that there will be some in the chiropractic profession who will prosper more than ever and the impact upon the profession will be a positive one. History shows that chiropractic does very well during tough times. Why? Because chiropractic is the best value for the patient’s dollar. During a recession people don’t necessarily stop spending their money, they just become more discerning about where and how they spend their money. They are looking for the most value.

If we want to survive during these tough economic times and if we want chiropractic to survive, we must do two things. First, we need to unite with other chiropractors across all techniques. And secondly we need to align our philosophy and practice back to the basics of chiropractic.

Unite

Harry S.Truman said, “It’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it’s a depression when you lose yours.” We need to start caring about others in our profession. Chiropractic is a very divisive profession. A new graduate once told me that he was shocked at the lack of support and encouragement he received from others in the profession when he first opened his practice. He lamented that chiropractors, “eat their young.” A sad statement, yet many can relate to its truthfulness.

This has to stop. Studies have shown that 80% of chiropractors either struggle to pay their bills or don’t pay them at all, yet we continue demoralize and beat down those whose techniques or opinions differ from our own. It’s time for the chiropractors that are doing well to put differences aside and do what is necessary to help fellow chiropractors in need.

Back to the Basics

A google search for the words “recession back to the basics” yielded 796,000 results. That’s enough to know that beating the recession is certainly a hot button regardless of your profession. Throughout history economic downturns have been notorious for taking people back to their roots. Winston Churchill said “We have no money. We shall have to think.”

Exactly.

This can be a positive time of refinement in chiropractic if we start thinking and remembering why we got into the profession in the first place. Remember the passion you had for the art and philosophy of chiropractic? Remember how it felt the first time you adjusted someone and relieved their pain? It’s about helping the body heal itself, just as it was designed to do and bringing a quality of life to someone who thought they’d never live without pain.

In addition, as a business owner, it’s not about fancy marketing, big waiting rooms, the latest gadget, or the perfect location. It’s about delivering quality chiropractic care through an efficient system that is built upon rock-solid business principles. In today’s environment, this is the only way to recession-proof your practice. I’ve witnessed this through several decades of experience utilizing the same formula of success for thousands of chiropractors across the United States.

Chiropractic can, and will, do well in these hard economic times because of the value it offers. However, in order for us to continue to spread the message about the value and effectiveness of chiropractic, we are not only going to have to unite as a profession, but we must also unite on sound business principles. Once embraced, then action needs to follow. This is not just my opinion. Overwhelming evidence from our profession’s history shows that when proper business principles are applied, predictable and favorable results will follow.

Have Questions About AMC?

If you have questions about AMC or the Right Start program, get in contact with us!

The post Why Times of Recession are Exciting Times to be a Chiropractor appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

CHIROPRACTORS: Don’t Confuse Motion With Progress

Tom Owen — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 01:32:23 +0000

Chiropractic Practice Management –Over the years we’ve listen to the stories of hundreds of chiropractors who have asked us to help them make a living doing what they love to do, which is change lives through the healing art of chiropractic. These doctors come to us with a myriad of situations.

Some of them seek us out because they are opening their doors for the first time and want to do it right and avoid costly mistakes. Others arrive at our meetings desperate for advice because if they don’t increase their profitability soon, they’re going to have to close their doors and find another career.

There are others who come to us with solid practices, but they’ve hit a plateau and can’t move past their current level of collections despite repeated attempts to do so. And yet others call upon us because they’re doing well and growing but they need advice on expanding or hiring associates. These doctors are aware that there are chiropractic business principles they lack and they’re willing to do whatever it takes to learn those principles and see their desired outcomes.

However, there’s also a segment of the chiropractic population that call us, but then try to convince us that they really don’t need our help. We love to talk to doctors who are doing well (and wish there were more of them) but it’s a little disconcerting when a doctor calls us for help, because they know they need it, but then proceeds to tell us how well they’re doing.

Even before these doctors give us their stats, nine times out of ten we know what their situation involves. They usually have a high volume practice with impressive collections, but their overhead is so high that at the end of them month they’ve worked their tail off for little to no profit and they’re on the cusp of burnout. They think they’ve got a successful practice because they see such a large number of patients, but deep-down they know something isn’t right because despite those high numbers, they’re unbelievably stressed.

We’ll hear a chiropractor boast that they’re producing $60,000 or more a month. However, after we look at their situation and see that their overhead is $55,000 or more a month, we try to help them understand that it’s not about collections, it’s about profitability. It’s about working smarter, not harder.

We recently worked with a doctor who was doing a lot of insurance and personal injury business. He was proud to report to us that he was collecting an average of $97 per patient visit. That’s an extremely high average. However, once we took a look at his stats, we found that each visit actually cost him an astounding $89 per visit! His profitability was really only $8 per visit! Remember, it’s about practicing smarter, not harder.

Compare that to another doctor with whom we’ve been working who is only averaging collections of $40 per visit. However, his overhead is $14 per visit, so he makes $26 profit per visit. Which doctor is working harder and which doctor is working smarter (and making more money?) Profitability comes down to what you’re really making after overhead is figured in. Don’t confuse motion with progress.

There are many variables that make a chiropractic office successful. There are a lot of things the doctor has to do well. It’s so frustrating when we see them get most of it right, but allow poor financial decisions to sabatoge their sucess.

We’ve noticed a disturbing trend, the more money the doctors collect, the more they allow overhead to increase. Why do they do that? This is just common sense, a practice that’s producing $35,000 a month with a $15,000 overhead is much more profitable than a practice that is producing $60,000 a month with a $55,000 overhead. Yet one of the first things a lot of chiropractors do when they begin to make a little money is start buying new gadgets. They buy new cars, new houses, and new equipment. As a result, instead of looking at their net worth, they now have to look at how they can afford to make those new payments.
For some reason, there are many people who think like this, “I can’t necessarily afford that car, but I can certainly afford that payment.” This type of thinking starts adding to overhead and will eventually turn into a debt nightmare. The best way to deal with a problem is to never have it in the first place. Understanding basic business principles would solve the aforementioned problem before it becomes one.

The worst thing about making financial mistakes is usually not the mistake itself, it is the consequences of that mistake. Unfortunately a willingness to work hard is not enough to undo past financial blunders. You’ve got to know how to work hard and smart!

Just because you’re seeing high numbers of patient visits, doesn’t mean your overhead is low enough that you’re netting what you would be if you were running the practice effectively and efficiently.

Do the math. Take a look at your collections and overhead. It may explain where that stress is coming from. Learning how to work hard and smart will require you to change some things. Decide today that you’re going to take action and change your situation. What’s the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Today is the day to learn how to do it differently!

The post CHIROPRACTORS: Don’t Confuse Motion With Progress appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

A Simple Way to Reduce Stress & Increase Patient Visits

Tom Owen — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 23:17:11 +0000

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_color=”” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” padding_right=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”no” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” hide_pop_tinymce=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=””]

One subject that is often overlooked when it comes to running a chiropractic practice is appointment book control. Many doctors haven’t learned that every minute needs to accounted for by the appointment book. There’s only so much time in a day; and if that time is not managed properly, there will be frustration, distress, and failure.

Don’t allow your patients to come and go as they please. Schedule them. Allowing patients to control your schedule causes days like this: four regulars and a new patient show up for care. The new patient must wait an hour and a half for processing because you weren’t expecting two of the four regular patients. Both the new patient, the regular patients, and the doctor end up stressed and frustrated. This is a big break down in efficiency and unnecessary stress.

A simple way to fix this is cluster booking. Cluster booking is blocking time throughout the day where the CA and/or the staff know that they can’t book any new patients. That time is set aside just for regular patient visits.

There are also times when you must review report of findings. If you schedule in your report of findings, it helps you get into a groove. You’re able to focus on the patients at hand. It really improves the efficiency and effectiveness of what you’re communicating to your patients.

Here’s something else: cancelled appointments. If someone calls and cancels, are they rescheduled for another appointment? In other words, say they were on a care plan to be seen three times this week, but call on Monday and they cancel. Do you say “okay, we’ll see you on Wednesday.” If so, you’ve just missed that appointment which was part of their care plan. That’s not a rescheduled appointment, that’s a MISSED appointment.

Many doctors will say “Well, I had 25 visits scheduled today and 24 of them showed up, so we did pretty good!” If that were the case in most chiropractic offices, it wouldn’t be too bad. However if 25 are scheduled, four miss their appointments, and there are five unscheduled drop-ins, there is a most likely a problem with appointment book control!

Forget the drop-ins for a moment, let’s focus on the missed appointments alone. Do you know that if you have one missed appointment every day for one year’s time, you’ve lost over $10,000? So when the appointment book is mismanaged, even if it’s just one missed appointment a day, there will be dramatic loss of profit and productivity.

When I ask doctors how many additional patients they would like to see in a day, without added stress, most doctors will say somewhere around 20 more patients a day.

However, if one patient visit takes 20 minutes, the report of findings takes 30 minutes, and processing a new patient takes a full hour, you are wasting the time you could be seeing additional patients. There is only so much time in a day; and if your practice is not running efficiently, how will you ever squeeze 20 more people into your schedule. Until you learn to manage your schedule, that day will never come.

To more about the AMC System and what we offer, click here.

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

The post A Simple Way to Reduce Stress & Increase Patient Visits appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

They Don’t Teach This In Chiropractic School

Joel Slack — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:50:14 +0000

Today’s economic picture is uncertain. Markets rise and markets fall, and the media reports doom and gloom. For chiropractors the message isn’t reassuring and market instability can leave us paralyzed with fear.

Fear can be a catalyst for poor decisions and even poorer outcomes. For example, many chiropractors in desperation shoot from the hip; they try out the latest marketing fad or chiropractic gadget, and then scratch their heads when nothing changes. Instead of building a self-sustaining, referral-based practice, they build a practice where patients come in a few times and then never come back!

Surviving in today’s economy without a plan is not only a challenge, but practically suicide. If you don’t have a solid plan, you can forget about any practice success because it just won’t happen.

When you stop and analyze the road that brought you into practice, you’ll realize that you weren’t equipped to succeed. Don’t misunderstand me, chiropractic colleges do an good job of educating chiropractors to become competent doctors. However, they fail miserably when it comes to developing chiropractors into successful small-business owners.

What? You didn’t realize when you graduated from chiropractic school that you were considered an entrepreneur? Yeah, neither did your classmates! They, like yourself, assumed that upon graduation they would simply jump in their car, drive until it ran out of gas, and hang a sign proclaiming their doctorate status. Then, they would embrace the flood of new patients who would eagerly beat a path to their front door!

The majority of new graduates are in the same boat. Unlike the medical profession, which provides a system for doctors to plug into upon graduation, chiropractors must blaze their own trail to get started in practice.Many chiropractors fail at this because they haven’t learned what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur. Being an entrepreneur takes tenacity, creativity, and focus; and without a management system built on solid procedures and protocols, the practices they build are in for a rough ride.

If you want to get your practice onto solid ground, you need to find an efficient system to build it on. There are hundreds of business systems on the marketplace today. However, it’s important to find the one which produces financial stability no matter what the economy looks like. If you are interested in learning about our system which has produced solid results for over fifty years, let us know.

If you currently are in active practice, I challenge you to take a closer look at your system and answer the following questions:

Has it provided you with a self-sustaining, referral-based practice?
Are you having fun serving patients?
Does it free up your time to allow Innate to operate to its fullest?
Does its efficiency allow you to LOVE what you do?

If not, why are you using it?
To learn more about AMC and our system, click here.

The post They Don’t Teach This In Chiropractic School appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Business Lessons From a Day At Sea

Joel Slack — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 22:09:41 +0000

My father, Dr. Thomas Owen, often said: “Every principle in business and in life can be related to flying an airplane or sailing a boat.” When I was young, he and I spent a lot of time sailing in the Gulf, and there are certainly many parallels between life at sea and entrepreneurship. One trip in particular is the perfect example.

On the day we planned to set sail we were met with storms and winds left over from a hurricane in the gulf. Our first priority was getting safely out of the harbor, and we quickly realized that task would require careful forethought and planning.

We checked the forecast and then took into consideration the location of our slip in the harbor, the lack of visibility, and state of the water caused by the weather. We combined that information with our past experiences to determine how to safely get out of the harbor and set sail. We didn’t have a 100% guarantee of the weather, let alone our safety and success that day, but we took what we did know and used it to formulate a plan.

Pre-planning is so important when you’re preparing to take action. Whether it’s choosing a technique or opening a practice, you need to have as much information about your situation as possible, because it is necessary to determine your outcome.

This is where some people get tripped up. They either don’t take the time to gather the information and plan, or they think that because they don’t have 100% of the information available to them, they can’t make a plan at all and give up without even trying.

Understand that you may have decisions to make and plans to prepare, and having all of the information simply isn’t possible. Sometimes you are going to be required to factor in a certain amount of risk. Seldom are all of our plans guaranteed. What you have to do is decide how much risk you are willing to take.

A good rule of thumb to follow is to say, “If I can get __% (you set your number) of the information I need to make this decision, then I will proceed. If not, I will go with Plan B.”

Once you’ve decided, take the information available to you, weigh it out, make your plans and get on with business. If you wait until you know 100% of what there is to know about your situation, some decisions will never get made. You won’t formulate a plant, and those opportunities will be lost to you forever.

My father said it this way: “It’s called risk, and no one has ever been successful without a little bit of that.”

About an hour into our voyage, the storm worsened and visibility became almost non-existent. As any novice seaman can tell you, there are red and green markers in the water, known by the terms “port” and “starboard’ which are placed to help you safely navigate. Those markers were our salvation that day.

Adding to our problems, one of our engines mysteriously quit working, making it impossible to move forward. Without that engine, the ship began to spin, causing us to lose track of the markers. While I worked on the engine, my father, a master seaman, was able to gain control of the ship.

Though it was shaping up to be a rough day, we happened upon an unexpected blessing. During all the chaos, we encountered three fishing boats from Cape Cod. We knew they were experienced and had successfully navigated these waters before. Their familiarity with the waters allowed them to stay on course, despite the rough conditions.

So, we followed in their wake, trusting that their knowledge and experience would help guide us to safety.
When you have a day like that at sea, you realize how important certain things are to stay on course and out of danger. Making a plan, staying within the markers, and following someone with experience who has “been there and done that,” can mean the difference between success and failure.

You never know when low visibility or engine trouble could happen. It always helps to plan and get the right start, so that when situations cause you to lose sight of your markers, you know you can’t be too far off.

My story makes an obvious point. Sometimes there are situations in our lives that disorient us and cause us to lose sight of our intended destination. But, if we plan well, stay on course, and learn from those who have already succeeded, we can find success.

It is always easier to find your way if you have a point of reference, like the markers out at sea. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been temporarily sidetracked as a result of your own choices, or something you had no control over. Consider your lessons learned, and find someone who has gone before you. Ask their advice, follow in their wake, and let them lead you to success.

One final lesson from that day: a master sailor always uses his good judgement, to avoid needing his master skills.

To learn more about AMC and what we do, click here.

The post Business Lessons From a Day At Sea appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Why Your Office Layout Matters

Joel Slack — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:24:57 +0000

*Note: the following is an excerpt from the book “Chiropractic From a Businessman’s Perspective,” by Tom Owen & Dr. Todd Osborne.

Many doctors tell us that they see efficiency in their office as something that involves tasks performed at the front desk by their chiropractic assistant. It may surprise you to know, that efficiency has as much to do with the floor plan in your clinic as it does with the paper work at the front desk.

The floor plan shouldn’t be designed for patient comfort or convenience. We’re not being non-compassionate. Of course we want the layout to be as comfortable for the patient as possible. However from a business standpoint, the efficiency of your office is going to be based on you and your staff, not the patient.

There’s nothing wrong with trying to cater to the patients and make them as comfortable as possible, but you also have to set up your office to be efficient for you and your staff so you can help as many people as possible, as efficiently as possible.

The patient only has to walk up and down the hallway one time that day. But you and your staff may go up and down the hallway 40, 70 or 140 times a day. Don’t design your office to be so wonderfully ergonomic for the patient, that you and your staff are wearing yourselves out. Think about this for a moment. How long does it take a doctor to walk up and down the hallway 40, 70, or 140 times a day? It adds up! Multiply that amount of time per week or per month. Doctors waste more time maneuvering around inefficiently designed offices than they realize. Remember, inefficiency affects profitability. If you’re not using your time efficiently, you’re wasting it. Wasted time costs money.

We recently talked to a doctor that needed our help to increase his practice, but initially he didn’t see the need because he said he had all the patients he could handle in a day. He was seeing 30 patients a day. He said he’d like to see more, but he was maxed out at 30 patients with his current staff didn’t want to increase overhead, by hiring more. While we applauded his efforts not to increase his overhead, we quickly reminded him that it was most likely his inefficiency that was hindering his growth, not lack of staff. We knew that doctor could see more than 30 patients a day and we showed him how to do it without spending a dime on increased overhead. There are a multitude of variables we study when aiding a doctor, and one of those is floor design and patient flow.

When we observed the aforementioned doctor in his practice, we found that he was wasting about an hour and a half every day due to an inefficient floor plan. Just rearranging his office and correcting patient flow added an hour and a half of productivity to his day! Now he can see up to 45 patients a day. That’s an increase of 75 patient visits a week with no additional overhead! We’ve helped a lot of busy doctors become even busier just by addressing efficiency issues.

It’s not always about square footage either. A small office with an efficient design is much more productive than a large office with poor design.

Another principle we’d like to discuss as it relates to office layout/design (and again, this is not all that can be said on the subject) is that people feel 90 percent more than they hear. Your patients “feel” your chiropractic clinic from the time they drive into your parking lot until they leave on their very last visit. Each room in your clinic needs to project the right feeling. You need to understand that each room is saying something to the patient.

If a patient goes in to an exam room or an x-ray room, it should feel like an exam room or an x-ray room. The room should be telling the patient that without you saying a word.

There’s a little place out in the middle of the desert called Las Vegas. Businessmen in Vegas spend billions and billions of dollars to research things like what colors, smells, sounds, and sights will put people in the most comfortable mindset. They’re trying to stimulate their customers into a state of mind that makes them want to stay rather than leave.

Their business is gambling, but they pay attention to the aesthetics right down to the sound of the jackpot of a slot machine. It’s made from a particular type of metal that gives a distinct sound that resonates throughout the casino when someone hits the jackpot. When people hear that sound, they like it and want more of it. It generates excitement and a desire to stay longer and play more so they can hear that sound again.

What is your office saying to your patients? When you’re in the business of chiropractic you need to consider all the variables involved in what your patient sees and how they feel. The aesthetics of each room speak loudly to the patient. You should pay attention to what each room feels like– not just the efficiency of the layout involved.

For testimonials by real doctors who have used the AMC System, click here.

The post Why Your Office Layout Matters appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Big Collections ≠ Big Profit

Joel Slack — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:40:51 +0000

Over the years we’ve worked with many chiropractors who have asked us to help them make a living through chiropractic. These doctors have come to us from a number of different backgrounds.

Some of them sought us out because they were opening their doors for the first time. They wanted to do it right and avoid costly mistakes. Others arrived at our meetings desperate for advice because they were on the verge of closing their doors and seeking another career. There were some who came to us with solid practices, but had hit a plateau and couldn’t move past their current level of collections despite repeated efforts to do so. And yet others were doing well and growing, but needed advice on expanding and hiring associates.

“These doctors were all aware that they were lacking certain chiropractic business principles and were willing to do whatever it took to learn and achieve their desired outcomes.”

However, there are also chiropractors who come to us, and then try to convince us that they really don’t need our help! We love talking to doctors who are doing well (and wish there were more of them) but it’s a little disconcerting when a doctor calls us for help, and then proceeds to tell us how well they’re doing.

Even before these doctors give us their stats, nine times out of ten we already know what to expect. They usually have a high volume practice with impressive collections. But, their overhead is so high that at the end of them month, they have little to no profit and are on the cusp of burnout. They think they’ve got a successful practice because they see such a large number of patients, but deep-down they know something isn’t right because despite those high numbers, they’re unbelievably stressed.

We recently worked with a doctor who was doing a lot of insurance and personal injury business. He was proud to report to us that he was collecting an average of $97 per patient visit. That’s an extremely high average! However, we looked at his stats and found that each visit was costing him an astounding $89. His profitability was really only $8 per visit!

Compare that to another doctor we’ve been working with who averages collections of $40 per visit. However, his overhead is $14 per visit, so he makes $26 profit per visit. Which doctor is working harder and which doctor is working smarter (and making more money?) Profitability comes down to what you’re really making after overhead is figured in. Don’t confuse motion with progress.

There are many variables that make a chiropractic office successful. There are so many things the doctor has to do well. It’s frustrating when we see them get most of it right, but allow poor financial decisions to sabotage their success.

We’ve also noticed a disturbing trend: the more money that doctors collect, the more they allow their overhead to increase. Why do they do that?

“Common sense: a practice that’s producing $35,000 a month with a $15,000 overhead is much more profitable than a practice that is producing $60,000 a month with a $55,000 overhead.”

Yet what we often see chiropractors do when they begin to make a little money is to start buying new gadgets. They buy new cars, new houses, and new equipment. As a result, instead of looking at their net worth, they now have to look at how they can afford to make those new payments.

For some reason, there are many people who think like this: “I can’t necessarily afford that car, but I can certainly afford that payment.” This type of thinking starts adding to overhead and will eventually turn into a debt nightmare. The best way to deal with a problem is to never have one in the first place. Understanding basic business principles would solve the aforementioned problem before it happens.

The worst thing about making financial mistakes is usually not the mistake itself, it is the consequences of that mistake. Unfortunately, hard work is not enough to undo past financial blunders. You’ve got to know how to work hard and smart!

“Seeing high numbers of patient visits doesn’t mean your practice is effective or efficient. And, it doesn’t mean that your profit is as high as it should be! Do the math. Take a look at your collections and overhead. It might explain where your stress is coming from.”

Learning how to work hard and smart will require you to change some things. Decide today that you’re going to take action and change your situation. What’s the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Today is the day to learn how to do it differently!

To learn about AMC and what we do, click here.

The post Big Collections ≠ Big Profit appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Your CA: Asset or Liability?

Joel Slack — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:00:49 +0000

“Asset: A useful or valuable quality, person or thing: an advantage or resource.”

Do you ever think about the CA that works in your office as a representation of your entire office?

They make the first impression and are the first contact that a patient has with you and your practice.

When I think of an employee as an asset, I think about taking care of them. If something has a great value to me, I need to make sure that I give it the attention it requires. I make sure that they are taken care of and that they know they are valued as a person and as an employee in my office.

You cannot ignore an asset or its value will diminish or become tarnished. Think about physical assets, cars and homes. If you do not take care of them, what will happen to them? They will lose their value. They will start having problems and needing repairs. There is no difference regarding your staff! If you ignore their needs and fail to invest in them, they will lose value.

Your greatest asset is also your greatest liability.

How often have you been in your office and thought about that patient that has not returned in a while? You decide to reach out to them in a phone call and they share why they have not come back, and it was all about your staff?

Or, you let go of an employee only to have your patients tell you about their experiences with her, and they were all negative. How many patients are no longer coming to your but office did not speak up to you about the problem until they were no longer a part of the office team?

Why?

Because you did not see or hear what they were saying.

I do not mean that it is the chiropractic assistants fault every time a patient is lost. However, I am asking: are you investing in your greatest asset and liability? Did you only show them the job once, or have the previous employee train them and then leave? That is your responsibility.

Your staff should be the largest investment in your office.

You will need to invest time and money to produce the greatest return and value in your staff. Give of your time to listen to your them. Send them to training programs, not just Chiropractic meetings but also places that will yield a high return on your investment by helping them to be better people and employees. Find the time to train your staff personally. Follow up with more training. Your staff wants to know that you have time for them and they you care.

Your greatest asset is your greatest liability and hopefully your largest investment. So do the right things: invest in value and reduce liability.

The post Your CA: Asset or Liability? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

The Power of Appreciation

Joel Slack — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:27:11 +0000

In Dale Carnegie’s “How To Win Friends And Influence People,” one of the most important qualities he mentions for getting along with people is honest and sincere appreciation.

What happens when you don’t show others appreciation? You communicate that you don’t care what they’re doing, that they really don’t matter all that much to you and that what they do is of little significance. After all, if what they’ve done did matter to you, or others, someone would notice, wouldn’t they?

Contrast that with acknowledging people’s contributions and appreciating them for their efforts. You send them a completely different message. You show the person that what they are doing is so important that you remember every little detail. Not only that, what they are doing is so valuable to you, it must have similar effects on other people too. In turn, that must mean what they’re doing is creating a lot of value for a lot of people and possibly altering the world for the better.

Studies have shown that not only do people who have shown appreciation feel more positive about themselves, but also, others feel more positive about the individuals who have shown them appreciation. In fact, entire towns have caught onto this concept and have turned showing appreciation into a public relations opportunity.

The town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina sends out thank you notes. And not to its most upstanding citizens, it sends them to people who would have otherwise gotten a parking ticket. In the past, those who have overstayed their parking meter time received a ticket resulting in a $15 fine. Of all cars ticketed in Chapel Hill, 33% of them are first-time offenders. However, town officials now do something rather unique; first time parking offenders won’t find a citation on their windshield if their meter runs out. Instead, they receive a thank you note that reads, “Thank you for visiting downtown Chapel Hill.”

The town call this a “courtesy ticket” program and dismisses first-time violators’ $15 citation. The city stands to lose over $12,000 in missed fines, but gains positive association from the many visitors and shoppers who frequent the town.

Do you need some good PR? Try showing someone appreciation today. Did someone say something nice to you? Tell them you appreciate how nice they are and how much their words encouraged you. Did your CA go out of her way to do something special for you or a patient? Let her know. Do you have a patient that brightens your day with their timely visits? Send them a card letting them know how much you look forward to their visits. Or, take the lead from Chapel Hill, North Carolina and send a note of appreciation to someone who is completely unsuspecting. The core of showing appreciation is to convey the message to the other person that you appreciate something they have done for you or others. Usually, just saying it sincerely is enough to convey the message.

Something that costs you little time and money could mean the world to someone who so desperately needs to hear that their actions make the world a better place.

Since writing a note of appreciation is going to have a major impact on someone, it’s important to do it right. Below is a summary of how to write a good thank you note by Rosalie Maggio in her book, “How to Say It”.

Write the note promptly.
Mention specifically what you are thankful for.
Express your gratitude in a “enthusiastic, appreciative way”.
Tell why you like what you are thanking them for.
Close with one or two sentences that are unrelated to the object of your gratitude (i.e., saying something nice about the person, sending greetings to the recipient’s family, mentioning that you will see him or her soon)
Never express more than you feel. In worst case scenarios, a simple, “Thank you very much” will do.

In closing, never underestimate the power of appreciation. The principle of having an attitude of gratitude will not only take your practice further in the eyes of the public but will also echo the truth in BJ Palmer’s statement: “We never know how far reaching something we may think, say or do today will affect the lives of millions tomorrow.”

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

The post The Power of Appreciation appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

A Simple Solution for Unmotivated Staff

Joel Slack — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:49:53 +0000

Does your unmotivated staff drive you nuts? Do you go through staff like a hot knife through butter?

Even though the average longevity of a Chiropractic CA is only 2 years, there is a lot you can do to make those 2 years count. And, if you do a better job with your next staff in terms of hiring and motivation, they may just stay a lot longer. That might be worth learning about – don’t you think?

Well, for many years, I did not really understand this whole motivation business until AMC helped clear it up.

As part of our ongoing coach’s training – the best in the industry – in my opinion, we were introduced to a lady named Tamara Lowe who wrote a best-selling book called “GET MOTIVATED”.

In the book, she goes into great detail explaining all the different motivational types as they relates to individuals. The detail is incredible yet easy to understand. Best of all, you can get an accurate “snapshot” of what motivates you or anyone else by taking a simple 5 minute test and answering 21 questions.

I was amazed at how accurately it pegged me. I am a strong Producer and Internally motivated by “bigger than myself” causes (Chiropractic as a good example). However, I am an out of control Variable which means I am a great starter and a poor finisher. Sad but true. That’s was the bad news. The good news is this: now that I have learned this from a somewhat objective source, it is easier for me to change that aspect of what Tamara calls my “Motivational DNA”.

What does all this have to do with motivating your staff? In my experience coaching all over the country – it can be huge! If you’ve hired an Internal CA and can’t figure out why your cash staff bonus system puts her to sleep… you need to know why. This CA wants to change the world for the better (hopefully if she has attended your lay lecture for new patients, that would include Chiropractic).

She will respond much better to being reminded frequently that she is improving people’s health and literally changing their lives by being part of your Chiropractic team.

On the other hand, if your CA’s MDNA (Motivational DNA) is External, just “SHOW HER THE MONEY!” It’s not that changing lives isn’t important to her too. It’s just that tangibles like cash and prizes are more important to her.

This is just a tip of the iceberg. I have used these insights to improve my marriage even after 45 pretty good years!

Let’s say you give your potential CA this MDNA test BEFORE you consider hiring her. Can you see how this might make the decision easier when you have narrowed the options down to the 2 or 3 best candidates?

The post A Simple Solution for Unmotivated Staff appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You

Joel Slack — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:22:07 +0000

I’ve never met a chiropractor who came out of chiropractic college with the business wisdom that they needed. The average chiropractor or chiropractic student has spent anywhere from $150,000 to $200,000 to be educated in the philosophy, science, art of chiropractic, but upon graduation they still come out with little to no business education or experience. It’s not that a chiropractic education isn’t worth that amount of money, it certainly is, it’s just that our colleges don’t teach business principles.

From the initial decision to go to chiropractic school through the entire education and degree process to the licensing and board review process, most chiropractors never think about the fact that they had to be a businessman or businesswoman once they graduate and start their career. The average mindset of the new graduate is, “if I open my doors they will come” and once they figure out that it doesn’t work that way, they become disengaged with the prospect of running the business because they simply want to love and treat the patients, not run the day to day operations of a self-employed business.

In the chiropractic world today, the CCE requirements and restraints that the universities are put under make it nearly impossible for our schools to teach the business principles necessary to succeed as a practicing chiropractor.

Let me take this opportunity to say that most universities do a great job at preparing students in the philosophy, science and art of chiropractic, but, because of the lack of business education, we find our profession in state of disillusionment about what it takes to operate a chiropractic practice. Statistics show that 82 percent of our practicing chiropractors nationwide struggle to pay their bills or don’t pay them.

Over the 40 years that I have been around chiropractic, I have gone to many graduations at various chiropractic schools. As I sit there and watch the graduates walk across the stage, I always asked myself, “Which two of these ten graduates are actually going to be successful?” Of actual graduates, 50 percent of them fail, and nearly 20 percent of them never even use the diploma itself.

I believe that failure rate is the lack of business training. The principles that a businessman must utilize to make his or her business flourish are so foreign to the chiropractic profession. Over the years I have seen that most chiropractors have a tendency, regardless of their background, to envision the operation of their practice completely differently than how the business world would approach such an endeavor.

Most doctors, upon graduation, think they know how to pick markets and locations, how to manage the practice, staff it, equip it, market it, etc. But once they get out and start practicing, they realize that knowing how to run an efficient, proficient, productive, and profitable chiropractic practice is not as simple as they thought.

Obviously I can’t address all the nuts and bolts of running a practice in one blog post, but I can say that if you’ll remember these 3 things, it will help put you on the road to being successful as a chiropractor. If you get these three things right, it’s hard to fail. If you make a mess of any one of these three factors, you’re going to have hard times. It’s like a three-legged stool. Leave one of those legs off and you’ll probably end up on your tail.

What are the three things to remember?

Get the right LAND, use the right PLAN, and be the right MAN (or WOMAN). With this formula, it is hard to fail.

What happens nine times out of ten in today’s world is the chiropractors are picking the wrong land. They’re choosing the wrong markets for the wrong reasons. They’re picking the wrong locations for the wrong reasons. They have no idea what goes into choosing a good market for a chiropractic practice.

To add to those mistakes, the doctor doesn’t have the right plan. Many doctors don’t utilize any type of business system at all. In today’s world, overhead is too high, marketing is too expensive; you can’t afford to shoot from the hip any longer. You need a genuine “A-to-Z” system that answers how to run a successful chiropractic practice.

And even if the right concepts and procedures are in place, the doctor still has to exemplify the right attitude, be willing to put action behind the right attitude, and be committed to being a life-long learner. When you’ve decided you know it all, you’re on the wrong road! Be willing to learn and grow as a person.

You don’t know what you don’t know. Commit to finding out what it is that you don’t know, commit to learn, and change your situation. Remember the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Get educated on the business of chiropractic and let this be the year that you help more people with the power of chiropractic than ever before.

The post What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to Effectively Communicate DJD and DDD

Joel Slack — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:00:32 +0000

As chiropractors, we see spinal degeneration on a daily basis. We are well acquainted with what it looks like on an x-ray, we know of its progressive nature, and we know of the long-term consequences of leaving the cause uncorrected.

Besides using spine models and x-rays, what are some ways that we can make a practical connection in the innate mind of the patient?

One method I like to use begins in the initial examination, and sets the stage for the report of findings later. I have a chiropractic assistant who does some of the basic examination intake, which includes checking the height and weight of the patient.

When it comes to checking their height, the CA will ask the patient, “How tall were you when you were at your tallest?” The patient responds with their answer, let’s say 5′ 10”. The CA will then measure the patient, and it will typically be less. Sometimes it is considerably less. The CA tells them their actual height, and then says “the reason we ask first, and then check, is because if you have lost height, it’s usually from the spine.”

When I come in to do the examination, I’ll bring this up again about how they have lost height, and point to the spinal degeneration poster, reiterating what the CA had already told them about height loss in the spine.

This sets the stage for what the x-rays will ultimately show, confirming what was suspected.

This all gets reinforced again in the patient education class. A straight piece of wire is bent, and then straightened demonstrating how once it is bent, it is never the same again. It can’t be made perfect, and it is forever weak in that spot where it was bent. Then we take it one step further and ask, “What if this wasn’t a new piece of wire, but rather a piece of wire that had laid out in the grass for about 10 years, what would be different about the wire?” Of course, they are able to say it would be rusty, brittle, etc.

I then take them back to their recollection of their own x-rays and remind them that I had told them they were in a phase of degeneration on a scale of 1 to 4 with 4 being the worst, and to think of that as the rust on the wire. The level of degeneration determines the time the care will take, the gentleness needed, and the degree to which it can be corrected. All this comes into play when the plan of care is created.

I hope you all find these ideas to be beneficial. I know they have been for me, and for the patients that I serve.

Be blessed.

Dr. Rick Barrows

The post How to Effectively Communicate DJD and DDD appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Inefficiencies Can’t Be Ignored

Joel Slack — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:49:45 +0000

Hello, doctors. Today, I want to share a principle that affects each and every one of us in private business, and especially chiropractors. It’s the law of efficiency.

In chiropractic, when this law of efficiency is broken, these things will follow: First, quality of work will be affected. Secondly, productivity will decrease. And thirdly, profitability will also decrease.

Chiropractors typically go straight to that last one. How can I become more profitable? And that’s how we end up chasing every golden nugget that comes down the pike. We think we need a particular piece of equipment, or a specific type of marketing to build our practices.

In reality, if we would learn to become more efficient with our existing patients, to retain them longer and duplicate them; then we could easily double our practices. Most chiropractors have enough business to do exactly that.

Now, God only put one limit on each and every one of us, and that limit is time. Efficiency is learning how to properly utilize the time that God has given us in a quality manner which allows us to grow. How does this affect each and every chiropractor? The law of efficiency can keep us from reaching the next level. No matter how your practice is doing, that law of efficiency can affect you.

Let’s take a chiropractor that’s been in practice for seven to eight years. In that time, they’ve taken whatever they learned from a “ra-ra” seminar, or a mentor who taught them some things, and put together a system. And that system that they put together over the last eight years has allowed them to grow from nothing to $15,000 or $18,000 on average a month. So, why can’t that same person take it up from 15 to 30, to 35 or 40?

Why can’t they do that? Why does is it level off? Because inefficiencies prevent them from succeeding. You cannot outgrow a stress point, it is a law. You, the chiropractor might not be stressed, but your system has stress. It could be in your procedures as a doctor. It could be in your staff. It could be in the floor plan of your office. It could be in your paperwork or your software or in your insurance billing.

When your system gets stressed, it won’t grow any further. It can’t do it. This is why a marketing scheme will sometimes spike your business, but the numbers will later settle back down to whatever they were before.

Here’s another example. Really, whatever you build your system on, whatever you build your practice on, that’s your foundation. It can get you to whatever level you want to go to, as long as you address the law of efficiency.

If I want to build a structure of 5,000 square feet, but build it on a 500 foot 6 inch foundation, what will happen? I will reach a certain point and will be unable to continue.

Most of you had an idea, when you came out of school, of what your practice and life were going to look like. It was going to be a self-sustaining, referral based practice! But that isn’t how it turned after you opened. If the law of efficiency is addressed, you will be able to reach those other levels, but as long as you are limited by a flawed system, you will be stuck at a certain level.

It’s very difficult, and you will work yourself to death. Some of you know what I mean! That friendship practice where the patients come and go when they want to, and try to dictate the care? Well, you’re working yourself to death. Blessed are those that go in circles for they will be called wheels. You can’t outgrow that law of efficiency, and that’s what I wanted to share with you today.

Here are some other issues that could be limiting your practice. It could be you! It could be your attitude, it could be your physical capabilities. You could be getting worn out physically because your practice is inefficient. For example, if you have to walk 20 steps from point A to point B because of your floor plan. If you had to walk 20 steps 50 times to see 50 different patients, how many steps is that? That’s 1,000 steps, right?

You could have utilized the floor plan differently and saved those steps! And how long does it take to take 1,000 steps? Figure it out. There’s a certain amount of time that you’re spending in your hallway just walking back and forth. At the end of a day, if we tried to put 75 people in there, physically it would wear you out. So the law of efficiency applies to both the physical and systematic approach of the practice.

I encourage you, Doctors, to address staff, doctor procedures, patient procedures, paperwork procedures, software, and insurance from the time they walk into the front door until they finish their care and stay with you long-term. It’s about long-term practice growth here! We should be building long-term patients for life. It’s easier to stay healthy than it is to get healthy.

And that’s what we offer as chiropractors, the ability to stay healthy long-term. All of our patients should be with us for the long term. Don’t let inefficiencies hold you back. Address these issues in your system. And if you don’t know how to, then seek out the help. Find it in a place that has integrity and ethics and a system that builds chiropractic up.

Have Questions About AMC?

click HERE

The post Inefficiencies Can’t Be Ignored appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

The Dilemma ALL Chiropractors Face

Joel Slack — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:28:55 +0000

Greetings, doctors. I want to discuss a dilemma that is affecting all chiropractors. You’ll notice that by saying “all chiropractors,” I’m throwing every chiropractor into the same box, because that’s how the public sees you. It doesn’t matter what your philosophies, passions, or techniques are. It doesn’t matter to the average person driving down the street; to that average person, chiropractors all represent the same thing.

It’s interesting that there is a dilemma affecting all chiropractors. You’re probably wondering OK Tom, what is it? Before we get to that, let’s talk about the symptom of this dilemma that proves the fact. Do you know the national average for a new patient’s care with a chiropractor? Is it 5 visits? 12 visits? 18 visits? 25 visits. For time’s sake, I’ll tell you that the national average is six. Now, some of you will say that your visits average 15, 28, or 32. But god’s honest truth, it probably isn’t 80 to 100 per patient which is what it should be. It’s easier to stay healthy than it is to get healthy, so doesn’t that make sense? We all know that its best for a patient to see a chiropractor on a regular basis for a lifetime.

No matter where you stand personally, the national average is six. Now think about this: if your average is 15 and the national average is 6, there must be a lot of doctors who aren’t getting any visits at all. So, why is it six? That’s the real dilemma. The answer can be found in any old phone-book. If you open up a phone book and look through the 20 to 30 pages of chiropractors, there is one word that you will find in every ad of every chiropractor. Do you know what that word is?

You got it. Each one of you answered the same thing, pain. Pain is now synonymous with chiropractic care. Most of you don’t know it, but this started back in ’78 to ’80. Chiropractic was put into what’s now called the “muscular skeletal box.” However, this muscular skeletal box is not what chiropractic was built on. Back pain, neck pain, and headaches did not build chiropractic.

That was different time, and a topic which I’ll cover in another article. What I want to focus on is this: when we operate within the muscular skeletal box and treat our patients according to their pain, we lose two ways. The chiropractor and the patient both lose, actually. First, chiropractors lose when a patient’s only criteria for visiting your office is their pain. When the pain is gone, so is the patient. This means that the average chiropractor will struggle financially. As I write this, 82% of all practicing chiropractors struggle to pay their bills or don’t pay them at all. We have nearly a 50% default rate! Do you think this has something to do with being put in the muscular skeletal box? It has a lot to do with it!

I said we lose two ways as a chiropractor. Number two: as a profession, are we healing sick people? No, because once we treat their pain, which is just a symptom of the problem, they leave! And the root of the problem is still there. And following this pain model, we build the reputation of being “pain specialists” and not “real doctors” who solve health issues.

If the the average chiropractor sees only 6 visits per patient, then something is happening in those six visits which reinforces the idea that pain is the only reason for continued patient care. If you don’t know how to educate the patient, then listen to me: the time has come stop kidding yourself. The solution is not new patients. If the new patients are coming through that front door and heading right back out, that is not a healthy practice. It’s not healthy for the patient, and it’s not healthy for the practice. And your answer is not in marketing. It’s not found in the next unique piece of equipment that you think you need. Your answer is not going to be in insurance compensation, and it’s not going to be in staff training or staff involvement. The solution is found in maintenance practicing.

So how do you build a maintenance practice? By educating your patients, retaining their business, and duplicating them. In other words, you build a self-sustaining, referral based practice. Look, you’ve got to learn how to do this or your days will be numbered. You will run out of money because the pain-specialist model doesn’t work financially.

Now, all of your problems come back to this: why are the patients coming through your door and how long will they stay with you? By the way, it’s healthier for the practice AND for the patient if they stay, and that’s what chiropractic is all about.

I’m tired of seeing sick people stay sick because they are trying “chiropractic, and not “chiropractors.” What I mean is this: if someone has a bad experience with an MD, they will find another MD. However, people don’t do that with chiropractors. They try “chiropractic” and if it doesn’t work, they look for something else. So think about this: that chiropractor down the street from you also represents “chiropractic” in your market. They are either building-up or tearing-down chiropractic, and that directly affects your business.

This dilemma that we all share creates many different symptoms in our practices, and none of them are fun. So if you don’t know how to build a self-sustaining, referral-based practice, the time is now! I’m not trying to sell you on anything, I’m just saying that you will never have a fulfilled practice and life if you don’t take action. Seek it out, find it, make sure it’s a moral, ethical system that teaches you how to build chiropractic up.

Trust me, you will have a much healthier practice and your patients will live much healthier lives because of it. And most importantly, chiropractic will be sustained and prosper.

I hope this has been insightful,

God Bless.

Have Questions About AMC?

If you have questions about AMC or the Right Start program, let us know.

The post The Dilemma ALL Chiropractors Face appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

SUBLUXATION! True or Untrue?

Joel Slack — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:00:53 +0000

There is a word in our profession, a name, that is under attack.

Certain words evoke feelings or responses.

For example: when I say “Christmas,” for most the word evokes some type of memory or feeling. Same with “9-11” that’s all you need to hear to evoke a powerful emotion.

Some names have a strange irony. As was the case of a locally-owned business where I grew up in NY state. “Amigone Funeral Home.” Am I Gone? “Why yes, you are”.

Some names fit perfectly, such as a lawyer in NY named Sue Yoo. And some names are fine by themselves, but with an unfortunate juxtaposition… such as the photo of two college football players sitting beside one another on the bench, “Dingle” and “Berry”.

But there is one name or word in our profession that evokes passions and incredible, almost fanatical emotion either pro or con.

Subluxation.

Some, in fact the majority of chiropractors would argue that “Subluxation” is THE identifying word and concept that makes chiropractic unique from any other form of healthcare.

It would be unthinkable to remove this word from our vocabulary as it would effectively strip our identity and reduce chiropractic to a mechanistic procedure, devoid of any real purpose.

Yet a relatively small group of DCs would just as vehemently disagree, accusing those who support it as “uncritical observationalists”. They claim continued use and adherence to the word is an anchor holding our profession back.

Opponents contend use of the word causes confusion not only within our own profession but within the health care community at large. The literal meaning of the word itself, “less than a luxation,” has been challenged as inaccurate, and must therefore not be used.

To which I say the word has ameliorated to it’s current understanding… most DCs and yes, even the research, will agree there is more to the subluxation and it’s effects than the traditional definition of “a hard bone out of place pinching a soft nerve”.

Yet still, the word is what we use to identify a specific condition that we address and correct.

Other critics charge that since “subluxation” has a different meaning within the medical community, perhaps as a way to bridge a gap and, maybe, to be more “accepted,” we should use other terminology.

True or untrue? Mention the word “football,” and billions of people around the world will not think of a game where a brown, oblong ball is mostly thrown, caught, and carried by hand. To most of the people on this planet, “football” is what we here in North America call “soccer.”

Should we change the name of our sport because it may be a source of confusion among most in the world? To appear more agreeable/be more accepted?? Of course not.

“American football,” as most in the international community call it, is part of our cultural fabric. Similar is the case for “Chiropractic Subluxation.”

Sadly the current situation goes far deeper than that. If it were merely a matter of semantics, there wouldn’t be cause for such concern.

There is something more sinister going on behind the scenes as well, which is at the root of the attack on this word and on chiropractic itself.

It brings to mind the saying that as a profession, when chiropractors circle the wagons, we shoot inwards. Stay tuned as there is more to come on this all-important issue… The truth must stand.

The post SUBLUXATION! True or Untrue? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

From “Survive” to “Thrive” In 30 Days

Joel Slack — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:58:13 +0000

Let’s be honest, no chiropractor is immune to business challenges. Even if you’re the greatest chiropractic adjuster in the world, you won’t last in business if you don’t know how to run a business.

But most chiropractors think that common sense and a little bit of determination will help propel them over the hump. Well how’s that working out for you?

You see, your perception is not always your reality. You perceive that you’re a good business person but your reality proves differently.

Need proof? Just open your checkbook and compare income to expense. Do you have a surplus or a hemorrhage?

If you’re struggling in practice, don’t blame the economy. Yeah the media will try to get you to believe that lie but when you truly look around, there’s money to be made! And, since everyone has a spine, what’s your excuse?

The only thing most chiropractors are lacking is a complete business system that allows them to grow self-sustaining, referral-based practices.

One chiropractor that knows this well is Dr. Kim Anderson. She and her husband were trying everything under the sun to frantically keep their practice from going under. Before I spoil the outcome, let’s hear it straight from Dr. Anderson…

It was just three years ago, right after my husband and I had our second child, in which during that pregnancy I was on bed rest for seven out of the nine months, our chiropractic business suffered tremendously, and I was completely unable to contribute any of my time or energy in order to help turn our business around.

When I finally did return to the office, I knew that something desperately needed to change if we were simply going to keep our doors open. During those next three months, we brain-stormed, we tried a few things on our own, and we where even just moments away from moving out of our office into another chiropractor’s office as a simple act of survival. Our business was in big trouble. We knew our lines of credit were maxed out, and we knew we only had two more months at our current production to survive. My husband and I were open to anything at that moment.

It was during that low point when I received an AMC DVD that was shipped with a Dynamic Chiropractic magazine. I decided I would watch it, “just for fun”. As I watched the DVD, I was completely amazed to see “real” people who had similar stories to ours, yet by teaming up with AMC they were able to turn their businesses and their lives around. I knew these were real people because some of the testimonials were chiropractors in our State as well as chiropractors we recognized and knew from Chiropractic College. Not only that, but Tom Owen was the baby we watched get adjusted by Dr. Gonstead on the old Gonstead tapes we watched while learning technique. I knew then that I needed to call and get more information about this group called AMC.

Being very desperate at the time, I was also very “coachable” and as a result, after only one month of using the AMC protocols, our office collections doubled. We had a long way to go, but we knew that we had found a solution to a very big problem. Since that time our collections have continued to increase, but even more exciting is that our office now runs like a very well-oiled machine and we have fun. With a three and five year old at home, I only work part-time while maintaining an office that generates statistics of an office that would be open six days a week.

Thank you so much AMC for the timely support you gave my husband and I during the lowest point in our five years of business. You helped to re-instill my confidence and passion which not only kept our doors open, but has helped me care for so many more people in our community. We are now the premier women’s and children’s office in our area, and this has always been one of my closely held dreams. Without AMC dedication to help chiropractors, our profession would have a lot less practicing chiropractors, and there would be a lot more people in our communities who would never truly appreciate what “true chiropractic” is all about. My husband and I really appreciate what you have done for our family and our business, and I know that my patients are so grateful for you helping me be the Chiropractor that I always needed to be.

With Sincere Appreciation and Gratitude,

Dr. Kimberly A. Anderson

So, doctor, are you getting results like this?

If not, I highly encourage you to contact AMC. Our MISSION and PASSION is helping Chiropractors!

The post From “Survive” to “Thrive” In 30 Days appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Roadmap to Success for Chiropractors [VIDEO]

Joel Slack — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:00:16 +0000

Chiropractic Management — Do you know which part of your chiropractic business provides the roadmap for success? If not, then watch this video by AMC’s President, Tom Owen, as he walks you through strategies you can implement today.

To see the transcript to this video, click the “Continue Reading” button below.

Hello doctors. Hope this message finds you well and prospering today. I thank you for taking time out of your day to share with me. And what I wanted to cover in our session today is a subject that many doctors tend to stay away from because it is a part of the business management of a practice. And as we all know, chiropractors love to be passionate healers but they don’t necessarily love being the businessman or businesswoman that oversees the practice.

However, practice statistics are the road map to your new destination. If you don’t know where you’re starting it’s hard to map out a course to a new destination. So practice statistics– more than what I see a lot of times– doctors don’t even keep some the statistics I wanted to cover with you today. They just tend to know, hey, this is what I serviced, this is what I collected. And many times I find out they don’t even know what their services are, they’re just reporting what they’re taking to the bank. Very difficult to manage and oversee a practice. And when it comes down to it, you are the only person that’s going to take care of this practice. No one’s going to care about your practice, or you’re compensation or money more they you, the business owner. So it pays to know how to manage and lay out a course through practice statistics, and see what these things tell you. A lot of times it can be very enlightening and you can correct issues and problems before they ever really become one.

So let’s start out with one that’s very basic– patient visit average. Patient visit average is how long do patients stay with you? How you figure that up is you take your last three months, average out how many patient visits you’re averaging a month, then take the total number of new patients you’re seeing a month, average that over the last three months. And that’ll come out– divide new patients into patient visits and that’ll give you your PVA. That kind of tells you where are you losing them? Are you losing them at the 7th visit, the 15th visit, 25th visit?

Now the national average, believe it or not, is six. That’s not good because when your PVA is six, two things are going to happen: One, sick people will not get well. And number two is the chiropractor is going to struggle financially, unless you’re doing extreme diagnostics on the front side or selling some kind of front-loaded plan. That’s not the point, that’s not the purpose of us as chiropractors. We want to get sick people well. But that’s the national average. Now, if you just tuned me out on that, and said, well, that’s not me, my patient visit average is 26. I lay out a care plan, they tend to stay with me. But that’s not a self sustaining referral practice. Until your patient visit average is 80 or above, patients are staying with you for that long, then you’ve got room to grow. And at some point the efficiency is breaking down in the practice to have any kind of dropout rate because it doesn’t make sense. It’s easier to stay healthy than it is to get healthy. So there shouldn’t be a dropout rate. However, that’s what PVA tells you.

How about patient visit revenue versus patient visit cost? Some doctors will break down and see what their patient visit revenue is. Of course, take your total number of patient visits divided into your total average collections, and that will give you a PV revenue. At the same time, you can take your total overhead, which is minus your doctor salary if you’ve taken a salary– take your practice overhead, divide that by your total patient visits and that will give you a PVC, patient visit cost.

Now, what’s that tell you? Many times you’re working a lot harder than you need to and you’re not netting what you should. I had a situation where I was doing a practice analysis recently, and the doctor was collecting $40 a visit. Not great, not bad. It should be $50 to $60 in today’s market, on average. But the problem was when we looked at the patient visit cost, it was actually costing her $35 to see the patient. So she was netting $5.00 a visit. And I didn’t want to offend her. I said, well why don’t you just come down and practice in one of the clinics that I oversee and I’ll pay you $10 a visit. We’ll double your income. See, a lot of people just look at the revenue but you’ve got to look at the cost per visit. It costs to see that patient. It costs to keep the lights on. It costs to keep that x-ray developer running. It cost chemicals. It costs facial paper. It costs a staff to answer the phone while you’re taking care of the patient. There is a cost to every visit.

How about another statistic that’s very important. It tells you if you’re on the right road or if you’re on a road to struggles or failure. How about just case average. For every patient that comes in it should have a case average. There is a health care side of it and there’s the business side of it. Every patient should get what they need. Most doctors don’t have a problem, if a child comes in and they only need $150 to $300 worth of care, of doing that. But many doctors don’t step up and recommend the best and expect the best, and let the chips fall where they may for the patient. So, in other words, if a patient really did need $4,500 worth of care, whether they have insurance or not, we’re not recommending the best. So the case average is when you take your total collections divided by your new patients, that’s going to give you a case average for each patient.

And the key is if it’s anything less than $1,000 in today’s world, your days are numbered. You’re going to have to live off the Bank of [? Mama ?] for only for so long. You’re going to have to borrow money just to keep the doors open at that level. Now really you should be at $2,000 or higher. That doesn’t mean cookie cutter care. You recommend the best and let the chips fall where they may, and expect the best while you’re doing it.

Now insurance– we don’t care what the insurance pays. We treat the patient according to the condition that brought them and not according to the pain that they have today. If you’re going to do that, you’re going to struggle and you’re going to have a lot of ups and downs. That’s the roller coaster practice when you start doing that.

Now how about another one– referral average. What are your referrals? We all have a dream. Most chiropractors had a dream when they came out of school of having a self sustaining referral practice, but most chiropractors don’t have it. They find themselves having to go after whatever the newest gadget is, a new piece of equipment. They think they need to put in some type of weight loss into their office or the new marketing scheme to build their practice, when actually you should be able to advertise to gain and refer to maintain. It should sustain itself through a referral average.

What is your referral average? Well, there’s a formula. Can’t explain it all in a video today but I’ll give you the ins and outs of it. If you’re seeing, let’s say, 200 patient visits per month, then you should be able to expect, if the right system’s in place, and that’s key– the right foundation, the right communication with the patient, the right management throughout that patient’s care plan and time with you, which should be a long time, right? If you’re seeing 200 patient visits a month, you should be able to consistently expect– and that’s the key– expect, not wondering where’s my practice going to be next month? This month with collections were good but what’s my next month going to be like? That is not a fun way to practice. But if you have 200 patient visits a month, you should be able to expect 9, maybe 10, direct new patient referrals per month.

Now, larger practices maybe that are seeing upward to 1,000 patient visits a month, if that’s where you are, you don’t have a referral practice self sustaining, that practice should be averaging between 28 to 34 direct new patient referrals a month. That’s a good gauge of where your practice is and, more importantly, where it’s not. Because if you’re seeing 200 patient visits a month and you’re only averaging two to three new patients a month, direct referrals, then that should give you hope right now in this video. What if we were able to see that on a monthly basis– address the issues– what would happen if we added the six to seven new patients a month into your practice. And you were keeping them and your case average was about $1,800 to $2,200 a month. What would that mean? Well, it would mean thousands of dollars to your practice a month. But more importantly, you’d be getting more sick people well.

Practice statistics tell you where you are and it helps you to deter from making the wrong– as you navigate to your new route or your new destination of success it helps you to avoid the wrong turn or detours. Practice statistic analysis is not boring. It’s worthwhile and it will make a big difference in your practice.

I’ve got more to share with you. We’ll cover some more in the next sessions. But I just appreciate you taking time to share with me today. I hope you found this informative. Hope it’s useful to you. And more importantly, I hope it makes a difference in your practice. I appreciate you. God bless.

The post Roadmap to Success for Chiropractors [VIDEO] appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

What is Leadership?

Joel Slack — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 05:00:42 +0000

Being a leader in your chiropractic office is one of the most important tasks that you will have. However, to be a leader, you first need to know what that entails. What is leadership in your chiropractic office? It is the ability to influence your staff toward the achievement of the clinic goals. It is getting the staff to set aside their individual concerns to pursue a common goal that is good for the office and your patients. As a leader, you are looked on to influence or change the behaviors, thoughts or feelings of others around you.

Being the team leader not only means knowing your own strengths and your weaknesses (and yes we all have both) but it means that you recognize both the strengths and weaknesses of the people who work around you. You need to understand the difference between the individuals and how that affects the function of your practice. As the leader, one of your needs is to make sure that they are in harmony with the vision of the chiropractic office.

As the leader of your office, you need to have four components in your practice.

1. Choose your attitude: Today no one can choose how you are going to feel. Decide when you get up in the morning that no matter what is said or done to you today that you are not going to let it affect the outcome of your attitude. Your attitude will set the stage for your day good or bad!

2. Make their day: Decide when you get up out of bed in the morning that you are going to do something to make someone’s day. That starts right at home. What can you do to make the day of your spouse and children? When you get to the office what can you do to make the day of your staff members? Tell them you appreciate them and then follow through with that appreciation and show them you appreciate them. Be kind and considerate and speak to them respectfully. Then you have your patients make over them treat each one as if they were the only patient that liked you. Show them love and appreciation, show them that you care. Give them not quantity of time but quality of your time.

3. Be present: Whether it is your patient, staff, spouse or child, anyone, give them your undivided attention. Do not be working on other projects, reading emails or surfing on the web. Listen to others and give the people around you the value of your time.

4. Play: Have fun; energize the office and your staff. Make sure you hear laughter in your office. When running our offices we have so many set procedures and protocols that must be followed but sometimes we let those requirements override what we are here for. That is to make a difference in our patient’s lives. Having fun is a sure way to get people to want to come in your office for every appointment.

Step out today and be the leader that you are. When you lead like this you cannot help but to get the team around you to want to follow. Who doesn’t want to be around someone with a great attitude, who always listens, shows appreciation to the people around them and last but not least has fun doing it.…..?

The post What is Leadership? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to Schedule 180 Patients Your First of Week of Practice

Joel Slack — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:27:12 +0000

Let me ask you, doctor, how many new patients did you have scheduled on your appointment book the week before you opened your first practice?

180?

Half of that?

Not even close, huh?

That’s what I thought.

You see, that’s the case for many chiropractors. They may be competent, but they are not not businessmen and women.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. International chiropractic management and consulting firm, Advanced Management & Consulting, is HERE to HELP chiropractors open, run, and manage successful chiropractic offices. They literally have thousands of stories from chiropractors just like you who have learned AMC’s system, implemented it, and continue to prosper through it — even during economically depressed times!

Dr. Ava Carter is just one great example. Let’s hear how she started from nothing and grew it to something by simply following what AMC taught her …

My name is Dr. Ava Carter. I joined AMC in December 1998 and I am thankful to still be here!

I graduated from Life University in the fall of 1997 and immediately moved to Memphis and took a job as an associate. It was a good experience with great people, but I knew Memphis was not where I wanted to live. So, I moved home to Kingsport, Tennessee. I did not have a clue as to what I was going to do. I did have a business plan written, but was not real sure how to implement it. So, I called up one of my teachers from Life, Dr. David Maldon who lived about 20 minutes away. He told me not to do anything towards opening a practice until I talked with AMC. He even went with me to my first meeting. It was at the Read House in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I knew immediately that I was supposed to be there at that meeting and signed up with no questions asked.

I joined AMC before I even had an office space. They called us Right Starters! It was the best thing I ever did in my life. I think I attended four or five meetings before I actually opened my practice. I really didn’t have many obstacles or huge challenges in the beginning. AMC gave me the information, confidence, tools and protocols to open my office the right way without making the mistakes others before me had made. For that I am truly grateful! It took me six months to get open, and I am the one who ran the ad and got 180 new patients scheduled in my first week! How about that for an explosive opening! It took us weeks to get through all the new patients. If one cancelled we just called one on the list and moved them forward. That was just absolutely awesome. I even opened in the month of June!

Just recently, I had the opportunity to tell Dr. Owen how much he and his family mean to me. I do not even want to think of where I would be if our paths had not crossed in 1998. He was quick to reassure me that he knew! My life could have turned out much differently. My mother would probably agree that they took me from being a shy, timid person, to being a more confident, successful young lady and doctor. For that, she and my dad are grateful. I thank God daily for AMC, their leadership, coaches, and ministry.

The following years have been exciting. My office has seen growth just as yours can. Please don’t get caught up in worries about the economy, insurance stuff, etc. You must start hanging around positive and uplifting people who share your purpose and dreams in life. This is one of the most awesome perks about being an AMC Family member. I enjoy the camaraderie and family atmosphere just as you will. Set your goals high and work hard at doing what you do best, and that’s adjusting your patients and watching sick people become well! The AMC procedures will help you do the rest!

It is my mission to help lead other Chiropractors to AMC just as Dr. Maldon helped me. We enjoy the most wonderful profession, so it is up to us to pay it forward and see that others do well and prosper. I want you to get started in practice the right way. Here is my office number (423)246-9353. If I can be of help please call! Be blessed, hope to see you at the next meeting!

Albert Einstein once said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Does that define your current situation?

Are you ready for a change?

Would you like to know how to run a self-sustaining, referral-based chiropractic practice?

If so, then follow your heart!

Do it TODAY!

The post How to Schedule 180 Patients Your First of Week of Practice appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

How to Control Your Chiropractic Appointment Book [VIDEO]

Joel Slack — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:33:55 +0000

Chiropractic Management — In this video by Tom Owen, AMC President, you’ll discover how to control your appointment book for optimal chiropractic practice growth.

Hello, doctors. Hope this finds you doing well today. Thank you for taking time to share with me. I’ve got a subject I want to cover today in the next few minutes that tends to get overlooked when it comes to the overall management of a chiropractic practice. It’s one that seems to be too simple to give too much focus to or attention, but it really can lead to a lot of stresses and distractions to the practice and to the doctor. And it leads to frustrations for both the doctor and the staff.

What I’m talking about is just simple appointment book control. A lot of doctors, I guess, never give that much attention, so they don’t have really learn that there needs to be a certain rhyme and reason to every minute that is controlled by the appointment book for the practice. Because really, when it boils down to it, there’s only so much time in a day. We’ll cover that here in a few minutes, but if that time is not managed properly and at least there’s a plan of action that both the staff and the doctor understand or agree to adhere to, then it’s going to lead to frustration, lead to distress, and you cannot grow past the stress level.

So something as simple as the appointment book can affect the practice. So let me give you an example. If we have a practice that’s running free then the patients can come and go when they want to, they never wait for the care, they don’t wait for the appointments. New patients come in, they walk in, they’re seen in between patient visits that you’re supposed to be seeing patients. And this leads to a lot of frustration to the patient and the doctor.

The doctor is pulling their hair out going, well, I’ve got four regular people that are here for their regular care. And then they got a new patient waiting out there for upwards to an hour and a half to be processed. And that’ll lead to frustration to both the new patient, and the regular patients, and the doctor. So that leads just to a big break down in efficiency and stress that doesn’t even need to occur.

One way to fix that would be something simple as cluster booking. Might be a common term for you, then again it might be something new to you. But cluster booking is essentially where we’re going to block time throughout the day that says, hey, for this hour and a half, for this two hours, the CA, the the chiropractic assistant, the staff, knows that they can’t book any new patients. They can’t book any reports. That two and a half hours or hour and a half or whatever it may be, that it blocked for only to see patient visits for regular care.

And in that time they’re allowed, if we’re running on an efficient basis, remember that law of efficiency, can’t outgrow that efficiency law, that they can see, in that cluster booking time, those blocks, that they put in three patients for every 15 minute block. So that means that you’re going to keep on pace and see the patient, the regular visits, inside of five minutes.

Then they’ll be blocks of time to where you’re not going to see anything but report of findings. So if you need to fit in your report of findings, it helps you get into a groove. Also, you’re not bouncing around. You’re able to focus on the patients at hand. So you got report of findings stacked up for an hour. And then there’s three or four different blocks throughout the day where you can see a new patient. It really helps with the efficiency and the effectiveness of what you’re trying to communicate to the patients a time, and you’re able to get into a groove.

Here’s another point that’s often overlooked. Just plain missed appointments on the appointment book management. If someone calls and cancels, are they rescheduled? And many times a doctor thinks, well, I got them rescheduled. Yeah, but did we reschedule and make up for the appointment that was missed? In other words, if they were on some type of care plan where they were scheduled to be seen three times that week but they call on Monday and they cancel and you just say, well, OK, we’ll see you on Wednesday. Well, you’ve missed that appointment that was originally scheduled in the care plan. So that’s not a rescheduled, that’s just a missed appointment.

For example, a lot of doctors think, well, I had 25 visits schedule today. And 24 of them showed, so we did pretty good. Well, if that was the case, in most chiropractic offices that’s not that bad. However, a lot of practices, they have 25 scheduled, they had four missed appointments, yet they have five drop-ins. Good indication that we have a problem with appointment book control.

But just on the missed appointments, forget the drop-ins for a moment. Just on the missed appointments alone, do you know that if you have one missed appointment a day and you do that for a year’s time that’s over $10,000, money lost to that practice per year? So even when the appointment book is mismanaged, and even down to one missed appointment a day, that’s going to lead to lost profits, lost productivity.

Really when it boils down to it, efficiency is the key. And I’ve talked about that before in messages I’ve had with you before. But most doctors, if I asked you, how many additional patient visits would you like to be able to see in a day effectively and efficiently with low stress, most doctors, in fact, I’ve got more than enough case studies to show this, will say, hey, I’d like to see 20 plus more patients a day.

Well frankly, until you start learning to manage the time in that day better, if it takes you 20 minutes to see a patient visit, if it takes 30 minutes to do a report of findings, if it takes you a full hour to process a new patient, then you’re taking up the time in that day. And people are coming and going and you’re backed up trying to see the patient visits while you’re still trying to process a new patient. The bottom line is there’s only so much time, and if you keep running your practice in that manner, how you ever going to squeeze 20 more people in the office?

See, until we manage the time that we have better, then that day is never going to come to that you’re going to squeeze 20 more people in. Because that’s a stress point. And you cannot outgrow a stress point. Can’t be done until you address it. And all of these inefficiencies leads to that friendship practice that so many doctors deal with, where the patients are coming and going when they what to. They dictate the care. They come in, they sign in, they go straight back, they don’t even wait for any time for the doctor’s time. There’s no respect.

And when there’s no respect for the doctor’s time, I’ll assure you, sure as I’m sitting in this chair talking to you, there’s not going to be referrals. Because in any business, not just chiropractic, why does someone refer to another business? It’s because they like you and they respect and value what you offer.

Well, a friendship practice has the like down really good, you got a lot of friends in the office. But they don’t respect and value, really, what you’re offering. That’s why results, even if they frustrate you, your patients are getting great results, but they’re not referring. It really boils down to if you’ve got just the like, friendship, aspect of the practice but don’t have the respect and value of what you’re offering, you’re never going to get referrals. That’s just a law in business. It’s not just in chiropractic.

Listen, I could go on and on about the management of the day-to-day operations of a chiropractic office, and there’s a lot to cover. And if you don’t have the proper direction, then seek it out. I’m here to help chiropractors, and the reason I’m here to help chiropractors is because I’m here to help see chiropractic spread not just nationally, but internationally, abroad. It needs to be available to every human being, plain and simple. That’s what I’m here for.

So when I’m talking about something as simple as an appointment book control, think of it this way. Until you learn to manage the business that you already have, you’re going to be constantly looking for new business. Think about that for a second. If we’re losing business, the very business that we’ve already spent a certain amount of money and time to get into our office, if we mismanage that, then we’re going to be seeking out new business before we really need it.

So I encourage you to, hey, pay attention to the appointment book. If you don’t know how to do it, then seek out the help. That’s what we’re here for. Love to help you if we can. I hope you found this informative, and more importantly, that it’s effective and helps your practice. Have yourself a great day. God bless.

Have Questions About AMC?

The post How to Control Your Chiropractic Appointment Book [VIDEO] appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Do You Talk Too Much?

Joel Slack — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:25:21 +0000

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_color=”” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” padding_right=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”3_4″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”no” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” hide_pop_tinymce=”” class=”” id=””]

I am talking about office behavior, and with your patients mainly. Sometimes our patients will ask a question, and doctors then feel the need to go into a whole dissertation about chiropractic going all the way back to D.D. Palmer in 1895.

For example, a patient might ask. “Doc, can you help with acid reflux disease?” Do not over complicate your response! Palpate the spine to the area that connects with the stomach. Press on it, and point to your chart of the nervous system (you should have one framed and on the wall in every treatment room) that shows the connection to the organ.

While pressing on the spine, say to the patient “that’s tender right there, isn’t it?” Pointing at the chart you say, “The nerves that come out through here go straight to your stomach. Once we get the pressure off of those nerves, and keep it off long enough for the nerves to heal, your stomach can’t help but get better.”

Pretty simple, right? Too often though, docs aren’t bold enough to do as I described because they lack the confidence, or they try to blind the patient with science by describing every synapse that fires down to the cells of the gastric mucosa.

Many times, it is best not to answer the question right off the bat. Do not assume that you know what they mean by their question. It is usually always best to answer their question with a question or two to clarify, and make sure what they are really asking you.

In my scenario above, you will notice that I assumed that they were talking about a problem that THEY were having. That might not have been the case. A good follow-up question to “Doc, can you help with acid reflux disease” might have been to ask, “Why do you ask?” You might find out that they are asking about their daughter or a friend at work, thus your response would be similar, but quite different.

Keep it simple. Listen well to what is being asked, and talk about half as much as you normally would!

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_4″ layout=”1_4″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” hover_type=”none” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” dimension_margin=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”no”][fusion_global id=”14144″][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

The post Do You Talk Too Much? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

The Right System for EVERY Practice

Joel Slack — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:59:03 +0000

I love today’s story! Dr. Rebecca Brubaker lays it out there on why AMC is the best decision for both student chiropractors as well as seasoned practitioners.

And boy can I relate!

When I graduated from chiropractic college I remember all too well the sleepless nights staring at the ceiling wondering how I was going to succeed in practice. Even though I felt confident in my chiropractic technique, I sucked as a business man.

Matter of fact, my first month open I collected a whopping $320! I could’ve made more flipping burgers at McDonald’s than what I produced my first month open!!

To make matters worse, I was stubborn!

I banged my head against the wall for two and half more years trying to “figure it all out”. Even though I had managed to grow the practice to around $8500 per month in collections I was staring at potential bankruptcy, looking at leaving the profession I love in order to be able to support my family, and felt hopeless every single day.

But, as you’ll find out in today’s story, it doesn’t have to be that way! There’s not only tremendous hope waiting for you with AMC but an incredibly efficient system that’s been proven in every market imaginable for well over 50 years!

Let’s hear about that system from Dr. Brubaker’s perspective …

My husband and I both graduated from Palmer, which means double the loans, thinking we had everything in place for opening our office.

We moved to his hometown (not doing an ounce of research on whether or not it was a good market) and got things rolling on finding a building. It didn’t take us long before we realized we had NO CLUE what we were doing. How would we decide on a layout, what about hiring staff and training them, what paperwork should we use, how are we going to find new patients, and what on earth are we going to say to them to get them to understand and accept are recommendations and then follow through with them???? You get my point. We were LOST.

Oh, did I mention that we had a brand new baby and a dog that both wanted a roof to live under and food to eat?

Luckily a friend of ours, Rob Scranton, whom we met while we were at Palmer and practices across the Mississippi from Palmer, recommended that we check out AMC. Dr. Scranton was not an AMC member (at that time) but had heard good things about AMC from some classmates.

We took his advice and went to a bootcamp. Can I tell you how relieved we were to find that AMC was moral, legal, ethical, and was right in line with our goals and plans for our practice? For whatever reason it still took us a long time to decide to join, but once the decision was made we never looked back.

It was by far the best decision we could have made for our careers! Not only did they walk us through the entire process of opening, they coached us to levels we could have only dreamed about. We quickly became one of the top chiropractic offices in our town, even among docs that had been there for 20 or more years.

I can’t say it enough that every student needs help in opening and running their offices! I am biased, but I haven’t seen any other system that is as comprehensive, efficient, and effective as the AMC system.

I’ll echo what Dr. Brubaker said … every student needs help in opening and running their offices … I haven’t see any other system that is as comprehensive, efficient, and effect as the AMC system.

THANK GOD that I found AMC when I did! If it hadn’t have been for them, I would’ve been another number added to the shocking statistics of practice failures.

If you connected with Dr. Brubaker’s story but don’t know how to get started, pickup the phone and call AMC at (877) 262-7117.

Do it TODAY!

The post The Right System for EVERY Practice appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Chiropractic Graduate Hits Black Ink First Month Open

Joel Slack — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:26:37 +0000

When I graduated from Logan College of Chiropractic back in 1998, I thought I had it made. I not only had “license in hand” but also had a new office freshly built thanks to my father-in-law.

Unfortunately, chiropractic college didn’t prepare me for the real world of business. Yes, it did a fantastic job in educating me as a chiropractor but failed to provide me with the tools of success that I needed in business. Consequently, I struggled and barely survived for several years before I found AMC.

Believe it or not, it doesn’t have to be this way. Matter of fact, Dr. Jeremy Brubaker shares his experience after joining AMC under their Right Start program. Let’s listen to what he has to say …

I had known from a very young age that I was going to do one of two things when I grew up. I was going to play ball for the Pirates, or become a chiropractor.

My father while he was in his early twenties injured his spine and had major difficulties until finding chiropractic. He developed a bulged/herniated disc in his lower spine and nothing but chiropractic truly helped get him through.

During that time, I had suffered with chronic ear infections, with the all too typical scenario of antibiotics and several sets of tubes in the ears by age 6.

One day my father mentioned to his chiropractor that I was having this clicking sound in my neck when I moved it. Long story short, the doctor took some films and found an atlas problem. Shortly after beginning care the neck issue was gone. The interesting part of the story is that from that point on, there were no more ear infections, tubes or antibiotics. Thinking that was pretty cool, I knew what I was going to do when I grew up.

Needless to say, when graduating from Palmer, I was ready to go help the world get healthily and stay that way. To add to the excitement of graduation, my wife (also a chiropractor) and I had just had our son and moved back to my hometown to start practicing.

Now I had studied hard, learned a great technique, and observed high volume, successful offices. The problem was, like most who have started from scratch, I couldn’t reproduce what I had done in school or observed at other offices. We had lots of ideas, but really no clue where to start, and make it work right out of the gate.

We thankfully got some wise council from a very close friend and found AMC. We hadn’t made too many mistakes yet (other than blindly moving to a town without doing any research on it, signing a lease on a building, and not having any kind of plan…oh boy). Praise the Lord, the market was good and the building worked out very well.

With AMC we had a proven A-to-Z system to open our doors, manage the office, staff, and patients in the most thorough and efficient way. The practice took off from our very first month under AMC’s guidance, we hit the black ink, and within a year, eclipsed the of success that most doctors in our town practicing over 20 years could not even dream of.

I can honestly say that our lives would be very different without AMC. AMC is more than a management company to us. They have been a blessing to us, and thousands others in our profession. AMC continues to carry the torch and mission to help chiropractors and chiropractic reach sick people and restore health, the whole reason any of us decided to become doctors in the first place!

Thank you, Dr. Brubaker, for sharing your insightful story! I’m sure you hit a chord with many chiropractic students. Hopefully they’ll heed your advice to avoid the mistakes and pitfalls that so many of us made prior to joining AMC.

If you connected with Dr. Brubaker’s story but don’t know how to get started, just pickup the phone and call AMC at (877) 262-7117.

Do it TODAY!

The post Chiropractic Graduate Hits Black Ink First Month Open appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Overcoming Fear Leads to Success

Joel Slack — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:25:09 +0000

One of the main obstacles chiropractors face when trying to choose a chiropractic business management or practice consultant is the obstacle of fear.

Fear literally paralyzes even the best-intentioned chiropractor from moving their chiropractic practice from failure to success.

Furthermore, most fear is rooted in the unknown juxtaposed with horror stories told by other colleagues.

But, like Dr. Rick Barrows points out, not every chiropractic consultant is out to abuse the profession. Instead, he found tremendous HELP and HOPE through AMC.

Let’s hear what he has to say about his experience …

When I joined AMC, I had already been in practice for 18 years. We were doing a lot of things right, and had a decent practice, but what was happening is that I was seeing my practice ever so slowly declining instead of growing. The things I had done in the past weren’t working like they did before. I couldn’t figure it out.

I knew that if something didn’t change soon, that if I didn’t do something to stop the bleeding, that I would one day be 80 years old and practicing chiropractic because I have to, not because I want to. I couldn’t give up. For me, since the age of 14, chiropractic was a clear calling.

I needed help, but I was skeptical. I had heard so many horror stories about consultants, and management companies, and it paralyzed me. One day, I got a message in the mail from AMC. It was just a bunch of testimonials, but within those testimonials, I could hear the voice of hope. I was also impressed with the fact that they were a Christian company, and they based their procedures on Christian principles.

I can honestly say that joining AMC was the single best decision that I ever made in my practice. We over-doubled in just 9 months. AMC has meant so much to my practice and my life, that I am now serving as a coach and a director, so I can help other chiropractors who might be in similar situations to the one in which I found myself.

This has become a natural extension of my calling. I can only help so many patients with my own two hands. Through AMC, I am able to reach thousands more with the healing art of chiropractic!

Dr. Rick Barrows, Southwest Director

Thank you, Dr. Barrows, for sharing your wisdom, insight, and passion for our wonderful profession. I’m sure many will relate — especially those that have dealt with the same fears you did.

If you’ve connected with Dr. Barrows’ story today, allow me to shed some light on fear. Fear is just an acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real.

Don’t allow fear to skew your perspective. If you’re struggling today in practice, there is both HELP and HOPE waiting for you through AMC.

Simply pickup the phone and call AMC at (877) 262-7117. Do it TODAY!

The post Overcoming Fear Leads to Success appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Have You Found the Secret Ingredient?

Joel Slack — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 10:00:34 +0000

The Secret to Success is You

No matter what business you are in, to be successful you must always strive to improve your volume, sales and overall productivity. The chiropractic business is no different. Ray Kroc (founder of McDonalds) once asked, “Are you green and growing or ripe and rotten?”

What a great thing to ask yourself every morning when you get up and look in the mirror!

You’ll find that success is not a destination but more of a constantly moving, progressive, and sometimes elusive target. As entrepreneurs, our continued growth is essential to long term sustainable success.

Often, in our journeys towards success, we tend to search for “magic bullets.” You know, that “one thing” that will push us you the edge into success.

Some call this the “Secret Ingredient”.

Where I see chiropractors going astray in search of the “Secret Ingredient”, is in believing that the next gadget, laser, nutrition, decompression, rehab, massage, or diplomate will be their answer. Many of us spend time, energy, and resources on the latest and greatest things, only to accrue overhead, frustration and disappointment. We end up unfulfilled, burnt out, and no closer to where we hoped to be.

Doc, if you haven’t realized it yet. There is only one secret ingredient to success… YOU!

Dr. Tom Owen always says that success is found in Attitude, Actions, Concepts and Procedures; and in that order.

I’m all about improving efficiency, proficiency, productivity and profitability. But, it so often starts by taking the hard look in the mirror and asking yourself the tough questions; realizing that you are the secret ingredient, full of potential, knowledge and skill.

Question: Are you Green and Growing or Ripe and Rotten? Only YOU can decide.

What can you do today to be green and growing?

The post Have You Found the Secret Ingredient? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Warning: Finding Your Passion May Result in Explosive Growth

Joel Slack — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:13:06 +0000

Warning: Finding Your Passion May Result in Explosive Growth

How Dr. Greg Miller Grew His Practice 500%

Have you ever wondered if you could build a self-sustaining, referral-based practice? Have you ever thought that it’s impossible?

I did too at one time but was fortunate enough to learn about AMC before disaster struck my business and finances.

An AMC member who found the answer to the questions above is Dr. Greg Miller. Let’s hear what he has to say on how he went from averaging around 10 patients per day to well over 800 per month …

I never really struggled with getting new patients into my office, where I fell short was understanding how important it is for them to get the proper kind of care.

I am sure that will catch the attention of some who are reading this, but it is true. I can run an ad in the local paper and get several new patients to respond enthusiastically. The problem, however, was that my “training” in chiropractic told me that I could “fix” those patients within 3-6 visits, and that if I didn’t, I was doing something wrong.

Fast forward from 1995 to present day. I now know what it means to help a patient understand true “health,” and how integral chiropractics is to achieving that. Once I grasped the difference between relieving a patient’s pain and helping them discover a healthy lifestyle, everything in my life changed.

I went from a “friendship” practice (5-10 patients at the start of the day and closer to 25 at the end of the day) to developing and maintaining a chiropractic practice which takes patients from day one through a carefully prepared treatment, customized for each patient, but specific to the point that they achieve levels of health they didn’t realize were possible.

In a world where many health care professionals struggle to find their next patient, I enjoy a practice that treats over 800 patients a month and blesses me with a wonderful living for my family.

Once again, I have the passion and love for chiropractic that I had when I finished school many years ago. No longer do I struggle “convincing” a patient to come in one more time so that I can meet overhead that month. I have a practice that I am proud of, a staff that I love and which loves my patients in return, and a joy coming to work every morning which has eluded me for many years.

Perhaps you are asking “how did he do that?”

The answer is easy, a friend of mine told me about AMC. Because of that short conversation, my entire life changed!

I am blessed to be associated with this amazing group of people who put chiropractic first! They do everything possible to further our profession and allow us to continue helping patients.

Have you ever wondered how many dollars are spent every day diagnosing conditions?

The number is staggering, and getting bigger all the time. We had a patient come into the office for BAD headaches, she had gone the medical route before trying chiropractic and they put her through a battery of tests including MRI, CAT scan, bloodwork, EEG, Nerve conduction studies, etc.

All of these “tests” were designed to diagnose her condition. The diagnosis ended up being classic migraine headaches!

NONE of the tests did anything to treat the patient, they simply diagnosed her condition! AT THE COST OF $7500. I am pleased to tell you that this particular patient is now headache free and well on her way to being the healthiest she has EVER been.

THANK YOU chiropractic and THANK YOU AMC for helping me realize my passion again!!

Dr. Greg Miller
ChiropracTOR!!

Thank you, Dr. Miller! We greatly appreciate your willingness to share!

Believe it or not, doc, devastation is knocking at the door of many chiropractic offices’ doors. Don’t be another statistic!

THERE IS HOPE! And, it’s found in AMC and its incredibly efficient system.

So, what are you waiting for?

Pick up the phone and call AMC at (877) 262-7117. Do it TODAY!

(Interestingly enough, Dr. Miller has now moved into full-time work with AMC. He was involved in an unfortunate car accident which left him unable to deliver chiropractic care. The exciting thing about this change is that he now works with the AMC Outreach Department! You can reach out to Dr. Miller anytime using the number above. He will be happy to share his story and help determine whether AMC is a good fit for you!!)

The post Warning: Finding Your Passion May Result in Explosive Growth appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Think $19,000 a month is decent? Think again.

Joel Slack — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:00:45 +0000

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_color=”” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” padding_right=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”3_4″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”no” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” hide_pop_tinymce=”” class=”” id=””]

Think $19,000 a month is decent? Think again.

Some chiropractors think that collecting $19,000 per month is pretty good. Well, it may be good, but it’s not good enough in today’s economy. Most markets require collections that average between $25,000 to $30,000 per month just to be considered a stable practice.

One of the first doctors to recognize this was AMC’s Vice-president, Dr. Todd Osborne. Here’s what he has to say about going from $19K per month on average to over $44K within his first 4 months with AMC…

“I was an associate for 2 years in a successful practice and at the end of 2 years I thought I was ready to go out on my own. I found a practice for sale in a similar small town and ended up purchasing the practice even though the doctor that had been there for 30 years had passed away 6 months prior to me buying it! Not a great move, but God granted me the grace to be able to make it there in that practice.

The previous doc was semi-retired for some time before his passing, so the practice itself was only collecting around $6000 a month. What I bought was a sleepy little practice that had been dormant for 6 months. Like I said, only the grace of God allowed me to go in there and make it work.

I took what I had learned during my 2 year associateship, my passion, my drive to succeed and went at it. Fortunately, I had a very low overhead, a great office manager that stayed on from the previous doc, and some very loyal locals and I started growing that practice.

I put my blood, sweat, and tears into it for 7 years and grew every year up to an average of around $19,000 a month. Not bad, especially with a low overhead, but I knew I could be helping more people and making a better income. I had a goal to get to $25,000 a month and I tried for over 2 years and just couldn’t get over the hump of averaging $19,000. I think the best month I had was $23,000, but the next month I went right back down into the upper teens.

I was in a small office, around 750 square feet, it was a remodeled garage the previous doc had practiced in. I decided it was time to build a new office, and that would be my answer. So I got the land and in my 7th year of practice broke ground on the new office. I moved into our new state of the art facility of 2400 square feet in September. It was nice, everyone was excited including my patients, and guess what we produced in September and October. Exactly the same numbers we had been producing!

I had been talking to a management company since the spring of that year, but had been putting off going because I was too busy building this new office I thought was the answer. Well, when it wasn’t, I finally decided to attend my first AMC meeting in Chattanooga, TN. I decided to give it a go and went for the weekend.

I remember thinking while listening to the audios they had given me on my way home, that it just couldn’t be that simple. But, I was at the end of my rope for growing the practice, so I made up my mind to do everything they told me to do for 90 days and then evaluate where things were at.

Well the rest of the story is this. After signing up in December of that year at a monthly average of $19,000, my practice immediately started growing. It was hectic but fun at the same time. As I said earlier, my goal had been $25,000 a month. In April, 4 months after joining AMC, I was at $44,000!!

Sooooo, being such a brilliant business mind, I decided to keep doing it AMC’s way!!! I continued to maintain that practice at an average of $40,000 a month for 1 1/2 years until I finally figured out that I was the reason it wasn’t growing any more.

I didn’t want to work any harder or longer as I was very active with my family, church, and community. So with AMC’s help I hired my first associate and we started growing again, eventually reaching $60,000 a month, around 1200-1400 visits a month. And all that in a town with a population of 2300!

And in a “straight” chiropractic practice that only generated income from chiropractic exams, x-rays, and adjustments, no therapy or other income. Not against it, but didn’t utilize it in practice. A similar therapy practice could have been generating $80-100,000 a month easily.

Anyway, I eventually started instructing and coaching with AMC as I wanted to help other chiropractors the way I had been helped, and that has led me to where I am today as Vice President of AMC and helping 1,000’s of chiropractors. “My” practice is still running full tilt as one of my associates has now taken it over as I have moved to working full time with AMC.”

Thank you, Dr. Osborne, for sharing your practice-changing story! We greatly appreciate it!

Question: Has your chiropractic practice plateaued? Are you staring at a glass ceiling but just don’t know how to break through it?

Then why not pick up the phone and call AMC at (877) 262-7117. Do it TODAY!

We are HERE to HELP chiropractors!

The post Think $19,000 a month is decent? Think again. appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Are You Insane?

Joel Slack — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:00:29 +0000

Are You Insane?

I’ve been a member of AMC since July 2001. Outside of my own success, I’ve had the privilege to watch AMC Members reach incredible heights both in practice and in life.

Many times I’m asked by non-AMC members, “What’s AMC’s secret?”

My answer: Their system!

You see, as a chiropractor, you need to understand that you’re an entrepreneur. If you need a primer on what this entails, I highly recommend you read Michael Gerber’s New York Times bestseller, The E-Myth. It’ll shed some light on what you’re truly up against.

Chiropractors don’t have the luxury of plugging into a successful system upon graduation like medical doctors do. Instead, we have to fight, claw, and work our way into success from day one.

However, the sad truth is that most of us don’t make it. Instead, we patch together a system of inefficiency that only allows us to reach low to medium levels of income.

Matter of fact, you’d be amazed at how many chiropractors I’ve spoken to throughout the years that live in true poverty. This shouldn’t be!

But THERE IS HOPE! And, it’s found in AMC!

Dr. Owen, AMC’s founder, developed a system over 50 years ago that’s incredibly efficient. It’s literally brought success to tens of thousands of chiropractors across this great land.

So, if you’re currently stuck and haven’t realized your true potential, then I highly recommend you pick up the phone and dial (877) 262-7117. We are HERE to HELP chiropractors!

In closing, do you know the definition of insanity?

Albert Einstein defined it as doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.

Question: Isn’t it time you got different results in practice?

Stop the insanity and call AMC today!

The post Are You Insane? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

What can a Chiropractor learn from a Man who wears Panty Hose?? (Part II)

Joel Slack — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:25:30 +0000

How to Have Fun in Your Practice

Prologue:

My eyes sting from the sweat that drips from my eyebrows. The nearly 90 degree heat and humidity are of no help. A thistle has somehow lodged in my sock and with each step it jabs the arch of my right foot, but it’s a welcome distraction from the burning pain and fatigue.

It’s early Sunday morning, late May. I’m running up Fallenwood Avenue, AKA “Heartbreak Ridge” and it’s a long, steep incline that levels out for 30 steps or so partway up before resuming its ascent. I’m about 80% of the way into today’s run and I purposely include the hill at this point as an additional challenge – to my legs, my lungs, and my heart… not the heart that is now pulsing in my ears, but the other “heart” – my will.

It would be so easy to quit right now. And the thought comes frequently. The enemy whispers, “Stop. you’re working too hard… what’s the point? you’re exhausted”… And some days my legs, in agreement, nearly sell out on me, and it takes every bit of will I have to overcome the enemy… “No, keep going!” comes from somewhere. “I… can… I… will… I… cannot… be… stopped” I say one word each time my left foot strikes the ground. “Reach the top, rest of the way is cake”, I think to console myself. A little nausea is felt. No matter, just a minor annoyance. Just keep going; almost there.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

In part I of “What Can a Chiropractor learn from a Man who wears PantyHose?” you read that “man” is Hall of Fame QB Joe Namath (Go back and read it if you haven’t yet). When asked once about his secret to winning, Broadway Joe’s reply was, “When you have confidence, you can have a lot of fun. And when you have fun, you can do amazing things.”

I also shared what some had answered in response to the question, “What are some things that you do to have fun in practice?” I alluded to contributions made by a few docs who had obviously given the question some deep thought.

You’ll see from their responses below, there is more to having fun in practice than just hoping such will occur by chance. And it’s more than just “doing” a list of things. It runs deeper than that. It has to do with intent, and deciding.

For starters, Dr. Jim Hitson observed:

“You can’t go in with the mindset that being at the office is WORK……for some reason that word can be a real buzz kill. So it really starts in your head.”

Then this from Dr. Edgecombe:

“Most all things are a matter of perspective, you see, we are blessed. No matter what, we are blessed. Focus on that fact. Choose to focus on the blessings we enjoy and do your best to make the most of the time we have. Enjoy everything in as much as you can and for the things that (are more difficult) trust that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose.” -Romans 8:28 When you remember that, you gain perspective and confidence in the resolution of the things that aren’t fun by default.”

From Dr. Mortenson:

“I have thought a lot about this. When we get to the office we show up for service and we show up with the intention of having fun. We start with the cheer and a staff meeting (in which we have some fun) every AM. We always PLAN on having fun. It is only work if you would rather be doing something else.”

Wise indeed. And then, perhaps the coup de grace, from Dr. Besso:

“I have noticed that for a day to be fun I have to be in a rhythm, in “the zone”. For example, when I have followed my daily routine (in and out of the office) the day is bound to be more fun. If I skip the part of the daily routine that involves reviewing our goals and objectives with the staff then I am a lot more likely to become frustrated with their performance, which leads me to lose my focus with patients, which leads to less productive conversations, less referrals, less teach to testify, less success stories, less talking twins, less laughter.. and before you know it the whole energy and atmosphere in the office really stinks and the day will definitely not be fun.

So what makes our office a fun place to be is simple: Learn to Be in the Zone and learn what takes you out of the zone. At the end of a great day: what did you feel, how were you scheduled, did the staff have fun that day, did you stimulate referrals, did you get a success story?..

Once you find out why it was fun you will know what to visualize and to focus on.

I think the people with the most successful practices are the people who have figured out how to have fun in practice, and how to be in the zone more consistently. You can be busy but if it isn’t fun for you and your staff then you won’t be busy for long.”

Wow! Couldn’t have said it better myself. Thank you, good Doctors!

Epilogue:

I cross the “finish line”, and use forced exhalations to bring my heart rate down. Fatigued, yet satisfied once again to have finished and not taken the easy way out.

It does not matter whether the urge to give up happens 80% into a 3 mile run, at mile 18 of a marathon, or at year 5 in a struggling practice… persevering is a decision, fortified by intent and by will, moreso than a physical feat. And so it is with having fun. Confidence sets the stage for fun, yes. But having fun in practice begins with a decision that you must make, an intent on your part, moreso than a random after-effect of events that hopefully play out in a positive way!

Now, How one builds confidence is the subject of a future post. Meantime, work on yours, because when you have confidence, you can have a lot of fun. But you must Decide and Intend to have fun, because when you have fun… you can do amazing things…

The post What can a Chiropractor learn from a Man who wears Panty Hose?? (Part II) appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

What can a Chiropractor learn from a Man who wears Panty Hose?? (Part I)

Joel Slack — Thu, 26 May 2011 21:26:16 +0000

FUN. It’s What You’re Missing

I believe we all can take a cue from the profound and everlasting words of “Madea”, when she said,

“When you gettin got and somebody done got you and you go get them, when you get em everybody’s gon get got”.

Oh, wait, back it up… not that man who wears panty hose (nothing against Tyler Perry). And not Mrs. Doubtfire either. Rather every Chiropractor can learn from “this” man who wears Panty Hose: Hall of Fame quarterback, Joe Namath.

Joe Willie Namath was coached at Alabama by the legendary Bear Bryant. As a pro, he brought to his NY Jets team a confidence and a swagger.

In 1969, Namath lead the Jets into Super Bowl III against the heavily-favored Baltimore Colts. Three days before the game, he declared publicly, “We’re gonna win the game. I guarantee it!” His words made headlines, but were dismissed by most as mere bravado. In the game, however, Namath walked his talk, pulled off the upset, and was named MVP.

His secret to winning? When asked, Namath replied:

“When you have confidence, you can have a lot of fun. And when you have fun, you can do amazing things.”

“…when you have fun, you can do amazing things.” Now there are certainly times and circumstances where seriousness is required in your practice. But for most other times in your office, let light-heartedness reign!

FUN, I believe, is often a key missing ingredient in today’s practice. Now without jumping onto a soapbox, if your practice isn’t a place where you, staff, and your patients can have fun… with what we offer to heal the suffering… then something is seriously wrong.

Awhile back, I asked some colleagues to answer the question “What are some things that you do to have fun in practice?”… Here are some of the answers… I’ll start with some of mine…

First, how cool is it that being a little goofy is built right into good protocol… The 5-point o.v. gives you license… in fact demands, that you NOT be the dry, starchy, typical doc. It’s okay to be a little nutty.

How about intentionally showing extra appreciation and giving your patient something extra at no additional charge?

Benevolence to a truly destitute, needy patient who truly understands the value of and wants the care. Informing them they’ve won the (your clinic name) lottery.

Coffee and Muffin Fridays for staff (provided by doctor, of course).

And, one of my favorites – Ring the Bell! Keep a call bell (not Cow Bell) at the front desk. Whenever a NP books – that glorious sound is heard everywhere throughout the office. “Every time the front bell rings, hope and health to one it brings.”

Some of the contributions?

Dr. P wrote, “After a patient’s adjustment I have them do a “Victory Lap” around the adjusting table. Then I give them a high five. I missed it once and the patient reminded me about the “Victory Lap” I know it sounds goofy but my patients love it.

From Dr. F, “We have “Munch and Crunch” on Saturdays in my office. I put bagels and munchkins out and serve coffee and bottled water for patients. They love it and it creates a fun, family environment where bunches of patients will sit around and talk to each other while they munch away after getting adjusted!

Dr. H sent this list:

1) Not taking myself too seriously ie)making fun of myself.

2) Looking for opportunities to laugh/cut up w/ patients and staff

3) Being on the same page w/ your staff. Regular staff meetings to solve problems more quickly

4) Not trying to be all things to all people. Accepting my niche and leaving it at that.

5) Realizing that I will never retire, so what’s the big hurry? Be patient w/ myself.

Judy writes, “I’ve put some phony patient names on our referral board……..I M Good, Mel Gibson, George Clooney to name a few……I did it so could see if patients were reading the board……and they’d laugh or comment on when that one was coming in so they could have their appt then.

Dr. H shares, “We call and wish VIP patients a Happy Birthday and sing to them on speaker phone. We set goals and celebrate them together. We go to training center visits in cool locations like Florida and hang out on the beach for a day after the visit. We do something called the nerve of the week or the drug of the week where we put up a nerve or a list of drug side effects and the patients guess what the nerve controls, or which drug goes with the side effects, and then we draw from the correct answers for a prize. When it snows a lot, people rarely leave their homes, so we reward those who do with a snow party…hot chocolate, cookies, muffins…a small and inexpensive treat for braving the weather.

Dr K sent, “Every Friday is “joke Friday.” In our morning meeting any staff member can bring a joke or jokes to share and we tell jokes in place of the inspiration part of the meeting. It gets us in stitches and really finishes the week on an up note. We also did a summer barbeque for our best wellness patients with me grilling out behind the office.”

You get the idea. I call this “The Wisdom of Fun.” A few colleagues, obviously deep thinkers, danced around the first half of Namath’s quote…

“When you have confidence, you can have a lot of fun.”

And it’s good stuff, too! Well worth sharing. So I promise to include those AND continue to dig into Namath’s quote, and what this means to you and your practice. So keep your eyes peeled for Part II of this post. And please give it some thought and add your comments about what you do to have fun in practice…

Oh… the Panty Hose… In 1974, a television commercial for Beautymist pantyhose aired. The ad opened with a picture of feet. The camera slowly panned upward over “side posture” legs… the calves, thighs… Finally, it showed the owner of the pantyhosed gams: JOE NAMATH! Male fans were… confused, like the proverbial calf looking at a new gate. And women? Reportedly, Beautymist sold a whole bunch of pantyhose that year.

Now go do some amazing things!!

The post What can a Chiropractor learn from a Man who wears Panty Hose?? (Part I) appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Boldly Go!

Joel Slack — Mon, 23 May 2011 12:22:49 +0000

I have heard it said by other chiropractors on many occasions something to the effect of, “I was afraid to take such and such a case. I referred them out, because I thought that treating them might open me up to liability.”

My response might be to ask them, “Well, just what condition do you think you would be treating them for?”

I’ll give you one example. I had a patient come up to me following my patient orientation class, and he said, “Doc, I wonder if you can help me.” So, I asked him what the problem was and he responded, “Well, I drive a service truck for a heating and air conditioning company, and I have to get out ten to twelve times a day to go to the bathroom.” He said, “It feels like when I urinate that my bladder is still full. Then I get back into my van, hook up the seat belt, and I feel like I have to go all over again. I was just about to go see a urologist, but do you think chiropractic can help?”

I said, “Well, there is really only one way. If I examine your spine and I find misalignment in the area of nerve supply to your bladder or to your prostate gland, then there is a possibility that I can help. If I don’t find anything there, then I’ll tell you and you can go on and see the urologist.”

He said, “I want to try chiropractic first.”

With x-ray examination of the AP pelvis, you could see the man’s bladder. It was full and distended about the size of a grapefruit. Subluxation was found at L4 and in the pelvis, and that’s where he was adjusted. After 4 weeks, re-x-ray showed his bladder was still distended, but now about the size of an orange. In 5 months, the bladder was showing normal anatomy, the patient was having normal urination, and he was quite happy and relieved.

Now for the big question. Did I treat his bladder?

No. I adjusted his spine to reduce and correct the subluxation. That’s it. In fact, I don’t know if the bladder was the problem. Most likely it was his prostate, but I didn’t need to know. It was my job to correct the subluxations to the best of my ability, and allow the natural healing power that resides in all of us to do its job. The healing comes from from the brain down through the spinal cord, and out the spinal nerves. Once the interference (the subluxation) was removed, healing occurred.

Boldly go, my friends. Boldly Go!

Dr. Rick Barrows

The post Boldly Go! appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Associate Practice and Marketing

Joel Slack — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 12:00:19 +0000

Affordable Management & Consulting — I attended a class on white collar marketing put on by AMC coach Dr. Robert Ault from Hudson OH. He discussed that white collar markets want the Head doctor not the associate. So there is no getting out of that. He also discussed many of the principle covered like mirroring your audience. Which brings back the dress standards of your office and how you allow the associate to dress. This is another lesson Priceless Practice teaches why you must have an associate as an employee and not an Independent Contractor. You can not tell an IC what to wear or how to do things, but you can and must have a dress standard for the associate.

The post Associate Practice and Marketing appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

The Gift of Chiropractic

Joel Slack — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:00:35 +0000

How Will You Use Your Gift?

We have all had opportunity to be exposed to the life changing potential of chiropractic. Many of us found our way into this profession because of chiropractic care and then were given a desire to share what we had discovered with others. I am no different, having suffered for years and years with migraine headaches I finally found the right solution, a dear friend referred me to a chiropractors office and that chiropractor corrected the subluxation that was actually causing the headaches!! Imagine that, a solution that is so simple, yet so difficult for many to understand. The truth of the matter comes full circle when we stop to realize the potential for the gift that we have been given. What if I had not found the truth behind chiropractic? Where would I be today? The headaches that I was suffering from were debilitating. I was a sales manager at the time and remember spending several long days locked up in a hotel room with the shades pulled. Not only did this affect me greatly, but what about all the business professionals that had to change their schedules because of my headaches? If I had not found the truth of chiropractic how many lives would be different today because I would not have been given the opportunity to reduce their subluxation and change the course of their lives?

This gift is more than just an adjustment of a subluxation folks, it is the removal of negativity from the human body. We do this in so many ways day in and day out in our offices, when was the last time you thought about it? How about when the patient comes in who just suffered the loss of a loved one? Do we take a moment to offer them a caring heart and an ear to listen? Do we offer up a prayer of encouragement for them, right then and there? How about the patient who comes in and shares with you that they have just lost their job? What about the patient who’s husband has just left for duty overseas? I had quite an experience just this past week in my office, a thirteen year old young man came into my office with the fresh diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma that is present throughout his entire lymph system and on the bone in his lower spine. Less than two weeks prior this young man was wrestling competitively and seemingly completely healthy. His entire world has come crashing down around him and right now the biggest thing he can wrap his young mind around is that all of his hair is going to fall out. I don’t know about you Doc, but this is a moment that deserves a listening ear and a moment of prayer, how did this young man find his way in to my office and why? I don’t think that his parents thought for one moment that I could take away the cancer cells, but for some reason he was sitting in the chair in front of me and it was time for me to respond.

It’s a gift Doctor, and each of us has it……from a waiting room that reaches out and warms and welcomes your patient to the clinic, to the staff person that answers the phone on a busy Monday morning…..and answers it with a smile on her face, to the moment that you determine where the nerve pressure is and deliver the adjustment that will reduce the vertebral subluxation for that patient on that day at that very particular moment. This is quite possibly a life changing event for every patient that enters your office TODAY, how many will you deliver? 10? 40? 70? You have the opportunity to change perhaps 70 lives in one day, 350 lives in one week? 18200 in one year? 182000 in ten years? 546000 in a career that spans 30 years? Over a half a million patients treated with the gift that you were given? It is a gift Doctor, and what you do with that gift is up to you……it has been entrusted to you and I believe that you have a responsibility to deliver it to your patient in the very best way EVERY time that you place your hands on the patient and reduce that subluxation, you do NOT know how far reaching it will be on that day, in that particular moment.

IF one patient comes in and tells you that they have been diagnosed with cancer, how many have NOT told you? Every visit is important and we simply MUST use the gift that was given to us through the power of the chiropractic adjustment to help heal this world, one patient at a time.

It’s time to get to work Doctor, there are lives to change and subluxations to correct. Are you ready to get to work? What a JOY it is to serve using the gift of chiropracTIC!!

Be Blessed

Dr Greg Miller

The post The Gift of Chiropractic appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Achieving your Purpose

Joel Slack — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:00:46 +0000

Do you have a chief aim and definite purpose? Have you committed to developing your own potential in order to reach your goals and get to that next level of success? Would you like to see others grow and be successful and live their dreams? Please read on!

I found that my purpose was to help as many people as possible to be healthy through Chiropractic and also help as many Chiropractors as possible get going in the right direction. I was a right starter in 1998 and got off to a great start. I’m the one who had 181 patient visits on the books at the end of my first week. You should’ve seen the smile on my face! At that time, I realized I had made the best decision ever in joining AMC. From that point forward my mission and purpose has been to see that other Chiropractors have the same opportunity as I did to grow and become more confident in what we know how to do best. I am very thankful that Dr. David Mauldon invited me to that first boot camp. He actually drove me to my first meeting. Now that’s going the second mile!

Recently, as I was reading “The Purpose Driven Life”, chapter 39 really hit home with me. It’s entitled “Balancing Your Life”. “Live life with a due sense of responsibility, not as those who do not know the meaning of life but as those who do (Ephesians 5:15) (PH)”. The author Rick Warren talks about how life is a pentathlon of five purposes, which you must keep in balance. These are God’s five purposes for your life:

1. “Love God with all your heart”

2. “Love your neighbor as yourself”

3. “Go make disciples”

4. “Baptize them into…”

5. “Teach them to do all things…”

He acknowledges that keeping these five purposes in balance is not easy. We all tend to overemphasize the purposes we feel most passionate about and neglect the others. He also advises you can keep these five things in balance by joining a small group for accountability, by regularly evaluating your spiritual health, by recording your progress in a personal journal, and by passing on what you learn to others. “These are four important activities for purpose-driven living. If you are serious about staying on track, you will need to develop these habits. Are you developing your own potential?

Doesn’t this sound a bit like AMC? We are a ministry helping others? We keep each other accountable? We keep track of our progress and the most important for me is to share what works with those wanting to do better.

Mr. Warren says the best way to balance these five purposes is to evaluate ourselves periodically. Also he states, “If you want to keep growing, the best way to learn is to pass on what you have already learned. Proverbs tells us, “The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.” That’s pretty straight forward!

So, what’s your purpose? Are your goals aligned with your purpose and chief aim? Are you developing your own potential? Coach John Wooden says this is a quality second to none. Have you resisted doing some of the things your coach has asked you to do? Has it been hard to step outside your comfort zone? Are you going to boot camps and training centers? Are you roll-playing and training your staff? These are all tools, procedures and protocols to develop you as a doctor and help you advance forward, grow and be the best CEO.

As you work on developing yourself and defining your purpose, has it ever occurred that you could possibly be the most important link for saving this awesome profession? When you go to seminars and special Chiropractic events have you ever bumped in to a colleague that wants to grow to a new level? Have you tried sharing what you have learned by reaching out to your friends and asking how they are doing? We have an awesome opportunity and responsibility to pass on what we know to others wanting to grow and change their path. As I’ve said before, maybe you know someone doing $50,000 monthly; don’t let that impress you because they might have an overhead of $40,000. As you go about sowing good seeds, remember you might just be the answer to a friend or colleagues prayers.

Blessings!

Dr. Ava Carter

The post Achieving your Purpose appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Break your wishbone!

Joel Slack — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 13:00:41 +0000

Have you spent your life wishing things were better? Wishing things were different? Wishing for a happier home life, a better work situation, or just more in general? Well, my advice to you is to quit living your life with this “Wishbone” in your hands. Grow some “Backbone.”

It’s time to make things happen instead of just wishing they would.

How? One step at time! With a made up mind!

First, you need to sit back and take inventory of the things you would like to change. Decide which ones are wishful thinking and which ones you really want. Second, think about how you want them to change. Ideally, what do you want these changes to look like? Third, decide if these changes are worth the effort to you. Are you really willing to do whatever it takes to take to see these things come into reality? Fourth, think about what can you do now to move toward accomplishing these goals.

Now this is where the “Backbone” comes into the picture. Stand up and move forward in faith. Make your mind up that you will make some tough decisions, but no matter what, you will see them through. We often look at others who seem to have what we want and say “if only I had the opportunities that they had,” or, “if only I had the office and staff that they have.” Are you willing to make the sacrifices that they did to get to where they are? Would you really want to “walk in their shoes for a day?” If you did have that opportunity, are you sure it would be what you thought it would be? To get where they are in their lives they needed a backbone and had to make some tough decisions. They made sacrifices that not everyone is willing to make! You need to ask yourself what you are willing to give up. That is why you should spend some time on this inventory. This cannot be done quickly if you are serious about pursuing your dreams. Spend some time on it. Now get busy! Be strong! You are going to face obstacles and challenges in your pursuit.

You better grow that “Backbone” and make things happen. Understand that not all of what you want now will be what you want later, but keep moving forward instead of standing around with that wishbone of unfulfilled dreams.

The post Break your wishbone! appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

The Value of Persistence

Joel Slack — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:15:44 +0000

The Value of Persistence

As a person and, especially as a Chiropractor, few character traits will serve you better than the habit and decision of being persistent.

My wife Linda and I have been married for over 44 years and she always tells me that it wasn’t my good looks or money (because there wasn’t any when we met at Logan in 1965) but my persistence which won her over.

Do you have struggles and challenges in your practice? Too few new patients, too much overhead? Less than ideal staff? Too many insurance headaches? The list could go on forever.

Believe it or not, as my mentor and dear friend Dr. Tom Owen taught me over 40 years ago, nothing can be denied to the man, or woman who is persistent and refuses to quit trying.

When I met Dr. Tom, he was just starting his Chiropractic consulting career in Florida. I was his third “Right Starter” and was that experience ever a life changer.

My first practice in Florida had just failed as badly as a practice could possibly fail. The joke on me around AMC is my entire first practice consisted of just “one half of one new patient”. That was it. I had one new patient who came in to my first little office, got examined, and never returned for her report of findings.

If you are a Chiropractor reading this, I know you did better in your first practice than I did. That was the bad news…as bad as it gets, when you have a wife who is 8 months pregnant and you owe a ton of money with no foreseeable way of making any that you can imagine.

The good news was that Dr. Tom taught me (along with how to run a successful practice) to never give in or give up. With his help and my dogged persistence of following the AMC protocols, I did eventually end up running the practice of my dreams which didn’t miss the $1,000,000 a year mark by that far.

I learned that when you set a goal and try to get ahead in any area of your life, there will always be obstacles and roadblocks that pop up just as surely as the sun is going to rise tomorrow morning.

When these challenges appear, the easiest thing would be to throw in the towel and say that this is just too hard, I can’t do it, maybe I’m not supposed to be successful or perhaps this is just for others and not me.

You can choose to listen to those negative thoughts, which I believe always originate from the “pit” or, you can look for a way around. If you are persistent enough I promise you that failure will not be possible because you can not fail until you quit trying.

I will leave you with this scripture which was the first one I memorized many years ago…”No test has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tested beyond what you can bear. But when you are tested he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it…” 1 Corinthians 10-13

It’s your choice whether your last attempt results in success or failure. It’s your decision. Whether you want the girl or the million dollar practice, persistence will be one of your most effective tools for achievement.

The post The Value of Persistence appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

What Will Become of You??

Joel Slack — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:00:25 +0000

Affordable Management and Consulting for Chiropractors

Chiropractor? Potter? Sculptor? Blacksmith?

THE TIME HAS COME to get off the fence. Time to choose hot or cold, and spew the lukewarm out of your mouth.

In the near future, Chiropractic and the resolve of chiropractors will be put to the test…

And what will become of you??

The best answer is not found in handwringing pessimism and passivity. Better to flip the question around… “What must you BECOME?”

A sculptor is chipping away at a block of granite. A boy walks up and asks, “what are you doing?” “Why, I’m sculpting a lion”, comes the reply. It doesn’t look at all like a lion” says the boy. “Oh, he’s in there” replies the craftsman. After a pause, the boy asks, “How will you find him?” “That’s easy”, says the sculptor, “I just keep chipping away at anything that isn’t the lion”.

Who are you?

You may HAVE the stuff around you that says you’re a chiropractor… you’ve got the Diploma, the Board Certifications, the License, a practice, even some patients… but the question remains… “Who are you”? Are you truly a chiropractor, from the inside out, or one in title only?

The movie “300” tells of King Leonidas and his small band of warriors from Sparta, a city-state of ancient Greece.

If you saw the movie, yes there was plenty of cheesy dialogue, and CG effects gracing all the soldiers with 6-pack abs…

Nonetheless, it gives an account of how Leonidas and 300 of his Spartans held off the invading Persian army, numbering in the MILLIONS, as the massive horde attempted to travel through a narrow pass.

To this day, the battle is a case study in military academies of how a small group of resolute warriors can defend their position against a numerically superior force.

Now that you have some background, there’s a scene in the movie where Leonidas and his 300 meet up with a large contingent of Greek allies on their way to battle…

In your profession, who do you most closely identify with? Are you THAT focused, THAT passionate, THAT confident in who you are?? Or are you like the reluctant civilian, drafted into battle, lacking real resolve or purpose?

Now I’m not advocating we pick up spears, but a battle is coming. We need to be certain we are not our own worst enemy.

To the Spartan, “soldier” was who he was – to his very core, not just a title.

There is something to be taken from that scene regarding the lack of professional identity, resolve, and confidence amongst so many of our colleagues.

Maybe you never fully grasped what you were studying to become after making a decision to join this profession… or maybe the frustrations of practice have beat your passion right out of you.

Do you find yourself just going through the motions, showing up to your office as though an employee rather than the CEO?

Do you dabble in chiropractic? Do you wish to morph this profession into something else? Then maybe you’d prefer to be a blacksmith. Or a potter?

What will become of you?

The world is full of mediocrity. Are you? What must be chipped away to become who you must?? Because NOW is the time.

Your patients are counting on you, and so is your profession for its very survival.

So, Chiropractor, are you in or are you out?

I’m in.

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly… who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither knew victory nor defeat.” – Teddy Roosevelt

The post What Will Become of You?? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Is Fear Limiting Your Practice?

Joel Slack — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:00:45 +0000

Is Fear Limiting Your Practice?

Recently, one of my patients who has been with me for many years asked me, “Dr. Barrows, do you think you can help my son, Leonard?” Naturally, I asked what was going on with him. She said he had been suffering with nausea and vomiting, and couldn’t hold anything down. Now we are not talking about a child. Leonard is in his mid 50’s. So I asked how long this had been going on. She said, it had been going on for over 6 months! Leonard had lost a lot of weight, couldn’t work, and had to carry a bucket around just in case. She said it all started after he had a stay in the hospital for pneumonia. He recovered from the pneumonia, but then the nausea and vomiting started.

I told her what I would tell anyone else in such a condition. Bring him in and let me evaluate him. If I can help, I will tell you, if not I will tell you that too. So she went to work on getting him to come in and see me. Several appointments were made and canceled, often at the last minute. Leonard would be so bad with the nausea and vomiting that he couldn’t make it in. Ultimately, he did make it in, and I sat down with him to talk about his

All during the consultation, Leonard kept a towel close to his mouth, and kept his bucket handy. He told me of all the medical tests that he had had. The diagnosis was gastric paresis. The doctors had given him medicine to take, but he couldn’t hold any of it down. At the end of the consultation, I told him of how the digestive tract is all controlled by nerves, and that if I find anything in the examination that is interferring with the function of those nerves, then there is a possibility that I can help.

Examination and x-rays did reveal subluxation in the thoracic and upper cervical regions, but on appearance nothing that as a chiropractor I haven’t seen thousands of times. So, why did Leonard have this problem of nausea and vomiting? I will never know for sure.

What I do know is that we laid out a plan of care to correct the subluxations that were found and went to work on them. After the first two weeks of care, my staff and I noticed that Leonard wasn’t carrying his towel or his bucket. The next week, his hair was combed and his eyes were bright. He was animated and excited. The following week, he was telling me about his skills as a carpenter, and how he was ready to get back to work.

Can you explain it. I know I can’t. This man literally got his life back after almost 8 months of suffering. The healing power of the body was restored to the tissues and cells that needed that power, and Leonard healed.

My question for you is this. Would you have taken Leonard’s case? Would you have had the belief in yourself, your technique, your office protocols and procedures? Would you have been afraid? If so, let me help you out. I didn’t treat Leonard’s stomach, his nausea or his vomiting. I simply found his subluxations and adjusted them. The power that made his body is the power that healed his body. Let’s give credit where credit is due, but if I had acted in fear and not taken the case, Leonard would still be suffering, and I would have betrayed my calling.

My message to you is simple. Be bold. Be what you were called to be. Let the results take care of themselves.

The post Is Fear Limiting Your Practice? appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Here’s Why 30 New Patients Won’t Solve Your Problem

Joel Slack — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 13:00:40 +0000

Appearance DOES Matter

Regardless of what most believe, a lack of new patients is NOT the primary reason a chiropractic practice struggles!

Chiropractic as a means for which people seek healthcare has been around for over a hundred years. And although there may still be a general lack of understanding by the public of the true nature and efficacy of chiropractic, a large percentage of people seek out chiropractic care on a daily basis. With that said, I still say a lack of new patients is not our primary problem when it comes to building a successful self-sustaining referral based practice.

Let’s start with the idea that we do have some new patients coming through our doors, ever so few as it may be. So where is the problem and where do we begin?

In general, I will start with Acceptance of Care.

That may sound simple enough, but there are a lot of factors that will determine whether a patient accepts your recommended care. Factors that start from the appearance of your office externally and internally, the overall feel of your office, how a new patient is treated by your staff from the first point of contact to the last, and even how they perceive you as a doctor. These are certainly not all the factors involved, but are a few of the major ones.

For the purpose of keeping this article short, for now I will only cover a couple; appearance and feel.

First, how is the appearance of your office externally and internally? My experience has been that most chiropractors think there office appearance is O.K. However, O.K. is not good enough. There are specific details of office appearance, if overlooked, that will have a huge impact of a patient’s decision to accept or deny your care recommendations. For example, how your different treatment areas of your office are set, from reception area, to consult, exam and treatment rooms. Every detail matters! Knowledge of how that appearance should be is priceless!

It has been estimated that a person processes 87,000 images a minute. A patient’s first impression of your office appearance comes at the moment they make eye contact. Eighty-seven thousand images a minute of the appearance of your office, from outside to inside are being processed by a patient!

As far as the feel of your office, it will be influenced in part by the appearance. In general, a rule to remember here and throughout life is; “people remember a whole lot more about how a place, person, thing, event, etc. made them feel than what they may have actually seen or heard.” You can’t underestimate the importance of the correct appearance and feel of your office as a key part of building a successful self-sustaining referral based practice!! In all honesty, do you really know what kind of message the appearance and feel of your office is portraying? If not, you need to find out.

The post Here’s Why 30 New Patients Won’t Solve Your Problem appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

It’s Easier to Deliver Chiropractic Than Sell It (Video)

Joel Slack — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:00:42 +0000

Educating Your Patients

Affordable Management and Consulting for Chiropractors — Wasn’t it great as a chiropractic student when your vision was graduating, setting up and office, and then having the masses lined up at your door to purchase the wonderful product that you had spent so many hours and dollars to acquire? If you are reading this as a student, I’m sorry to burst your bubble early, but better now than when you actually have overhead and only then do you find out that nothing could be further from the truth, that you are now in a world in which you have to “sell” your chiropractic product. I have put together a video of approximately 5 minutes length to help you address this problem, so please view the video and then I will finish up today’s post.

If you are a chiropractic student now you know, and if you are a practicing chiropractor then what you know has been reaffirmed. But possibly some new light has been shed on the subject of chiropractic sales versus delivering your chiropractic product to those who have a desire to buy it.

I know it is difficult to educate the public about chiropractic as a mass, but it is not difficult to educate each patient that comes through your door if you have a consistent system that is designed to do exactly that. I remember going home from my first AMC Boot Camp so excited because I now had the tools necessary to really get my patients to understand what they had and what I had for them. Instead of trying to beat it into their heads I had found a complete chiropractic office procedures system that easily and efficiently took the patient from little to no understanding of chiropractic, their need for it, and it’s benefits for them to patients that had a good understanding of what their true problem was, what could be done about it, and the value of chiropractic care for them and their family. Once I became proficient in presenting the system I was absolutely amazed at how my patients were now lining up to buy what I had to offer instead of me trying to convince them and beg them to buy my wonderful chiropractic product.

If you don’t have a system that is specifically designed to get patients to understand they need chiropractic care, then you are working much harder than you should be and certainly not helping as many patients with the great gift of chiropractic!

The post It’s Easier to Deliver Chiropractic Than Sell It (Video) appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Mastery is the Key

Joel Slack — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 13:00:02 +0000

Mastery: the Key to Success

I read a quote of very good friend of mine, Dr Henri Dallies, where he stated that in order for someone to develop a truly successful practice, one must master two techniques:

1. You must master your chiropractic technique or the art,science and philosophy of helping sick people get well.

2. You have to master office system technique, or how to manage your office, your patients and your marketing.

My friend hit the nail on the head with that quote. He is right but the problem is that so few people ever take the time to truly commit to mastering either one.

In the world of chiropractic, for years I have watched the vast majority of doctors try utilizing various chiropractic techniques as well as the AMC system only to fall significantly short of ever MASTERING either one. It may be a human nature trait but it is surely a common attribute.

I will give you an illustration. When a doctor first joins the AMC family they fill out a detailed analysis that gives us an overall picture of their chiropractic career. There is a question within the analysis asking the doctor to list off all techniques they are proficient at. In most cases, Doctors will list a wide array of techniques they utilize but it very difficult to truly MASTER multiple techniques. Those that choose one specific technique to dedicate their lives to mastering are the ones that I have seen over the years that have the better chance of developing a prosperous practice for them and their patients. That has been my experience anyway.

As for the 2nd technique he mentioned, I have vast experience on that one alone. There are so few doctors that ever take the time to ultimately master the art of practice management.

I see it all the time. Doctors come to AMC. They pick and choose different aspects of a total system based on their own opinions. By doing so, they limit the overall growth of their practice. They never take the time to fully digest the vastness of the system. They think by memorizing some procedures they have accomplished something. These will be the same doctors that will be chasing the NEXT BIG THING that promises them prosperity. They spend their whole careers jumping here to there while never stopping to be a master of anything.

The few that do have the intestinal fortitude to dedicate themselves to mastering each of the techniques most definitely go on to great careers and influence. You can pick them out of the crowd because they all have the look of peaceful confidence not false arrogance.

You know the quote my friend shared really relates to everything in life. Mastering the art of self character and integrity takes more dedication than the common man is willing to give. It doesn’t matter if you are talking about business, personal development, marriage or parenting; you will find that any arena found in life will require the art of mastering it before you ever experience true success.

It goes back to one of my old quotes — ” the formula to success in life is found in ham and eggs. The chicken was involved but the pig was committed”. If you stay committed long enough to any specific technique or task you will find yourself eventually mastering it. The problem is very few people ever COMMIT to mastering anything that is the reason the world is full of so much mediocrity.

I challenge you today to pick your techniques and dedicate yourself to their mastery. you will be better off for it! I promise!!!

The post Mastery is the Key appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

So You Say You Want an Associate in Your Practice.

Joel Slack — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:00:55 +0000

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_color=”” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” padding_right=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”3_4″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”no” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” hide_pop_tinymce=”” class=”” id=””]

When to Get an Associate

Affordable Management and Consulting for Chiropractors — Today I want to start with a question I ask many doctors and get similar responses. “Doctor, describe your perfect practice to me.” Well I work less and earn more by having an associate!

This is a possible reality but it will not happen in the way you think it will. The fact is you will have to work harder than ever before, and then you can work less and earn more with an associate.

Most doctors dont think about the steps it will take they just want a break or are feeling burnt out and want someone to HELP them out. I have often heard from doctors that have gotten associates with the mindset as, “I paid them alot of money and they ran my practice into the ground.”

Let me set some ground rules:

First you must have a stable and reproducable system in place to teach the associate.

Second Get an associate for the right reasons unselfish first ie leaving a legacy, uplifting the profession. Then selfish reasons ie time off and increased income.

Third Learn from others that have been there and done that so you dont have to repeat their mistakes, It will save you time and money in the long run.

Fourth look in the mirror and decide am I worth duplicating or do I need to clean up my protocol and procedures, leadership qualities, or character flaws.

To end, don’t just dream about your perfect practice. Start by setting a goal with deadlines. We recommend at least a year to prepare and find the right associate. Then taking action steps, the lessons you will learn along the road will help you to be who you want to be. It’s like this, imagine practicing with-out the associate, and now with it, was it worth the cost?

The post So You Say You Want an Associate in Your Practice. appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

New Vaccine Eliminates Chiropractic

Joel Slack — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:00:01 +0000

A Vaccine for Phantom Pains

Affordable Management and Consulting for Chiropractors — Since their inception in 1798, vaccines have taken many different forms but none more powerful than their most recent concoction, which most effectively Eliminates Chiropractic while leaving Chiropractors to deal with the elusive medical condition of “Phantom Pains”.

(Phantom Pains: Sensations and/or perceptions that an individual experiences relating to a “lost limb” that is no longer attached to the body.)

How to contract Phantom Pains? The most common way to contract Phantom Pains is to forget the chiropractic principle itself: “Above, Down, Inside, Out” while injecting ones self with the ever coveted “Above, Down, OUTSIDE, IN”.

CS Lewis put this another way: “Every ship deals with three questions: How to keep from sinking? How to keep from bumping into other ships? And, why is it out there in the first place?”

The first question deals with “personal ethics”.

The second questions deals with “social ethics”.

While the third questions deals with “essential ethics”.

As there is a lot that goes into each of these questions however the underpinning of each lays a principle namely, you have a “designed” purpose to serve others (inside, out). As you and I set our heading (goals) this year I’d like to suggest avoiding a terrible inoculation (Outside, in) namely that of one of ”Selfishness” and/or “Laziness”.

One of the hardest things to overcome in life is one’s selfishness namely our personal comfort zones. When you start off the year with “what you want” (materially) you’ve already made a fundamental mistake concerning the “Reason for the Season” (which is why the ship is out there in the first place) as you inject yourself with a deadly vaccine (comfort zone) which will rear its ugly head in the form of “Phantom Pains” in the months and years to come while (and if) you set yourself center stage.

As a reminder from one, that has been accurately accused of being one of the greatest minds of the 20^th century, CS Lewis concluded in his book The Screwtape Letters: “The sense of ownership in general is always to be encouraged. People are always putting up claims to ownership which sounds equally funny in Heaven and in Hell and we must keep them doing so.” Needless to say CS Lewis knew people’s fundamental flaw was to seek and to serve themselves with things that will eventually cause Phantom Pains.

Plainly put: By framing your heading (setting goals) by using the Chiropractic Model of Above, Down, (The Transcendence of God), Inside, Out (Serving Others) you and I avoid the plague of Phantom Pains sweeping the nation which interestingly enough thinks God and/or others owe them something for being self centered.

In closing, this year let us set our sails to serve others while bringing back an all to often forgotten word in chiropractic namely that of “Honor”. As a decorated military veteran its interesting, I’ve never seen someone receive the Medal of Honor for stuffing his or her own pockets…however, I have seen the Medal of Honor recipient receive his or her just reward for serving. Let us serve and do so well while bringing the forgotten word of “Honor” back into Chiropractic, for without “Honor” we need not ask why chiropractors suffer from “Phantom Pains”.

To Serve with Honor,

Tony Seymour

SSgt USAF

The post New Vaccine Eliminates Chiropractic appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Why Your Patients Won’t Refer to You

Joel Slack — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:00:52 +0000

Why Your Patients Won’t Refer to You

Affordable Management and Consulting for Chiropractors — Have you ever had to find a chiropractor in a different town, area, or state to refer a friend or family member to? It’s no easy task. The questions start running through your head….

Is this chiropractor going to be give good quality care? Or “Pop, Pray, Walk Away”
Are they practicing out of a back alley or ramshackle office?
Is the doctor going to take her case seriously?
Is the doctor going come in wearing sandals and shorts?
Is the doctor going to do something that totally freaks her out?

……Can you see where I’m going with this?

Why can’t we as a profession refer confidently within ourselves? It seems easier for me to refer a friend to an accountant or dentist than it is to a chiropractor. So, why then do you think your patients aren’t referring to you? Ask yourself these questions (and be honest with yourself):

Am I giving the best quality care possible?
Do I look like a doctor?
Does my office say “professional”? Or does the veterinarian down the street have a nicer looking clinic than me?
Do my patients understand and value the care I am providing (read “Why Chiropractic Care is Worthless” blog)?
Is my staff well trained and welcoming? Or do they answer the phone and greet patients with an attitude of “Why are you interrupting my intense game of solitaire”?

Would you agree it’s time our profession as a whole and each of us individually, take a hard look in the mirror and ask, “Am I a doctor that someone could confidently refer their closest friend or mother to?” And if we are being completely honest, chances are we all have some room for improvement. So I ask you, what steps can you take today to improve your reputation in the community and, therefore, the image of chiropractic?

The post Why Your Patients Won’t Refer to You appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Balance Your Priorities

Joel Slack — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:00:49 +0000

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_color=”” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” padding_right=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”3_4″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”no” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” hide_pop_tinymce=”” class=”” id=””]

I have received literally countless numbers of thank you’s and letters of appreciation over the years in recognition of 2 specific talks I have given. One being titled ‘The MADE UP MIND” and the other being “SUCCESS IN YOUR DAILY ROUTINE”. Both of these recordings hold an immense amount of direction in leading a successful life both personally and professionally but somewhere along the way there has been a misinterpretation of the information being transferred. Even though I clearly cover principles that relate to both our personal and professional lives there has been a tendency for people to direct their sole focus on the professional side. Those that do that are setting themselves up for failure in the laws of life.

People that lack the components of a made up mind or the implementation of a daily routine tend to wander in life more than they would have otherwise. The chances of living in a world of mediocrity with a lack of purpose and vision are also greatly increased without those components being utilized however balance is key.

For all of you old movie buffs, it’s like Mr Miaggi said in the Karate Kid– “IN ALL OF LIFE — LEARN BALANCE”. The point I’m wanting to make is that the same components of the Made up Mind and your Daily Routine must be used in the priorities of life equally. One can not become more important than the other. In my own life, My priorities must be kept in the order of God, family , business. If and when I ever change the order of my priorities then my life will quickly get out of balance and I will become less effective in all areas at the same time.

This may come as a surprise to some of you. Most of you think of me being very driven in business and success which I am but the only reason I am able to be successful in my professional walk is because of the balance I have in my first priorities. I know ALL things are possible through God when he is my first source and my wife knows that she is #1 in my life. She is my best friend and partner in life. My children know their father and knows that Daddy loves them and always has time for them.

If we don’t keep balance in our lives then we will never be truly successful. You may ask yourself — How do I do all of that? I will tell you that it takes a MADE UP MIND and a DAILY ROUTINE. It’s not always easy but could someone tell me when anything worth having in life is easy? It may not be easy but I can attest it sure is worth the effort. I encourage you today to MAKE UP YOUR MIND AND START A DAILY ROUTINE TODAY THAT WILL BALANCE YOUR PRIORITIES! God Bless you ALL!!!

The post Balance Your Priorities appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

Joel Slack — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 14:29:43 +0000

The Importance of Principles and Procedures

Affordable Management and Consulting for Chiropractors — As a practice coach I have seen over and over how client doctors, at the end of their agreement, will choose to walk away from the relationship they have forged with their management group. I understand how they feel, it costs money to travel!

Doctors have to be out of their office for periods of time to attend meetings and are not seeing patients, which means no income. They have to pay for travel expenses, there is a loving spouse at home saying that the doctor is away from home too much and that there are more important things they could be doing other than traveling to these meetings all the time. I am not even going to bring up the other issues as I am sure that you see where I am going with this.

As it turns out, I do have a unique perspective on this issue as I too traveled down this path. I first joined the Affordable Management and Consulting FAMILY in 1998. I was referred by a friend of mine that was seeing some amazing results with this AMC group and he encouraged me to come and check it out.

At that time the meetings were being held in the Reed House in downtown Chattanooga and the travel was definitely a challenge. The meetings were truly “boot camps” back then as the doctors basically were locked in a meeting room and we didn’t come out until the coffee was gone!!

I will say that it gave us a true mastery of the AMC principles and procedures, but it was tough and boot camp is really a perfect name for it. I was able, with the help of AMC, to double my practice in a relatively short period of time. I was loving AMC and the fellowship, but I convinced myself at the end of my agreement that I could handle it by myself and that my practice would continue to show the success that the AMC Family had helped me find.

I made my decision and I remember Tom and Dr. Owen both telling me that I could expect my practice to stay right where it was, and that I would not see much growth but could only expect it to maintain. I foolishly felt I would be able to accomplish great things on my own now that I had all the tools.

Flash forward 5 years, I am sitting with almost EXACTLY the same practice that I had when I left AMC and feeling very unsatisfied. Something was missing, and I was pretty sure I knew what it was. I had not been “plugged in” to the source for a very long time. It had become very apparent to me that something was really missing in my life and the life of my practice, so I called the AMC home office and in short order I was speaking with Tom Owen.

He simply said “I knew you would be back”.

I was welcomed back with open arms to the family that I had left because I thought I could do this on my own.

Doctor, if you are still reading this, DON’T EVER MAKE THIS MISTAKE. Please, learn from mine and don’t walk away from the source. The source of the very best practice principles and procedures available. The source of the very best in philosophy and passion for this profession that we love so much. The source of the very best in personal growth and encouragement that can be found.

I unplugged from the source. The battery power, or charge that I had gotten from AMC lasted for a long time, but there is nothing like being plugged in to the source, and for me the source for everything chiropractic is Affordable Management and Consulting.

I should mention that when I did come back, I was able to once again double my practice…..but I did it in 90 days!! I will never look back again!

Dr. Greg Miller
Kearney, NE

The post It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.

Why Chiropractic Care is Worthless!

Joel Slack — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 04:37:16 +0000

What People Value, They Finance

Chiropractic Consulting, Affordable Management & Consulting — Ever thought that chiropractic care in your office is too expensive? Ever find yourself cutting deals, skipping re-evaluations and giving less care than needed to fit someone’s budget or insurance plan? If so, you are not alone. In fact, it’s the rare chiropractor that doesn’t these days.

As I ventured out on black Friday searching for a great deal on a very important thing that I absolutely don’t need, and probably won’t ever use, I couldn’t help but notice the volume of others doing the same exact thing. You’ll be excited to here that according to my research on Friday, there is in fact no recession in our economy. There can’t be by the way folks are spending their dollars.

While the shopping carnage continued, I stopped, watched and wondered why on earth people are having a hard time paying for their health care when they seem to have the funds for all those other things they don’t really need or even want.

Then it dawned on me.

It all comes down to value! What people place value on; they find a way to finance. Period. I know it sounds too simple, but Doc that’s it.

Did my first paragraph describe some thought processes or activities going on in your office? Have you ever considered that the problem may not be your patients? If you don’t realize the unbelievable value of the service that you are providing, your patients never will, and your chiropractic care is essentially worthless.

Do yourself and your patients a favor this week.

Go through all your patient files for the week, make a list of ALL the conditions that you are helping them with. (if you don’t know then ask them; how care is going, what changes have they noticed, etc…)
Take your list of conditions that you are SAVING them from, then go look up the comparable medical treatments. (be sure to calculate the condition over time for a true comparable cost)
And last but not least. Read the list of conditions and comparable costs to yourself, and to your staff on a regular basis.

You’ll find some amazing things and the value of you care will skyrocket.

Question: After doing this exercise, what did you find? Do you think your patients should know about it?

p.s. Send me some of the conditions that you help and the comparable cost that you find. That always lights my chiropractic flame.

The post Why Chiropractic Care is Worthless! appeared first on Chiropractic Marketing, Management, and Coaching.