Starting into Practice

Quit Complaining!

2012-02-10T07:00:00-06:00

A number of years ago Psychology Today ran an article about a man who committed three hours a day for 10 years to complaining. Each day he would call, write or talk to someone about what he thought was "wrong" with the world.

Rather than changing anything, the only result was that it made the man incrediably miserable.

Complaining is a habit that is highly contagious, especially when people work together in an office. When you are surrounded by complainers it's easy to become one yourself!

Here are four types of complainers:

The Whiner. This person wakes up negative. Morning is a time to "rise and whine." The whiner's favorite phrase is "it's not fair!" He/she feels that everyone else gets the breaks in life.
The Martyr. This person's favorite phrase is "no one appreciates me." The martyr is a pro at hosting pity parties. When they are under pressure or don't feel well, they let EVERYONE know it.
The Cynic. Sarcasm is his/her most common form of communicating. "Nothing will ever change, so what's the use of making the effort." They seldom make a difference and often pretend they are somehow morally or intellectually superior to everyone else.
The Perfectionist. This person is hard to please. Nothing is ever good enough. Their favorite phrase is usually "is that the best you can do?"

If you or your staff go home from the office totally exhausted every day, it may be because you have spent more time complaining than using your energy in a productive way. It's time to make changes in a positive direction...for yourself, your family, your office and your profession.

Start TODAY!

Step Up!

2012-02-06T07:00:00-06:00

Not long ago I watched a movie starring Channing Tatum as Tyler, a roughneck with soul, and Jenna Dewan, as Nora, an aspiring ballerina from a wealthy family. They both learn lessons about dancing and life in this teen drama. One of the biggest lessons they learned was that you've got to shed old habits (and maybe even old friends) to succeed.

You can't be afraid to ask for help and can't be discouraged if someone tells you "NO."

In other words, you've got to "step up" to the challenges facing you right now as you get ready or have just opened your practice!

When Mike, Dan, Anna and I conduct Starting into Practice and Risk Management programs at the colleges, we are all delighted when we meet the students who "step up" to ask questions. It's amazing how that works.

In fact, I'm just back from a college program. In the classes I teach I often ask the students, "Where do you plan on practicing?" A young woman in the back of the class answered, "I'm planning on going to Orlando. Do you know any doctors there that might be willing to tell me what it's like to practice there?"

It took me by surprise, as most students (and unfortunately I mean "most") don't think they need anyone's help. I told her, "Yes. See me after class." We had a nice conversation and I was able to refer her to a very reputable D.C. in Orlando who I know will be delighted to answer her questions.

That's what good doctors do.

So before you strike out on your own, or maybe even after, and you find yourself wondering "Where do I turn next?" try sending your questions to "Ask the Expert" or ask one of us, or your favorite professor, or a successful business person to help you with advice, give you encouragement or suggest a referral.

You may walk away with just what you needed!

You can't do it alone so it's time for you to "Step Up" and ask for a little help!

Can you share with us anyone who made a difference in your school life or your business success when you "stepped up" to ask for help?

Are You Focusing On the Little Things?

2012-02-03T07:00:00-06:00

As we start up the practice, our main focus is largely on the big things that have to happen. Getting the build-out done, paying your loans, building your practice, managing your overhead, managing and trainging your staff, etc.

It is very easy to let a lot of little things pass you by. I have found that over the years, what has really helped my office, and made my life a lot more enjoyable, is to focus on the little things.

For example, a friend of mine works for a chiropractor near where we live. It is a small office in a small town, and it is just the two of them in the office. She recently had a major surgery to correct a problem she let go for a few years. The recovery is slow and she can't be in the office for a while.

I gave her a call about a week after the surgery to see how she was doing. Man, she was irate! The doc she works fo, hadn't called, texted, emailed, facebooked, or anything to see how she was! The lack of contact truly upset my friend and significantly altered her view of her boss.

A simple phone call would have prevented serious damage to their working relationship. Five minutes. A little thing.

Patients will bring in food, or a letter, or some other gesture to show their appreciation for you. What will you do in return? What ways are you showing your appreciation for them?

When a business contact sends you a referral, what is your process to show appreciation? Is there a process?

These little things add up to have a dramatic effect on the overall opinion people will have of you. Here are some suggestions on things to consider.

Never underestimate the power of flowers or a plant. When someone has a family member pass, a surgical procedure, an end to a relationship, and so on; a small investment will not only bring a smile to their face but will pay back tenfold in the future.
Handwritten thank you notes are also quite effective, and simply cost a stamp! These can go to your staff, your banker, your accountant, someone who grabbed your lunch, clients that helped you out, and so on.

Yes, the big things are important, but don't forget the little things! Not only will they help your business grow, they will also help you fall to sleep with a smile on your face.

Here's a referral challenge

2012-02-01T07:00:00-06:00

Whether you are a new graduate or an experienced practitioner, think about this question.

If a loved one called you from across the country to seek a referral for a neurosurgeon what would you do?

Even if you did not personally know a neurosurgeon you could safely rely on certain criteria.

Look up their CV, find out the medical school they graduated from, see which accredited hospitals they are affiliated with and chances are you would have a good idea based on credentials that this individual would be a rather safe referral.

What about referral to a chiropractic colleague? How do you go about making that referral with any degree of confidence?

This is not an indictment of all the D.C.s but rather of our lack of “third party credentialing” to provide at least a sense of confidence.

So how do D.C.s get their name and reputation “out there” so when others are looking for a D.C. your name will make the list.

Participation in your state and national association is a good start. While participation does not guarantee competence it demonstrates professional responsibility.

Additional certification, ongoing post graduate training, published articles, website that outlines your mission for your office, community involvement and civic contribution all go to help form the impression that provides confidence in making a referral.

It is important to start early to help build that reputation so when the need arises for a “referral you can trust” it will be obvious that you are a good choice.

Avoiding Mishaps

2012-01-26T07:00:00-06:00

This morning, a young mother and two small children came to the office. One of the kids was in a stroller while the other toddler who was quite well behaved, sat quietly while his mom received therapy prior to having an adjustment.

This same scenario plays out all day long both in chiropractic offices as well as medical facilities around the world.

As it is not unusual for children to accompany a parent who is receiving treatment in my office, our staff is particularly careful in monitoring the kids activities especially while around both mechanical and electrical devices.

Both adults and children are naturally inquisitive about instruments and equipment and their operation. I recall being a young adult and while waiting for the dentist to appear often "playing" with gadgets and unknown nobs, while in the dental chair.

Fortunately, I never burned anything with a torch nor caused any specific damage with a drill but... accidents can and do occur.

It is important to safety proof your office as much as possible and take particular precautions when children are around and not "fully supervised." Take an inventory of your office and implement any thing that you feel will make the facility less vulnerable to an adverse event.

And if an accident does take place- do you and your staff have a plan and if not I would recommend that one be considered.

Happy days!

Making a Practice Your Own (Part 6 of Dr. Z's Interview)

2012-01-20T07:00:00-06:00

New Doctors who have the pleasure of Associating with well established D.C.'s often have differences of opinion about the way they will run their office once they open or purchase thier own practice. We asked Dr.Z if there was anything he would change or improve in the structure/function/operation of the office he now works in if he had the ability to change it. His reply was one of thought and gratefulness, a sure sign that he's having a great associateship with a professional senior doctor.

"Having only minimal exposure to well-established practices, I would say there is little that could be improved in this efficient place. I do, however, have a suggestion which is a personal preference of mine. I would prefer that patient charts were left in a recepticle outside the adjusting rooms, with the door closed, to give the doctor a chance to review the case (and to see the patient's name) without having the patient watch me thumb my way through the file. In this way, no contatct with the patient is necessary until the doctor is ready to speak to them. The fact that I am unfamiliar with most cases in the office is probably why I feel this way. I've gotten the feeling on many occasions that the patient feels uncomfortable with me if I must "learn" their entire case in the few minutes before I adjust them."

Dr. Z is learning what it takes to make the patient have confidence in him. He doesn't expect to change his whole office, but instead is learning that patient-centered care is what's important.

Whether you are just now moving into your college clinic, recently established a new practice or just beginning a new associateship, do you have a small tip you'd share concerning making a practice "your own?"

Dangerous crossing: when doctors and patients become online friends

2012-01-19T07:00:00-06:00

Every day there is another incident where the lines cross between professional and social relationships. The blurring of boundaries is creating a huge issue in law and medicine.

The innocent violations of HIPAA, confidentiality, Protected Health Information (PHI) and a host of other breaches of confidentiality are almost too numerous to mention.

While it may seem unlikely that we will go back to a world without Facebook,Twitter or LinkedIn, it is increasingly more difficult to escape from the horrors of early lapses in judgment that occurred during a moment of euphoria which clouds long-term judgment.

Employers are increasingly going on Google searches with prospective employees or associates.
Board of examiners and malpractice attorneys are looking up clients on these social networks.
Patients and prospective patients are turning to social networking to look up their doctor and often uncover unprofessional photos and comments that can never be erased from the web.

Doctors can avoid these problems by discussing patient/doctor, patient/staff and doctor/patient boundary issues ... and by emphasizing the importance of privacy, confidentiality and adherence to HIPAA rules and regulations.

The waters of the virtual world are turbulent and can create significant problems for the unsuspecting.

Getting New Patients In The Door (Part 5 of Dr. Z's Interview)

2012-01-05T07:00:00-06:00

It was clear at this point in our conversation that Dr. Z had ideas about getting involved in community organizations and networking with local businesses. But how does this translate into new patients in the practice?

Dr. Z plans to leverage the contacts he makes within the community. He is going to focus on groups that have not had interactions with the practice in the past and join organizations with members he doesn't know and are not already patients.

You see, the thing is, Dr. Z needs to be the point of contact for the patient. It factors into his compensation whether the patient is his or not and if they came to the practice through his efforts. So keeping track of where the patients heard about the practice is really important.

Clearly, community involvement is an important component of Dr. Z's marketing plan. But I asked if it was important for him to be involved in organizations in which he had a passion for the organization's mission.

This gave Dr. Z pause. I'm not sure he had thought of that aspect of it. "I guess I need to think about that. I've been thinking about this from my perspective and not from the perspective of the organization and the other volunteers involved."

We talked about this for a bit and I shared my perspective as a volunteer leader with a few non-profit organizations in my community. I told him that if he is not sincere in his motives he will likely not put in the effort expected by others involved. Also, if he finds organizations he has a genuine interest in, it will be less like work and more productive.

I think this was a good lesson for Dr. Z. I know from my experience, if a volunteer is only involved to promote their business, the volunteers like me who are genuine about the mission will be resentful and insulted....and not very likely to be supportive of the business being promoted in the first place.

Dr. Z thought for a moment and replied "I never thought about it like that, but that does give me another way to think about my involvement."

A lending library for your community

2011-12-29T07:00:00-06:00

What a nice way to help bring reading into the lives of your patients. Consider a lending library, I did for about 30 years and we had to do it by hand with a rolodex file with return dates and names of the book and lender.

How easy today with computer programs to keep track of the books, and what a wonderful way to introduce many new books on Health, Motivation, Leadership, Mind Body, Business and a host of other topics that you may elect.

One note of caution, read the book first before you put it in your lending library just to be certain that the book is consistent with your views and that you can converse easily with your patient who asks about it.

Charles Tremendous Jones said: “You’re the same person today that you were yesterday except for two things—the people you meet and the books you read.” Open up a new world for some of your patients and they will be eternally grateful for your influence and leadership.

Hold on tight

2011-12-26T07:00:00-06:00

Many individuals were not only frightened, but scared out of the stock market near the end of 2008. You may recall the market diving and the Bush administration implementing policies including TARP which - while it had its detractors - many believe the program saved our economic system from additional consequences.

Clearly some benefited who should not have, while others - including Lehman Brothers - went "belly up" or were devastated.

Over the past four years, market values have gradually increased although turmoil and uncertainty within the financial system continues worldwide. There have been periods of high volatility as markets react to politicians posturing and maneuvering, before addressing debt ceilings and the financial stability of some member countries within the EU.

During these periods, it's particularly interesting to watch and read as the savvy mega rich (including Warren Buffett) often increase their positions in equities as the market declines and as the average investor sells.

While most people naturally become apprehensive during turbulent periods, others see opportunity in companies whose stock prices have declined in spite of good management and adopt an outlook for long-term growth.

As you ponder your future, even if retirement is many years off, this is a great time to look at your current portfolio and investments, discarding those that may not now meet your goals or expectations and replace them with ones that have a better potential for the future.

Periodically reviewing and rebalancing your investment portfolio is important - including holding or increasing positions in good companies and selling those that are no longer positioned for success.

Happy days!