http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/ en Copyright 2008 Mon, 12 May 2008 05:47:18 -0700 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Does your name become you, or do you become your name? Naming a thing gives us dominion over it. Naming things creates the distinctions necessary to distinguish this from that. Horse. Zebra. Similar, but different. (Allopaths can’t even respond until the set of symptoms has a name!) Is your practice name authentic to your purpose? Does your practice name limit your practice? Is your practice name congruent with your intention when delivering care? Family Chiropractic. Is it? Or just wishful thinking? So and So Wellness Center. Why do patients drop out when they feel better? Cityname Pain Relief. Are you guaranteeing a cure? Then there’s simply: Chiropractor. In other words, you already know what chiropractors do. Right? Nothing destroys your creditability faster than assuming a name that doesn’t ring true with a patient’s experience. Patients may contemplate, “I wonder what else they fib about?” http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/05/monday_morning_motivation_78.html http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/05/monday_morning_motivation_78.html Monday Morning Motivation Mon, 12 May 2008 05:47:18 -0700 Have you mistreated patients for the last couple of decades, using manipulative techniques that were justified as “being for the patient’s own good.” Relying on fear tactics, using your limited social authority or imposing financial policies in an attempt to get patients to do the “right” thing (according to you) has prompted hundreds of inactive patients to avoid your office. They shun your practice when they experience their inevitable relapse. They fail to recommend you to their friends at work, saving them from your heavy-handed interpersonal skills. What’s worse, you don’t see how parental and manipulative your tactics actually are!]]> http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/05/undoing_20_years_of_bad_advice.html http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/05/undoing_20_years_of_bad_advice.html Musings Sat, 10 May 2008 09:25:27 -0700 Last week when I was in Spain, I became present to a subtle distinction that you might want to give some thought to. If my understanding is correct, it could significantly change what you do with every patient you adjust. Seems to me, becoming mindful of this observation could take the already excellent results you produce with most patients to an entirely new level. What could possibly be so revolutionary? A simple statement made by one of the speakers: “If you do the same thing, every time, with each patient there’s no art in your chiropractic.” Profound. We have conveniently divided the practice of chiropractic into its science, art and philosophy. The science and philosophy have often served as the battleground for the schism between the vitalists and the mechanists. However, the “art” of chiropractic seems to have been ignored, or at least relegated to the notion of “artfully” and masterfully delivering your particular adjusting technique. Yet, this too easily overlooks one of the most dangerous aspects of working with the nervous system: it learns. ]]> http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/05/the_art_of_chiropractic.html http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/05/the_art_of_chiropractic.html Musings Wed, 07 May 2008 07:50:46 -0700 being. If you’re being uncertain as you attempt to do, your doing will suffer. If you’re not fully committed as you attempt to do, your doing will suffer. If you’re seeking approval as you attempt to do, your doing will suffer. If you’re defensive as you attempt to do, your doing will suffer. If you’re already prepared with plan B, your doing will suffer. Your body (who you’re being) speaks louder than what you say or do. Start with being fully, authentically you and the doing to be done will come naturally. In fact, when you know who you are, you won’t need anyone suggesting what to do! ]]> http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/05/monday_morning_motivaton_2.html http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/05/monday_morning_motivaton_2.html Monday Morning Motivation Mon, 05 May 2008 06:00:55 -0700 for? Many complain about the cultural domination of the drug industry. Many are actively against vaccination. Others loudly fight cancer. Still others get worked up over this and that and are ready to fight to slay some injustice or right a wrong. But you can’t win by being against. By attempting to overcome no shows, declaring war on sedentary lifestyles, confronting patients about their smoking or trying to talk patients out of quitting care, you actually create what you don’t want! Your attempts produce an equal and opposite reaction. Instead, provide a more attractive solution. Stand for personal responsibility. Advance the truth. Encourage understanding. Trumpet the advantages of natural. Support a willingness to try. Incentivize follow through. Praise incremental improvements. Reward behaviors you want, rather than punishing those you’d like to eliminate. Leadership is about creating a more promising future, not condemning what is. ]]> http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/04/monday_morning_motivation_77.html http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/04/monday_morning_motivation_77.html Monday Morning Motivation Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:00:14 -0700 After a flurry of speaking gigs for several state associations it appears that many chiropractors are paying the price for years of patient coercion, manipulation and exploitation learned during the practice management era. At a time when insurance money was generous, at least compared with today, many chiropractors were urged to employ management tactics that were so abusive as to constrain the natural flow of referrals and reactivations; the foundation of a healthy practice. And why not, there were more $100 deductibles waiting in the wing! Referrals and reactivations are under the volitional control of patients. Which is to say, if you mistreat patients for short-term gain, even if justified as being in the patient’s “best interest,” you cut yourself off from the fuel of delighted patients telling others and those who return when they suffer the inevitable relapse from having discontinued care once they felt better. Pinch off these two sources of patients and you sentence yourself to the increasingly burdensome task of new patient procurement. You have to become the marketer, promoter and advertiser because you have obstructed the only process by which all profitable, self-sustaining small businesses prosper: repeat business.]]> http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/04/is_this_payback_time.html http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/04/is_this_payback_time.html Musings Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:43:15 -0700 causes new patients? Here are just a few: Being relevant to what patients want. Adjusting while holding pure intentions. Showing up as a humble servant. Being completely present with patients. Expressing certainty by being doubt-free. Being thankful for those who show up. Loving patients rather than merely caring. If these are missing, intellectual, emotional and spiritual subluxations may be interfering with your patient volume. When corrected, symptoms resolve and practices blossom.]]> http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/04/monday_morning_motivation_76.html http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/04/monday_morning_motivation_76.html Monday Morning Motivation Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:20 -0700 Soon after beginning their professional training, student chiropractors lose touch with the patient’s point of view. The result, years later, is a highly-trained professional who has effectively lost touch with the people they desire to serve. And while this has created a career path for me, this all-too-common phenomenon has produced a cadre of chiropractors who are finding practice more difficult than it was even just a few years ago. Remove the “grease” provided by generous reimbursement and the true nature of your practice becomes glaringly obvious, especially if your practice was largely dependent upon insurance carriers. This is partly because many chiropractors, weaned on a steady stream of patients with charitable policies, came to believe this was well, normal. And worse, that it would continue endlessly for the remainder of their career. Clearly, a miscalculation. If you find yourself in this position, here’s an observation that could help turn things around.]]> http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/04/have_you_adapted.html http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/04/have_you_adapted.html Musings Sat, 19 Apr 2008 08:47:28 -0700 How important to you is it to be liked by others? For years, I led my life in the hopes of seeking approval. From everyone. If I could just arrange my life in such a way to avoid stepping on anyone’s toes or offending anyone, I assumed I would enhance my likeability. Believing this lie kept my influence to a minimum and made life an exhausting game of predicting others’ reactions. Imagine my surprise when I learned that after all that effort there were still some who didn’t like me! This, after playing it small for so many years. Live large. This is supposed to be an adventure. If you’re not making a few people angry or showing up in ways that confront or prick the conscience of others, you’re probably living too small. And the only payoff is “I should have” or “I could have” and the resentment of having squandered this incredible opportunity called life. http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/04/monday_morning_motivation_75.html http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/04/monday_morning_motivation_75.html Monday Morning Motivation Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:17:58 -0700 The choices patients make are not your choices. All too many chiropractors, especially those who have the habit of caring too much, are afraid that the poor choices that patients make reflect poorly on them. It's not true. If you’ve withheld the truth then you may be culpable. But that's rarely the case. In fact, it's quite the reverse, often over explaining the implications of dropping out of care too soon and other self-sabotaging patient tendencies. No, you're working with a fellow human fully equipped with free will and the freedom to accept or reject what you've told them. And while you may assume you're responsible because they've consulted your office and not the office down the street, their health is theirs, not yours. They made the decision to seek care in your office and they're equally free to change their mind or to follow all, or only some of your recommendations. Lighten up. It's not about you. http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/04/monday_morning_motivation_74.html http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/04/monday_morning_motivation_74.html Monday Morning Motivation Mon, 07 Apr 2008 06:00:17 -0700 Please stop sending me E-mails. I do not need any motivation. After 20 years in the chiropractic profession it is quite evident to me that it is dying. The people in my state organization are likened to the band on the TITANIC; they go to parties and meetings, drinking their fine brandy, wearing their best attire while the chiropractic ship slips slowly into the ocean of obscurity. The only way to squeak by a living in my state is to be a personal injury or workers compensation attorney’s bag man. I would appreciate you stop e-mailing Monday Morning Motivation to me. Nothing you can tell me will change the fact that the insurance companies are paying less than the price of a cup of Starbucks coffee and pastry, not to mention not letting me do my job. Thank you, Dr. Had Enough Dear Dr. Had Enough I have unsubscribed you from Monday Morning Motivation. There’s no question the chiropractic practice environment has significantly changed in the last decade or so. More telling is your response to these changes! Apparently, you have chosen to become a victim rather than a victor. It sounds like you’re preparing to withdraw your valuable skills from the marketplace. Too bad you seem so resigned at a time when we’re so close to the revolution that will make chiropractors indispensable.]]> http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/04/dear_bill_9.html http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/04/dear_bill_9.html Dear Bill Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:17:51 -0700 Are you playing a zone defense? If there's an aspect of your practice you're uncomfortable facing, whether it is your checkbook, collections, new patients or even missed appointments, it's tempting to turn over its responsibility to someone else. This is often justified as a way of freeing you up for duties that are "more important." These more important aspects are usually areas where you feel more competent and confident. Compartmentalizing your practice by delegating issues to others so you don't have to face them, is how many practices get into trouble. It turns out you're the only person on the planet who sees these "peripheral" issues as being separate! Since it's your practice. You're responsible for EVERY aspect. Not just the ones you like or are especially resourceful in handling. By all means, delegate. Supervise. Expect accountability. But be unafraid to look at anything and everything. Because it's all your responsibility. Even the unpleasant parts. http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/03/monday_morning_motivation_73.html http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/03/monday_morning_motivation_73.html Monday Morning Motivation Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:34:06 -0700 I recently completed my 7th Conversation weekend debrief in Denver (The next Conversation closes April 18th). It’s exhilarating to be present as someone “connects the dots” and sees how their mistaken beliefs have conspired to create the constraining circumstances in their practices. I can only imagine how pleasing it must be for you to witness patients “getting it” and taking on greater responsibility for their well-being. As I’ve been processing the direction this most recent Conversation took, I was struck by thought that most of us seem unwilling to change until the pain of the present eclipses the pain we imagine might happen if we make the change. In other words, most of us commit to change only when present circumstances become intolerable enough that it makes the unknown consequences of “pulling the trigger” attractive.]]> http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/03/pulling_the_trigger.html http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/03/pulling_the_trigger.html Musings Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:30:06 -0700 After his warm hug, when you spend time with Dr. Fabrizio Mancini, the president of Parker College, you can’t help but emerge more positive and optimistic about chiropractic and the future of the profession. That was my experience today as I had the honor of being the featured speaker for this trimester’s all-school assembly. After a tour of the school (it had been eight years since I was here last), Dr. Mancini and I had lunch. It was a stimulating conversation. I was immediately struck by the great questions he asked. “So Bill, you’re not a chiropractor, but you’re deeply involved in this profession. What do you see as your purpose?”]]> http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/03/parker_student_assembly.html http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/03/parker_student_assembly.html Musings Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:46:58 -0700 Don’t compete, create! If you feel threatened by the new chiropractors moving to town or the changing economic climate, you’ve been misled into thinking you’re living in a zero-sum world. Competition leads to winners and losers. Creativity leads to new possibilities and unlimited potential. Create extraordinary patient experiences. Create deep and meaningful patient relationships. Create new ways of communicating chiropractic. Create a more efficient procedure. Create systematic ways of keeping in touch with inactives. Create a way to keep yourself more present with patients. Create a clear vision of the outcomes you desire. Create gratitude for those who show up. Create new, higher levels of health. Create ease rather than battling symptoms. Avoid the temptation of imagining that your particular challenges are due to what others do or have done. Instead, raise the bar, become more relevant and create a better mousetrap. And watch patients beat a path to your practice! http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/03/monday_morning_motivation_72.html http://www.patientmedia.com/welcome/2008/03/monday_morning_motivation_72.html Monday Morning Motivation Mon, 24 Mar 2008 06:00:54 -0700