Tag Archives: chiropractic

Ask Lisa: The Art of Navigating Insurance Network Participation

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participation in insurance networks building blocks

One of the most critical decisions you will need to make in your practice is, should you be “in-network” with a payer group, or out? It’s a tough choice, and one size does not fit all.

So, what do you do?

First, determine which companies you already are in network with, and assess.

  • Do you have a contract?
  • What are your obligations as a participating provider?
  • Are you getting reimbursed what the contract’s fee schedule says it will reimburse?
  • Are you currently enrolled in Medicare, and are you a participating or non-participating provider?
  • Are you also currently enrolled as a provider in your state’s Medicaid program?
  • Are you enrolled as a provider with the Veteran’s Administration in your area?

Additional items to consider prior to enrolling in a plan include:

  • What is the reimbursement rate?
  • What percentage of the approved charges are taken out for contract discounts?
  • Is there a fee to join?
  • Do they want you to participate in their worker’s compensation, PI programs? (In our experience, opting in to the WC and PI products means no steerage to you, and cut reimbursements).
  • Are there pre-authorizations required prior to care?
  • Is there a visit limit?
  • What is the initial credentialing and re-credentialing process?

Next, make sure you have a profile set up with the National Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH) universal provider database and that the information is current, and re-attested quarterly. There is no charge to create and maintain your profile in this credentialing database.

Third, audit your patient demographic. Run a report in your practice management software, to determine

  • What percentage of your reimbursement comes from insurance?
  • What percentage comes directly from patients?
  • Which payers are you mainly seeing patients from and are you finding that patients are requesting you be in network with a certain company?
  • Who are the main employers in your area insured with?

Fourth, develop a spreadsheet called “Insurance Networks” to help you and your insurance department keep the information organized and up to date.

Once you have a grasp on the above, you’re ready to determine if you need to pursue network participation with additional companies. Treating this like a sales or business venture, you’ll want to have insurance companies coming to you and requesting you be in their network.

Remember, it is to their benefit and their obligation to keep their paying policyholders happy.

Patients should feel free to call their insurer requesting you be on their plan. Patients have done this, and outcomes have been successful. Why? Because the worst phone call an insurance company can receive is from an upset policyholder who can’t afford to see their favorite doctor who is helping them (that’s you!) because the doctor is not on the plan.

We’ve just touched the surface of network plans and credentialing. PM&A can provide specialized and unique advice on making the choice of which networks to join, which to be out of network, and which to run away from! We also will run those audit reports to assess if you’re getting the best bang for your buck.

Email me for assistance with how these processes work for your practice. You may reach me at Lisa@pmaworks.com.

Lisa

Using offline and online tactics to grow your chiropractic practice

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mothers day greeting with floral bouquet

Grow Your Chiropractic Practice with Online and Offline Strategies

Many chiropractic offices see success with online advertising, especially on social media. While effective, it often requires digital expertise, so many chiropractors hire agencies—some with better results than others. If you’ve worked with a good agency, sharing your recommendation could help others.

Online promotion isn’t new to chiropractic. B.J. Palmer, one of the profession’s pioneers, was a relentless advertiser who played a major role in chiropractic’s growth during the early 20th century. His legacy reminds us that consistent promotion is key.

However, in today’s tech-saturated world, offline engagement is more valuable than ever. Creating relationships with patients is critical. The relationship business in a chiropractic office revolves around building trust, fostering patient loyalty, and creating a community that supports long-term engagement and referrals. Chiropractic care is inherently personal, as it involves hands-on treatment and addressing patients’ pain, mobility, and wellness goals. The success of a chiropractic practice often hinges on strong relationships with patients, staff, and the broader community.

Your practice is essentially a network of relationships, sustained through communication and service. So:

  • Nurture current and past patient relationships
  • Use those to expand to new connections

Some effective offline tactics include:

  • Sending personal email newsletters with stories, health tips, and a touch of personality
  • Hosting in-office events (e.g., Mother’s Day giveaways or posture screenings for National Correct Posture Month)
  • Organizing a patient appreciation picnic or monthly spinal health talks
  • Visiting local businesses to give brief wellness presentations
  • Setting up a booth at local fairs for visibility and patient reactivation

Combining digital and personal outreach creates a powerful, sustainable marketing strategy. As Woody Allen once said, “80 percent of success is showing up.”

“80 percent of success is showing up” (Woody Allen)

Stay Goal Driven,

Ed

References:

*(B.J. Palmer, Achievers Magazine, 1989)
*Brad Glowaki
*(Woody Allen (Quote Investigator)

How Steve Jobs’ Vision Can Transform Your Chiropractic Practice Learning from Visionary Success

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steve jobs

Apple, founded by Steve Jobs in 1976, is now the world’s most valuable company, with a market capitalization of $2.9 trillion and $54 billion in cash reserves. But in 1997, Apple was on the brink of bankruptcy. Jobs’ strategic overhaul turned it around, offering lessons for chiropractic and healthcare practices.

In a 1997 interview, Jobs shared a key insight: “If you do the right things on the top line, the bottom line will follow.” He emphasized that a clear strategy, passionate people, and a strong culture drive quality products, marketing, and operations—ultimately boosting profitability. For chiropractors, this means focusing on vision and values to achieve sustainable success.

The Top Line: Your Practice’s Foundation

Your “top line” is your practice’s vision, values, purpose, and the team that embraces them. When these are aligned, marketing, procedures, patient outcomes, and profits follow naturally.

Top-to-Bottom Framework:

  • Top Line: Vision, values, purpose, mission
  • Almost Top Line: A team aligned with these principles
  • Middle Line: Policies and procedures
  • Almost Bottom Line: Patient outcomes
  • Bottom Line: Net income

Focusing on the top line creates a “vision-driven” practice, much like Jobs’ approach at Apple.

Insights from a Chiropractic Leader

A seasoned chiropractor recently shared a video on social media, responding to a colleague concerned about high practice expenses. He identified the biggest cost: an “under-trained” team. His solution? Hiring passionate individuals and training them not just in chiropractic techniques but in the practice’s “why”—its purpose, mission, and vision. Team members who didn’t fully align were let go. The result? A thriving practice.

When I commented that his success stemmed from his own clear “why,” he agreed: “It all starts from the inside out. If the doctor has a big WHY and can teach it, the team will follow.”

Sustaining Your Vision

Keeping your practice’s values alive requires ongoing effort. It begins with your example as the leader and continues through consistent team coaching. In our MBA program, we explore proven strategies to maintain this focus, from vision to execution.

Apple’s Core Value and Your Practice

In 1997, Jobs defined Apple’s core value: “We believe people with passion can change the world for the better.” This resonates with top healthcare practices, where passion for patient care drives impact.

Does your practice reflect this passion? A clear vision, a dedicated team, and consistent coaching can transform your chiropractic business, just as Jobs transformed Apple.

Stay Goal Driven.

Ed

Momentum Magic: How the Flywheel Effect Boosts Your Chiropractic Practice and Service Business

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flywheel effect

What separates good businesses from great ones?

It’s momentum—created by doing what works consistently and improving it over time. In business, especially in healthcare services like chiropractic, success often comes not from radical change but from steady, thoughtful progress.

Avoid the Trap of Constant Change

Healthcare entrepreneurs often seek out the next big thing—new therapies, machines, or procedures. While innovation can be beneficial, abrupt changes to proven systems can disrupt staff and confuse patients. A smarter approach is to test new ideas first, and only implement them if they complement what’s already working.

“If something works—fix it, refine it, but don’t toss it.”

The Flywheel Analogy

Jim Collins, in Good to Great, uses the image of a massive flywheel to illustrate how lasting success is built. At first, it takes immense effort to turn. But with consistent effort in the same direction, the wheel picks up speed and begins to turn on its own—powered by its own momentum.

The key lesson: there’s no single breakthrough moment—just consistent, focused effort over time.

How This Applies to Your Practice

  • Identify what’s working—and keep doing it.
  • Make small, strategic improvements over time.
  • Adapt to market changes gradually and intentionally.
  • Build systems that generate results with less effort over time.

By steadily turning your business flywheel, you’ll transform your practice from good to great—creating a self-sustaining engine of growth.

Keep building. Keep refining. Momentum will do the rest.

Ed

Ask Lisa: Are you fully informed about your patient’s injury?

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doctor taking patient health assessment

The importance of understanding your patient’s condition

A 2013 Journal of Chiropractic Medicine article discussed a patient with benign neck and upper back pain. However, the patient had recently sustained a “hangman’s fracture” from a drunken fall but did not inform the doctor. A C2 fracture was detected through an x-ray and from further questioning.

The conclusion of the study states:

“Historical experience with similar [cervical pain] clinical presentations in established patients can influence health care providers to assume a benign causation of symptoms. Conscious effort must be exerted to treat established patients with typical presentations with the same diligence as those of new patients to a chiropractic clinic. This case illustrates that an unstable fracture and hematoma can present to a chiropractic clinic as a seemingly benign problem.”

Getting the full story of presentation to the office with your patient is critical for both the SOAP note and eventual third-party reimbursement, particularly with current pre-authorization requirements and patient reporting of subjective symptoms.

Subjective data includes the patient’s perception of their symptoms. You can begin collecting subjective data as soon as the patient first calls in for an appointment, and the doctor following up gathering this information through conversations and patient self-reports on Day One and Day Two.

Your practice management software will have an area to free-form type in a note, and here is where you can indicate why the patient is calling the office to schedule an appointment. The doctor will see this note when they pull up the patient on their computer, or you can verbally relay the information.

It is also critical upon existing patient re-exams to ask and document an additional story of what brings the patient into the office, i.e., any additional mechanism of injury. We all have them as part of this wonderful thing called Life.

Not completely confident with what the patient is subjectively presenting with? Follow your innate instincts and confirm through objective testings.

Email us for a free medicare documentation checklist. services@pmaworks.com

Need further assistance? We can help. Email “Clinic Rescue” in the subject line, to Lisa@pmaworks.com

Lisa
920-334-4561

References:
Fogeltantz, Kay, Ditty, Mark, Pursel, Kevin, (2013 September) Hangman’s fracture presenting to chiropractic clinic as benign neck pain: a case report.  Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 2013 Sep;12(3):201–206, PubMeb

 

 

The Big Practice Barrier: Overcoming Growth Challenges in Chiropractic and Health Businesses

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chasm between service and net income

Many practice owners aspire to run million-dollar or multimillion-dollar businesses, but they often face barriers that hinder growth. Despite working hard, many practice owners struggle to achieve the financial success they desire.

 The Core Barrier to Practice Growth

In The Millionaire Next Door by Stanley and Danko, the authors highlight that self-employed individuals are more likely to become millionaires than employees. As chiropractic and health business owners, financial success should be a natural outcome—but it isn’t always the case.

While it may seem like poor revenue stems from lack of new patients, poor retention, inadequate equipment, or economic factors, these are just symptoms of a deeper issue. The real barrier to growth is the **Practice Dilemma**—the challenge of providing excellent patient care while managing a growing business.

The Practice Dilemma

New practices typically don’t face this dilemma because they operate at low capacity. But as your practice grows and reaches 60-70% capacity, balancing high-quality service with the administrative and marketing tasks becomes increasingly difficult. The business requires both leadership and management, but most practice owners struggle to bridge the gap between providing top-notch service and handling business operations.

The primary reason many practice owners don’t become millionaires is their inability to balance quality service with effective business leadership.

 The Solution: The Fast Flow CEO Systemsm

The Fast Flow CEO System (FFCEO) offers a solution to the Practice Dilemma. It allows practice owners to manage their growing business while continuing to deliver world-class service. The FFCEO system divides leadership and management functions between the CEO (the practice owner) and a trained manager.

The **Practice MBA** program trains a trusted employee to handle management tasks, while the business owner focuses on key leadership responsibilities. This system follows the **Pareto Principle**, which suggests that 20% of your efforts yield 80% of the results. By empowering a trained manager to handle most of the operational duties, the CEO can stay focused on patient care and strategic decisions.

 Why Management Training Matters

There is a noticeable lack of management training programs for chiropractic and health business managers. Effective growth requires expert leadership and management, combined with excellent patient care. The FFCEO system enables the doctor to focus on their expertise while a trained manager handles day-to-day operations, bridging the gap between service and business leadership.

Conclusion

If you’re ready to scale your practice and achieve financial success, consider the **Fast Flow CEO System** and the **Practice MBA program**. This approach will allow you to lead effectively while maintaining high-quality care. Take the steps today to ensure your practice’s future success.

Seize Your Future

Ed

The Next Generation of Chiropractic and Healthcare Practice Development: Growing Your Practice from the Inside Out

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it's the manager book cover by clifton and harter

To grow a successful chiropractic practice, there are four key principles that can help improve both your practice and business. These principles are based on years of experience working with doctors and staff in the field.

1. Practice Success Depends on Two Key Factors

  • Quality clinical outcomes: Delivering effective results for your patients.
  • Quality support: Ensuring your practice has the infrastructure and administrative help to maintain and grow.

While excellent results are critical, support is equally important. As your practice grows, administrative demands increase, and these are often overlooked. The key is balancing patient care with behind-the-scenes tasks like scheduling, billing, staff management, marketing, and more. Without proper support, your clinical focus can be distracted.

Remember: It’s not chiropractic that slows you down—it’s everything else!

2. Better Support Leads to More and Better Services, Resulting in Increased Revenue

The equation is simple:  Improving the support for your practice will enhance both the quality and quantity of services provided. With increased and improved services, your revenue will naturally rise. It’s a logical and proven cycle.

3. Better Management Leads to Stronger Practice Performance

Studies show that the most successful practices often have someone in a managerial role, even if they’re not fully trained. These offices tend to have higher and more stable production. The best business owners understand the importance of having a manager, even if they’re still training them.

4. Gallup’s Insight: Management is Key to Long-Term Success

Gallup, a global analytics company, confirms the importance of good management. In their book *It’s the Manager*, they state that **the quality of managers and team leaders is the single most important factor in long-term organizational success. This underscores how critical it is to invest in strong management.

Enter the Goal-Driven Practice MBA

Based on these insights, a new program was created to train chiropractic managers: the Goal-Driven Practice MBA. This program focuses on improving the support system within your practice to enhance both patient care and practice performance. If you’re interested in a personalized training program for your practice, the next session starts in April. Only 10 offices are accepted, ensuring a highly tailored experience.

If you’re interested, contact Linda, the program coordinator, to discuss whether it’s the right fit for your practice.

Seize the Future: Take action now to elevate your practice.

Ed

The “New Will of the World” Chiropractic and Natural Health Care.

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smiling female gardener with a box of fresh tomatoes

The “New Will of the World,” Chiropractic, and Natural Health Care: Embracing Purpose-Driven Change

Gallup, a global analytics company, has identified emerging trends in society through data analysis. One significant trend is the “New Will of the World,” which reflects a shift in social values, including a growing desire for meaningful, purpose-driven work. This trend is influencing both the workplace and health care, where people are seeking more than just a job or pain relief—they’re looking for purpose in their lives.

The “New Will of the World”

This shift involves a broad societal movement towards work and health practices that focus on meaning and personal fulfillment. People—whether in the workplace or as patients—are increasingly searching for deeper connections to their work and well-being.

“Make America Healthy Again” Movement

Coined by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his presidential campaign, the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement has gained momentum, particularly in the context of promoting chiropractic and natural health care. Kennedy, an advocate for these approaches, has proposed several initiatives:

  • Nutrition and Food Policy: Kennedy focuses on improving nutrition, including revamping the FDA’s oversight of food labeling, limiting ultra-processed foods, and banning harmful additives.
  • Pesticide Reduction: He aims to enforce stricter limits on pesticide use and encourage sustainable farming practices.
  • Revised Dietary Guidelines: Kennedy’s plan is to prioritize whole foods, organic options, and regenerative farming over corporate interests.
  • Support for Small Producers: He pledges to revise regulations to support smaller farmers and create a more level playing field in agriculture.
  • Creating Meaningful Change in Your Practice

Chiropractic offices and health care providers have a unique opportunity to align with this broader movement by offering a work environment and services that reflect purpose and community well-being. You can inspire both your team and patients by adopting the “Make America Healthy Again” ethos. Consider creating local initiatives, such as a “Make [Your Town] Healthy Again” campaign, in collaboration with health food stores, gyms, and local farmers. Hosting workshops, talks, and podcasts can bring the community together while promoting your services.

Engaging Your Team and Community

Your team is seeking more meaningful work, and your patients are looking for more than just pain relief—they desire holistic well-being. By tying your practice to this larger, purpose-driven movement, you can foster a sense of fulfillment and connection with both your staff and the local community. Activities like health-themed workshops or collaborative events with professionals in the community can deepen this mission and benefit everyone involved.

In summary, embracing the “New Will of the World” allows you to create a practice with greater purpose, connecting people to a healthier, more meaningful lifestyle while supporting the growing trend of chiropractic and natural health care.

ED

References and Full Article at [LINK]

The Cobbler’s Children Have No Shoes

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shoe cobbler sitting with 4 children telling a story.Are Your Chiropractic Staff on Health Programs?

You may recall the proverb about the cobbler’s children not having shoes, which illustrates how people often neglect their own needs while helping others. This happens in various fields—like a laundromat where the employees wear dirty clothes or a car repair shop with poorly maintained cars.

Recently, many offices we work with have had staff missing work due to illness, which can be costly. As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is a pound of cure.” Health should be a core value for your team, something everyone strives for, not just a business mission. It should be like a fun quest—finding ways to get healthier.

Unfortunately, some teams aren’t on health programs or aren’t as informed as they could be. Your staff should be the healthiest and fittest in town, with strong immune systems and natural remedies to boost their health during flu season.

While taking care of patients is a priority, it’s equally important to focus on improving your own team. This includes training your employees to enhance their skills and knowledge of your services. A trained, motivated practice manager can support both your people and your practice.

If you’re interested in having someone trained as your manager, sign up for our waitlist, and I’ll send you details about the upcoming program starting March 31.

In the meantime, encourage your team to start their mornings with planks, Vitamin D, and green drinks—and maybe a little dancing!

Take care of your people, including yourself, and stay goal-driven.

Ed

Read the full article here [LINK]

Sign up for Waitlist

Ask Lisa: Day One and Day Two Best Practice Procedures

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Greetings…
You asked for this … we heard you and have got you covered.

Here at PM&A, we consistently recommend the use of checklists, and establishing and documenting your Day 1 and Day 2 procedures is no exception. Keep reading for a comprehensive checklist to make your Day 1 and Day 2 run seamless.

Day One Upon New Patient Arrival

___1. Introduce yourself, what you do, and welcome the Patient.
___2. Provide office tour
___3. Check for questions, problems, and clear up questions as needed.
___4. Doctor Sees patient, does a thorough consultation by the use of objective tools
and history of patient such that the patient feels they were completely
understood, and all relevant facts that might relate to the patient’s current
condition(s) is learned. Adjustment is performed if appropriate and is part of your
typical clinical Day 1 process.
___5. CA does insurance/third-party benefits verification using the insurance verification
form and prepares for the financial consultation on Day 2, using worksheet.

Day Two

___6. Doctor thoroughly reviews the patient’s x-ray/objective findings before the report
of findings
___7. Doctor goes over with the patient the written Report of Findings and the patient
also receives an initial treatment plan with the necessary amount of visits and
treatments (adjustments and therapy) as best suited for the patient’s condition.
___8. Doctor reiterates “Time, Repetition, and Effort” as necessary to patient’s
successful treatment program and provides folder/packet to the patient.

In a private area away from other patients… the CA works with the new patient to:
___9.   Go over schedule of care and completes multiple appointment card.
___10. Stress keeping appointments.
___11. Communicate missed appointment make-up procedure and any fee associated
with no call, no show.
___12. Confirm doctor has discussed health care class, and invite patient and spouse.
___13. Discuss financial arrangements. This is your financial consultation with the
patient. Written financials are completed beforehand and made available to the
patient as part of their packet.
___14. Verify all needed paperwork in the packet.
___15. Stress that the patient review the written ROF from doctor.
___16. Go over check-in / check-out procedures, i.e., does the patient sign in using a
kiosk? Is the kiosk located at the front desk, or in the treatment area? Check-out
would include making sure their next appointment is on the schedule and
collecting any patient payments due.
___17. Validate patient’s desire for care & treating doctor’s skill.
___18. Ask the patient if there is anyone else in their family they would like to schedule
a complimentary consultation and exam, and if so, write down their names, and
follow up
___19. Provide educational pamphlets to give to the patients.

___20. Ask the patient if they thought of any further questions, and wrap-up, reminding the patient of their next scheduled visit.

After the patient has completed their care plan, the doctor recommends wellness care to each patient that achieves maximum chiropractic improvement, and the patient accepts the wellness care program.

Email us at services@pmaworks.com to request scripting examples for financial consultations.

Looking for additional information on how to customize the above checklist to your office? Give us a call – we’re here to help!

Lisa
920-334-4561

How to Avoid the Groundhog Day Syndrome in your Chiropractic Office.

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What would you do if you were stuck in one place and everyday was exactly the same, and nothing you did mattered?

Here is a summary of Ed’s weekly Goal Driver Newsletter.  Jump here to read the full article.

The Groundhog Day Syndrome can feel like doing the same thing over and over, with no progress or change—whether it’s handling repetitive tasks or dealing with the same issues at work. This can lead to burnout and a sense of being stuck, much like the movie Groundhog Day, where the main character endlessly relives the same day.

Life is cyclical, and each cycle offers new opportunities for growth, much like levels in a game. If your team is feeling bored, stressed, or stagnant, it might be time to move to the next level.

Here are two strategies to avoid the Groundhog Day Syndrome:

Create a Fun Theme for the Year: Choose a theme that aligns with your mission, such as encouraging fitness or community service, to motivate your team and patients.
Constant Improvement: Regularly evaluate how you can improve services, outcomes, and overall performance. Treat it like a game—always striving to level up.

Start the new year with fresh goals, and embrace growth! Consider enrolling in our Practice MBA program starting March 31, 2025, for further development.

Let’s break the cycle and keep moving forward!

Ed

MBA Program Information[LINK]

 

Chiropractic and Natural Healthcare Predicted to Grow

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People want and need your services

Happy New Year!

Welcome to the First Newsletter of the New Year!

Thank you for being a valued subscriber and for your continued support throughout the past year. We truly enjoy creating these newsletters and hope they provide you with valuable insights to help you achieve your goals.

Our focus remains on practice growth and business development. We aim to assist you in enhancing both the quality and quantity of your services—ultimately boosting your bottom line. Along the way, we want to ensure you and your team enjoy the journey.

Don’t forget, Lisa, our expert in insurance, credentialing, and practice sales, also sends out a newsletter on the first Thursday of each month. Feel free to reach out to her anytime for expert advice. (Details about Lisa can be found below.)

CHIROPRACTIC GROWTH: A POSITIVE OUTLOOK

To kick off the New Year, our message is simple: Stay positive and goal-driven!

There is so much to be optimistic about, and I’ll be sharing solid reasons for this in the upcoming weeks. But let’s begin with one key piece of good news—the growth of chiropractic and natural healthcare.

The chiropractic profession is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.3% between 2023 and 2033. This means the industry could grow from a yearly value of $571 million in 2023 to nearly $6 billion by 2033!

chiropractic growth 2023-2033

In comparison, the dental market is expected to grow at a much slower rate of just 4% annually.

While some forecasts for chiropractic growth are more conservative, most predict an increase of at least 10%. The study I reference appears to be well-researched, and you can read more about it on our blog (link below).

IT’S NOT JUST CHIROPRACTIC—NATURAL HEALTHCARE IS BOOMING

The growth isn’t limited to chiropractic care. Naturopathy, for example, is expected to grow by 15-20% over the next decade.

The organic food market has experienced significant growth as well. Sales, which were about $13 billion in 2005, surged to $64 billion in 2023 and are projected to reach $144 billion by 2032.

Similarly, the U.S. supplement market has exploded. In 2000, it was valued at $15 billion; in 2023, it reached $53 billion.

WHAT’S DRIVING THE GROWTH IN NATURAL HEALTHCARE?

The reasons behind this surge in natural healthcare are clear—especially for those of you working directly with patients. Americans are increasingly looking for ways to improve their health, and what’s been promoted to them for decades is no longer cutting it. As a result, they are turning to alternative solutions.

When comparing the health of Americans to other industrialized nations, the U.S. ranks near the bottom. Surveys indicate a significant shift in consumer attitudes towards proactive health management rather than reactive, symptom-focused treatments. There is also a growing preference for non-invasive, drug-free approaches.

In many cases, people are turning back to simpler, more natural remedies—sometimes even relying on what “Grandma knew”—as they seek alternatives to pharmaceuticals due to concerns about side effects and dependency.

Other key factors driving the growth of chiropractic and natural health include:

  • Increasing Awareness and Acceptance: More people are becoming aware of the numerous benefits of chiropractic care.
  • An Aging Population and Active Lifestyles: The incidence of conditions like back pain, arthritis, and sports injuries is on the rise—especially among seniors and those with sedentary lifestyles. Many are looking for non-surgical solutions, and with professional football teams utilizing chiropractors, weekend athletes are following suit.
  • Integration with Traditional Medicine: There’s an increasing trend of collaboration between chiropractors and other healthcare providers. In fact, I personally know chiropractors working in hospital settings.
  • Affordability: Chiropractic care is generally more cost-effective compared to many conventional medical treatments.

Your future looks bright – keep smiling!

As you can see, the future for chiropractic and natural healthcare is incredibly promising. Keep moving forward with optimism and a focus on your goals.

Let’s work together to make America healthier, one patient at a time!

For auld lang syne, my friend,

Ed

References on blog [LINK]

Delivering Kindness in Your Chiropractic Healthcare Practice

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young lady with older lady showing kindness and caring

The article emphasizes the importance of kindness in chiropractic healthcare practices, suggesting that kindness is the core “business” chiropractors are truly in, rather than just focusing on adjustments, marketing, or insurance. Kindness, defined as acting with concern for others without expecting reward, enhances relationships with patients and within the team. This, in turn, leads to improved patient referrals, retention, and overall satisfaction.

Kindness also has personal benefits, improving the well-being and mood of both healthcare providers and patients, while creating a positive ripple effect in the community. The article concludes with a poem, Let Us Be Kind by W. Lomax Childress, reinforcing the idea that kindness is a priceless and transformative force in life and business. The message encourages practitioners to stay driven by kindness, especially during challenging times.

Read the Full Article Here: https://www.goaldriven.com/post/delivering-kindness-in-your-chiropractic-healthcare-practice

The Silent Recession and What to Do About it in your Chiropractic Healthcare Practice

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farmer in a field of obstacles

The article addresses challenges faced by chiropractic practices in 2024, attributing some of the struggles to broader economic factors like a “Silent Recession.” Small businesses, including clinics, saw a 30-40% revenue decline, with inflation and rising operational costs outpacing Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. Insurers’ tactics, such as requiring prior authorizations, denying claims, and delaying reimbursement, have also complicated financial operations. Additionally, many patients face financial strain due to inflation, high interest rates, and rising living costs, further affecting clinic revenues.

To counter these challenges, the article offers solutions focused on improving clinical and administrative practices. Clinicians are encouraged to focus on the fundamentals of their care, adopt a purposeful approach to healing, and invest in ongoing training to enhance patient outcomes. Administrative support is emphasized, suggesting that a strong organizational structure and team training are critical for long-term success. The article also highlights the importance of staying independent, noting a trend of independent medical practices being squeezed out by governmental policies and rising inflation.

The author encourages chiropractors to remain resilient and continue fighting for their independence in the face of these challenges, implying that larger industries may have a vested interest in eliminating smaller practices. The message ends with a call to action for chiropractors to stay strong and prepared for 2025.

Read the Full Article Here:  https://www.goaldriven.com/post/the-silent-recession-and-what-to-do-about-it-in-your-chiropractic-healthcare-practice

Employee Satisfaction Scale and Chiropractic Practice Performance

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professional working mom with baby on her lap during a business meeting

Ed shares the connection between employee satisfaction and the performance of a chiropractic practice, drawing parallels to how companies are rated on platforms like Glassdoor. The Glassdoor ratings range from 1 to 5 stars, based on employee satisfaction, with higher ratings indicating a more positive work environment, better leadership, and improved profitability. Studies have shown that companies with higher employee satisfaction ratings tend to be more productive and profitable.

The article lists five key factors that influence employee satisfaction, which are crucial for improving productivity and profitability in a chiropractic practice:

  1. Workplace Culture: A positive work environment, shared values, and team dynamics play a major role in employee satisfaction.
  2. Management Quality: Effective leadership and management style are key factors, with poor management being a common cause of dissatisfaction.
  3. Compensation and Benefits: Fair and competitive salaries and benefits packages are essential for employee satisfaction.
  4. Work-Life Balance: Employees value companies that support a balance between work and personal life.
  5. Career Opportunities: Opportunities for growth and advancement within the organization are important to retain motivated employees.

We can’t emphasize enough that administration and management play a significant role in creating a positive workplace, which in turn supports quality clinical care. While the focus of a chiropractic practice is on providing excellent service and outcomes, having a well-managed, supportive, and motivated team is essential for achieving success. The author concludes by encouraging chiropractic practice owners to continue improving their business management, suggesting that better administration is the key to improving both employee satisfaction and practice performance.

What Gets Measured — Gets Managed in Your Chiropractic and Service Business

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bus driver with the dashboard in front of him guiding him where to go.

ED shares how chiropractic business owners can effectively manage their practice as it grows by using key performance statistics. Initially, managing both patient care and business operations is feasible when a practice is at 50-60% capacity. However, as the practice grows, the increasing demand for management and staff coordination can lead to stress and “growing pains.” To overcome this, the article introduces the Fast Flow CEO system, which helps doctors manage their businesses effectively by dedicating just a few hours a month to business operations.

Key to this system is the use of performance statistics, which help track progress and identify areas for improvement. The article outlines essential components for tracking performance, including:

  • Key statistics: New patients, paid visits, charges, and collections.
  • Time period comparisons: Weekly, monthly, and yearly comparisons.
  • Same-month comparisons: Analyzing ratios like Visits/New Patients or Charges/Collections.
  • New patient tracking: Monitoring where new patients come from, especially for practices investing in marketing.
  • Marketing expenses: Tracking cost per new patient to optimize marketing spending.
  • Visual tools: Graphs and charts to help visualize trends and results.

The article emphasizes that these numbers represent outcomes, not just data. The goal is to improve patient care and practice efficiency, not simply to increase the numbers. Displaying these metrics in team meetings and using them as a “dashboard” helps everyone stay aligned with the practice’s goals.

The overall message is that managing a growing chiropractic practice requires smart use of data to drive decisions, improve outcomes, and continue progressing toward long-term goals.

Read the full article here: https://www.goaldriven.com/post/what-gets-measured-gets-managed

 

Chiropractic End of Year Marketing and Business Checklist

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goal driven checklist to prepare for the New Year

This article provides a comprehensive checklist for chiropractors to prepare their practices for the end of the year and the upcoming new year. With 2025 just around the corner, the focus is on winding down advertising and shifting toward internal marketing strategies during November and December. Key ideas include:

  1. Holiday Promotions: Offer Thanksgiving turkey giveaways, special promotions for veterans, donation drives, and patient appreciation events like gift exchanges or holiday parties.
  2. Referral Programs: Encourage patient referrals with giveaways such as poinsettias and gift certificates, and express gratitude to external referral partners with thank-you gifts.
  3. Newsletters & Reminders: Send personalized practice updates and reminders to schedule appointments through the holidays.

Planning for the Future:

  • Spend time with your team reflecting on 2024’s achievements and brainstorming goals for 2025. Consider creating a unifying theme or project for the year ahead.

Business Essentials:

  • Financial Review: Meet with your accountant to assess finances and tax strategies.
  • Employee Benefits & Contracts: Review employee benefits, consider bonuses, and evaluate insurance contracts for profitability.
  • Compliance & Licensing: Ensure adherence to HIPAA and other regulations, and confirm that all licenses and malpractice insurance are in place for the coming year.
  • Budget Planning: Set a budget aligned with your practice goals.

Start with a clear vision and remain focused on both immediate tasks and long-term objectives for continued success in the new year.

Recognizing Greatness in Our Teams

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Synergy and the Balanced Business

smiling happy womanLinda Skiles,
Wisconsin Chiropractic Assistant of the Year 1990, 2024

We are all busy helping our patients, clients, and customers. That is what we do.

As a doctor and business owner, you have spent years learning your skills and spending fortunes investing in your business. You have sacrificed personal and family time to make a go of it. Your attention is on service, outcomes, and the bottom line. This is understandable and correct.

But sometimes, a key element of the practice gets little attention.

I have seen this in other offices as I have seen it in ours.

A business has 2 major parts. It is like a yin-yang engine. One side of the formula pushes, and the other pulls. One side is production and services, and the other is support and organization, like a car engine with driving pistons and other moving parts supported by the stable engine block.

To the degree each side, each component supports the other, the faster the engine will go.

This is synergy.

The support and organization side of the business engine does not always get the recognition it deserves. Most employees, at some point, have wanted to improve their practices and have been eager to do so.

We live in a mostly thankless world with constant negative reinforcement. We often don’t acknowledge the excellent work of our staff, our patients’ successes, or even our spouses’ contributions.

I feel that all chiropractors and their staff should take time off every month just to celebrate their successes and acknowledge their grit.

LINDA SKILES

This brings me to our Linda Skiles. Linda is our practice manager and is the C.A. to all our offices – doctors and staff. She has worked with us since 2001. She may have worked with you in one manner or another.

This weekend, in front of 400 or so in attendance at the fall convention of the Chiropractic Society of Wisconsin, Linda was acknowledged as Chiropractic Assistant of the Year.

Linda began working for a chiropractor in 1985. After he retired, she worked for another group practice here in Wisconsin. She then began working for Petty, Michel & Associates.
In 1990, Linda was awarded Chiropractic Assistant of the Year by another Wisconsin association, the Wisconsin Chiropractic Association.

In addition, she has volunteered her time to many chiropractic projects and local community activities in her small country town here in Wisconsin. She has received numerous private commendations for her good work over the years and sets an extraordinary example of team member work ethics.

She gets things done!

In 2023, she completed the Practice Manager MBA program and is now in the Practice Manager Internship and Certification Program.

Linda has contributed to the profession for 39 years and is not about to retire.

You can read more about Linda’s career here.

Let’s all take time to recognize the contributions of our support teams, without whom the engines of our businesses would not run.

Keep your motors runnin’,

Ed

 

two men and a woman receiving an awared

Dave Michel, Linda Skiles, Ed Petty