Author Archives: Linda

GMOs… enough to scare any ghost or goblin away.

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Having worked in chiropractic offices, Petty Michel & Associates, and being a chiropractic patient myself, I have become more health conscience over the past decade and becoming more aware of the health concerns sugars cause in children,  I began to look for a different approach to the traditional passing out of candy for this Halloween.  I stumbled upon an article put out by the Green Halloween Organization that put it into perspective and solidified my concern to make a difference in promoting a healthier life style for the little ghouls this year.

GMOs or genetically modified organisms are not something new, yet we often times fail to think about them and how they affect our health when it comes to a holiday such as Halloween and all the fun candies we traditionally pass out to all the costume wearing children that ring our door bells.

Many common GMOs are found in the favorite trick-or-treat candies on the market today.  Genetically modified organisms are plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE).  It is an experimental technology which merges DNA from different species, creating unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.

Picture The Mad Scientist in the lab mixing varies potions(GMOs) to create monsters(candy) and then feeding it to your children and/or grandchildren.

Listed below are 10 GMO ingredients found in Halloween Candy.

  1. Sugar (GMO sugar beets)
  2. High fructose corn syrup (GMO corn)
  3. Corn starch(GMO corn)
  4. Soy lecithin (GMO soy)
  5. Soybean oil (GMO soy)
  6. Modified food starch (GMO corn)
  7. Fructose, dextrose, glucose (GMO corn)
  8. Cottonseed oil (GMO cotton)
  9. Canola oil (GMO canola)
  10. “Other” ingredients: isolates, isoflavones, food starch, vegetable oil.

The number one reason to avoid GMOs as listed on the Institute for Responsible Technology is that they are just plain unhealthy.   The article states: The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) urges doctors to prescribe non-GMO diets for all patients. They cite animal studies showing organ damage, gastrointestinal and immune system disorders, accelerated aging, and infertility. Human studies show how genetically modified (GM) food can leave material behind inside us, possibly causing long-term problems.  To read the full article go here [Link]  Chiropractic has known this information for years and has always promoted an organic or unmodified diet for a healthier lifestyle in addition to getting adjusted regularly.

Studies show some of the most common illnesses linked to GMOs are. Is this what we want for our children or grand children?  I don’t think so.

  1. Rheumatoid arthritis
  2. Inflammatory bowel disease
  3. Osteoporosis
  4. Atherosclerosis
  5. Various types of cancer
  6. Allergies
  7. Lou Gehrig’s disease

With at least 10 GMOs found in Halloween Candy, you ask yourself what can I do to provide a healthier treat selection for the ghost and goblins at my door this year?  As a grandma wanting a better life style for my grandchildren I ask myself, what can I put in their trick or treat bag that will make me feel better about the choice I’ve made and still be as enjoyable to them.

Here are a few ideas I came up with for healthier treats:

  1. Halloween themed pencils
  2. Money
  3. Balloons
  4. Stickers
  5. Organic snacks

This Halloween treat your trickers with a healthy treat that will lessen the toxins they may currently be exposed to.

More information on GMOs and additional ideas for healthier treats and snacks can be found at:  http://www.greenhalloween.org/2011nongmoguide.pdf

This helpful guide is provided by the partnership of Green Halloween http://www.greenhalloween.org and Non-GMO Project http://www.NonGMOProject.com

The Wave – 2012

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Ed is live at The Wave in San Francisco, CA.  He sent these two pics to give us a sneak preview of what’s happening!

Jerry Rice talking with Dr. Brian Kelly at The Wave

Jerry Rice is being inducted to the Football Hall of Fame again today.  The average career time for a professional football player is four years- Jerry played for over 20 years.  He credits chiropractic for his great health and agility in football and also “dancing with the stars”.

Dr. Mercola speaks to hundreds of Chiropractors at The Wave

(Life West, live at The Wave)

Doctor Joseph Mercola, D.O., gives his presentation to hundreds of chiropractors at The Wave in San Francisco on Friday, August 3rd.
Doctor Mercola has the highest ranking natural health newsletter in the world.  His website  receives over 1,000,000 hits per day.

Cal Jam Special Offer for Chiropractors

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Come on down to Cal Jam 2012!

Our great consultant and coach, Ms. Phyllis Frase, will be speaking at the 5th Annual California Jam, presented by the Dead Chiropractic Society in Costa Mesa California.  Register before January 15th and mention the Promo Code of FRASE for the special discount mentioned in the flier below.

All registration is handled through Cal Jam by calling the number below.

Call Today 949-250-0600

for more information: http://www.caljam.org/

School Supply Drive for Chiropractic Offices

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Jump on the bus…it’s back to school time!

 

To some this means the excitement of shopping for new school supplies. To others who are less fortunate, it means embarrassment of arriving on the first day of school without the necessary materials to get a good education.  Some teacher’s spend an average of $1000 per year of their own money providing necessary school supplies to those students in need.

Your chiropractic team could help change that by holding a special chiropractic promotion – the  School Supply Drive.  As the kids head back to school, why not head to the “top of your class” and “jump on the bus” by hosting a School Supply Drive.  It will give you visibility in the community, potential new patients and an overall good feeling of satisfaction for helping the kids in your neighborhood!

Click the link above for a sample poster.

(For active clients of Petty, Michel & Associates, go to your PMAmembers site for a customizable poster, patient handout, press release, and summary outline of how to hold a school supply drive.)  [Link]

========

Chiropractic School Supply Drive: Implementation Summary

A school supply drive is designed to help local kids, and their parents and teachers, round up supplies to help them with their school work.

Many teachers end up purchasing school supplies for those less fortunate with their own money.  So, the need is there.  This can be a rewarding promotion that can help your community and help you generate some publicity, good will, and a few new patients.

Here are some sample action steps you can use to help you organize and put together an effective school supply drive.

1) PLANNING

a) Decide the dates you will be running the drive. Summer works, August, Sept. Hold it for 1 week. You can actually run a number of them during the year if the perceived need is there.

b) Decide what you will offer. For example:

i) New Patients:  a consultation, exam, (if indicated) initial x-ray, and report of findings for $25 and at least 5 school supplies

ii) Existing Patients: May a receive raffle ticket for a valuable gift, such as 5 car washes, $20 gas card, or a Subway Gift Card for at least 5 school supplies

c) Decide what the patient’s responsibility will be.

i) New Patients:

(1) Donation of 5 school supply items plus $24

ii) Existing Patients:

(1) Donation of 5 school supply items
(2) Referral of family and friends

d) Choose a local school (or more) that patients would be motivated to help.

i) Contact the school, preferably the Principal, to obtain:

(1) Information for a press release in regards to the needs of the school and students.
(2) Supply lists

e) Set up area for collection

2) MARKETING (examples)

a) Write a press release and submit to local papers
b) Post your event on your Facebook page
c) Post your event on your Google page
d) Make a flier to post in your office
e) Make a statement stuffer with details of the event
f) Tell all of your patients personally, and regularly remind them to bring in their donation and
g) Encourage existing patients to refer their family and friends.
h) Include in your newsletters
i) Submit a press release with photos after the event and also place news story in fan page and in newsletters.

A Poem about Responsibility

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1

by Charles Osgood

There was a most important job that needed to be done,
And no reason not to do it, there was absolutely none.
But in vital matters such as this, the thing you have to ask
Is who exactly will it be who’ll carry out the task?

Anybody could have told you that everybody knew
That this was something somebody would surely have to do.
Nobody was unwilling; anybody had the ability.
But nobody believed that it was their responsibility.

It seemed to be a job that anybody could have done,
If anybody thought he was supposed to be the one.
But since everybody recognized that anybody could,
Everybody took for granted that somebody would.

But nobody told anybody that we are aware of,
That he would be in charge of seeing it was taken care of.
And nobody took it on himself to follow through,
And do what everybody thought that somebody would do.

When what everybody needed so did not get done at all,
Everybody was complaining that somebody dropped the ball.
Anybody then could see it was an awful crying shame,
And everybody looked around for somebody to blame.

Somebody should have done the job
And Everybody should have,
But in the end Nobody did
What Anybody could have.
===================

Abridged Version.
Author Unknown.

The Parable of Responsibility
Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody were members of a group.
There was an important job to do and Everybody was asked to do it.
Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.
Anybody would have done it, but Nobody did it.
Somebody got angry because it was Everybody’s job.
Everybody thought Anybody would do it, but Nobody realized that Anybody wouldn’t do it.
It ended up that Everybody, blamed Somebody, when Nobody did, what Anybody could have done.

How to get a steady stream of new patients from the internet!

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Webinar:  Tuesday, May 24th

Internet marketing works.  We are seeing great results from some offices… and not so much from others.

In this webinar, you will find out what is working and what isn’t – and you will learn how your office can get more new patients from the Internet.

You can no longer say that the Internet is not for you. It is.

You can’t dismiss it all and state that it is too technical and that “you aren’t into computers or tech things.”   You have an insurance department, don’t you? Well, the Internet is a LOT simpler than billing for Medicare, if you understand its basics.  And, you can delegate a lot of the detail work to maintaining it, like you do with your insurance work. But neglecting your Internet marketing is perilous.  You have to get on top of it now or be left behind.

When prospective patients search for a chiropractor, they may get directed to a physical therapist when they should be finding you and your web site first.  It all depends on how well you set up and maintain your Internet presence.

Rather than our usual teleclass, this program will be a training webinar. It is free for all of our active clients. (If you are not a PM&A client,  there is a small fee.)  You will need a computer with speakers. Or, you can just call in and hear the audio portion of the program only.

Dr. Jamie Phillips of Bloczone Marketing, a company that focuses on helping chiropractors to acquire new patients via internet marketing, will be discussing what is working in Internet marketing for chiropractors today.

Then, she will zero in on and teach you one of the eight main ways to get new patients from the Internet that is working now.

Dr. Phillips will be explaining the secrets of how to optimize your Google listing (which also applies to Yahoo and Bing) so your website can start showing up on the first page of Google.

This webinar is good for the doctor, marketing coordinator, and especially for your internet marketing assistant.

Our webinar is on Tuesday, May 24th, at 12:30 Central Time. If you are an active client, there is no charge.  Please register here and we will send you the special invitation and link by email.  Register us for the  webinar!

If you are not an active client, you can register here. There is a small fee for this ($40) which will be donated to Oklahaven foundation Doctors with a Heart Program.

Parker Seminar in Jan with Ms. Phyllis Frase

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We wanted to let you know that Ms. Phyllis Frase will be speaking at Parker Seminars 60th Anniversary event in Las Vegas, NV.

January 13-15, 2011

Parker Seminars is the largest and most long lasting seminar program for the chiropractic profession. The early registration discount is a month away and Phyllis wanted to be sure we reminded everyone. It is a great program and we encourage everyone to attend if you can make it. Great for the staff too.

(From Parker)

Join thousands of members from the chiropractic community for an unforgettable three days of education, networking, and an exposition featuring the best in chiropractic technology.

Spread the word that Parker Seminars’ 60th anniversary series lets you:

  • Learn critical practice-building techniques.
  • Strengthen your chiropractic foundation.
  • Create a more effective, efficient office.
  • Earn valuable continuing education credits.
  • Learn from world-renowned speakers and leading experts.
  • Maximize your potential and start living your best life!
  • Be one of the first to preview and order The Well Adjusted Soul,one of this  year’s most exciting practice expansion tools. (Featuring an article, “Can You Hear Me Now?” by our very own, Dr. Tom Potisk.)

Come share the excitement and let us welcome you to our neighborhood!

Advanced registration available through December 13!

Register today! Visit www.parkerseminars.com or call 888.727.5338.

“Parker Seminars, “One voice for Chiropractic”

Health Care Reform Poster

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TRUE HEALTHCARE REFORM

Patients regular utilization of
chiropractors as primary care physicians reduces the need for:

Hospitalization by 60.2%
Hospital days by 59%
Pharmaceutical usage by 85%
Outpatient surgeries and procedures by 62%
Overall global health care cost by 50%

This according to a clinical and cost utilization study conducted by an independent physician association done over a 7 year
period and that included doctors of all licenses. J.M.P.T. Vol30, Issue 4, pages 263-269, by Dr. Richard Sarnat, M.D.

For a printable copy of this statement click here: True Healthcare Reform Poster

Facebook Marketing Tips

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Facebook  is one of the fastest growing social networking medias on the internet.  It’s free and it’s fun.

If you dont’ have a Facebook page for your clinic it’s time to get one.  If you do have one, that is great!  Find us and friend us at  Petty, Michel & Associates Facebook Page.

Whether your a veteran or a novice to facebooking you can now use the helpful tips, compiled by Dana, to help spread the word about chiropractic and bring more people to your office.

Read Dana’s Tips at: Facebook Marketing Tips

Last Seminar/Next Seminar

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We just finished our 10 classes in 1 day seminar in Minneapolis – our “10 in 1.”  From what I heard and saw, everyone had a great time. I know we did. And for my money, I think we had some of the best professionals in the country giving presentations – as well as attending!

Dave Michel at 3Goals Seminar in Minneapolis
Dave Michel at 3Goals Seminar in Minneapolis

In addition to great presentations by Phyllis Frase on chiropractic philosophy and procedures for staff, Dave Michel on insurance, and myself on marketing and practice building, we had two guest doctors.

Dr Tom Potisk at 3-goals Seminar in Minneapolis
Dr Tom Potisk at 3-goals Seminar in Minneapolis

One was Dr. Tom Potisk who went over how he maintained a joyful practice for 25 years in a multi-doctor setting with 2 associate doctors.

Dr. Shane Walker at 3-goals Seminar in Minneapolis
Dr. Shane Walker at 3-goals Seminar in Minneapolis

Then, as a special guest, we were pleased to have Dr. Shane Walker who is the president of the Federation of Straight Chiropractors. He lit the room up with passion, statistics, and purpose and reminded everyone about the power of chiropractic, as well as it’s importance in society today.

So, just a reminder:

Our Milwaukee seminar is coming up soon.

Dave, Phyllis, and myself all have new material covering C.A. training, insurance and reimbursement procedures, and marketing and practice building.  Our presentations are all based upon the work we do each week in offices across the country – and what we see working, and not working.

For our Milwaukee seminar, we are especially pleased to have two exceptional doctors giving presentations on Thursday, May 20th.  Both are highly qualified and successful doctors that set great examples for excellence in their practice, business, and life.

We will be sending info out on them soon, but you can find out more here.

Hope to see you all in Milwaukee.

Fall Chiropractic Marketing

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Here are some quick ideas for you to consider for your fall marketing of your chiropractic services.

There are different approaches to these themes and projects. Please give us a call anytime for advice on how to implement them. You can also find them on your MMS computer program. For those of you on the MMS Coaching program, you can also find information on your Member’s site, which is updated often.

Internal/External

  • September – Kid’s Day
    i.    Spinal Care Class (New patients and their guests friends.)
    ii.   Care To Share Program (Referral drawing)
  • October – “Pinched Nerve Awareness Week” (October is national Spinal Health Month.)
    i.    Reactivation Program
  • November – “Headache Awareness Week”
  • December – Donation Drive
  • January – Weight loss and Fitness Programs

Community Services
Now is an excellent time to work on setting up your external community events. Schedule workshops and screenings in business, clubs, and organizations over the next 5 months – through January.

An important key to setting up these events is knowing what it is you are going to provide. For example: a workshop on headaches, or fitness, or a screening, or something else entirely.

We have found that there is a direct ratio between having a clear idea of what service you are going to provide and the success in scheduling the event. Here are some ideas, but again, there are many more on your MMS computer program and please call if you have any questions.

  1. “8 Healthy Home Remedies for Relieving Headaches”
  2. “How to Stay Fit When You Sit”
  3.   Company Health Fair
  4.   Employee Appreciation Luncheon

Lastly, and as always, keep yourself inspired.  One way to do this is to keep learning and working on improving your procedures.   Fall is not just a time when children get to learn. We always have the opportunity to improve if we just study.  We can analyze our new patient intake procedures, our patient education programs, our clinical protocols for different cases, etc.

If you are feeling like your practice is getting boring, just study it. Learn how it could be improved.  A professional is constantly improving.

Till next time,

Ed