2 answers
sean
Student
Louisville, Kentucky
1
Question
Updated
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What are the most important things you've learned while running your own clinic?
biggest lessons learned, things you wish you would have known/been told, or experience with patients
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2 answers
Dr. Mike Farrell
Chiropractic
2
Answers
Hatboro, Pennsylvania
Updated
Dr. Mike’s Answer
One of the most important things to have is a good system of office management as well as financial management.
Office policies, employee policies, patient protocols, time management and good communication are some of the biggest things that can make or break an office.
Of course you need to have good chiropractic skills and be approachable to patients.
Chiropractic practices are way different than medical practices! We are always looking for new patients and trying to keep them long term. They don't just walk into your office like and seek care from you (ok, it happens but it's rare). It is hard and rewarding work that can help others stay away from drugs and surgery!
Office policies, employee policies, patient protocols, time management and good communication are some of the biggest things that can make or break an office.
Of course you need to have good chiropractic skills and be approachable to patients.
Chiropractic practices are way different than medical practices! We are always looking for new patients and trying to keep them long term. They don't just walk into your office like and seek care from you (ok, it happens but it's rare). It is hard and rewarding work that can help others stay away from drugs and surgery!
Ross Vollmer
Chiropractor
8
Answers
St. Louis, MO
Updated
Ross’s Answer
One of the biggest things I wish I would have known prior to practice was to shadow as many doctors prior to graduating to get an idea of how I want to practice.
Make sure that you have dedicated time to continuing education. There’s a lot you aren’t taught in school. Getting into good groups that help better your clinical skills, specifically diagnostics, will go a long way. Learning orthopedics, specifically clusters of orthopedics for certain conditions, will go a long way in your ability to treat patients.
Chiropractic has its time and place. We can’t always fix every single patient and sometimes surgery is the best option.
Not everyone needs long term maintenance plans. Adjusting is not always the answer. Exercises can go a long way to help patients.
Being active in the community is the best way to help build your brand. How you can help others outside of your office is your greatest selling point. Sometimes you have to give a little in order to get something.
Always remember your staff are the most important part of your office. Without them you wouldn’t be able to do what you went to school for. Paying them as such will make things easier on you too.
Being consistent with your office policies will help foster ownership of the office with staff and will enable things to run smoother.
Learn from each patient encounter. Not everyone will be the exact same. If you are unsure about a condition or how to treat it take time to research it so that you can better your stand of care.
Make sure that you have dedicated time to continuing education. There’s a lot you aren’t taught in school. Getting into good groups that help better your clinical skills, specifically diagnostics, will go a long way. Learning orthopedics, specifically clusters of orthopedics for certain conditions, will go a long way in your ability to treat patients.
Chiropractic has its time and place. We can’t always fix every single patient and sometimes surgery is the best option.
Not everyone needs long term maintenance plans. Adjusting is not always the answer. Exercises can go a long way to help patients.
Being active in the community is the best way to help build your brand. How you can help others outside of your office is your greatest selling point. Sometimes you have to give a little in order to get something.
Always remember your staff are the most important part of your office. Without them you wouldn’t be able to do what you went to school for. Paying them as such will make things easier on you too.
Being consistent with your office policies will help foster ownership of the office with staff and will enable things to run smoother.
Learn from each patient encounter. Not everyone will be the exact same. If you are unsure about a condition or how to treat it take time to research it so that you can better your stand of care.