From the Director’s Desk

 

Regarding the subject of marketing, David Ogilvy, a man referred to many experts in the field as “the father of advertising”, has been quoted as saying “You now have to decide what ‘image’ you want for your brand. Image means personality. Products, like people, have personalities, and they can make or break them in the market place.”  Nowhere does that seem to apply more than chiropractic.   Over the years, the profession has taken a drubbing in the mainstream press. Fortunately, the chiropractors who are out there right now as the profession stretches across the globe, greater than 70,000 strong in the US alone, continue to bring a consistent message of experiencing life through the expression of a free-flowing nervous system.  This message to patients has been greeted with resounding satisfaction.  Welcome to the September 2010 issue of The American Chiropractor magazine, the feature topic is secrets in marketing.
This month, we have an interview with Dr. Steve Visentin, D.C.   A chiropractor who learned his approach after taking his skills to an area highly saturated with chiropractors, during an economic downturn, and learned the hard way, to attract over 18,000 patients throughout his practice presence.  Read his interview on page 18.
Also inside, feature articles ranging from marketing your website, on page 42 by Kara Hirsch, to risks associated with marketing on page 44 by Dr. Ron Short.  Just flip the page to get priceless insight into the Secrets of Marketing that you need in creating the image, personality, and product that markets itself!

 

Thanks for your continued support!

For The American Chiropractor,
Joseph Busch, D.C.

From the Director’s Desk

Dr. Steve Kraus, founder of Future Health software, has found a way to bring free practice management software to the market.  Is it compliant with the law?  What’s the Catch?  You’ll have to read the interview for the answers. 

TAC correspondent interviewer, Dr. Bill Koch caught up with chiropractic acupuncture sage, Dr. John Amaro to discuss how Dr. Amaro’s pursuit of acupuncture shaped his practice philosophy. Warning, this interview has the ability to completely change how you practice. Check it out!

Continue reading “From the Director’s Desk”

From the Director’s Desk

Welcome to the July 2010 edition of The American Chiropractor! This month the feature topics are Philanthropy, Anti-Aging, as well as Retirement. As far as I’m concerned these three things are fundamental to most chiropractors’ practices, well at least the philanthropy and anti-aging part, whether recognized or not. Maybe planning for retirement gets overlooked every once and a while. That’s why you may want to read “Retirement Plans for Small Businesses” starting on page 20, to be sure you don’t miss this opportunity to start planning for the future.

Speaking of retirement, we have an interesting profile of one individual who retired, and tried something a bit off the beaten path. Dr. Jerry Knox had the chance to head to India, and practice as a chiropractor, completely unknown to that part of the world’s health system, and gained a fair bit of perspective as a result. Read Dr. Knox’s narrative of how he is spending some of his retirement, beginning on page 16.

There are plenty of action-packed articles to read, so just take a look to the right on this page at our table of contents. Let us know what you think of the magazine, or the profession, by submitting a letter to the editor at [email protected].

All the best, thanks for reading!

For The American Chiropractor

Joseph Busch, D.C.

Managing Director


From the Director’s Desk

As a chiropractor, patients of all shapes and sizes walk in to your clinic. There are some chiropractors that have found a whole niche in the market of obesity. We’ve included many authors here, within our pages, to give you the edge in your pursuit of the most effective and efficient way of controlling your patients’ problems.

This illness is absolutely devastating, and the incidence has been exploding across the nation. Obesity increases the risk for acquiring a wide array of diseases, particularly heart disease, type II diabetes, sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. Those, subsequently, increase the likelihood of other ailments. The payoff will most definitely be realized in the implementation of some form of a weight control plan within your clinic. If that’s not what interests you, no worries, there’s plenty for you to digest in between the feature articles, including Dr. Yochum’s landmark article on page 14, regarding early diagnosis of spondylolysis.

On another note, a new development for you to be aware of is the electronic version of The American Chiropractor Magazine. Next time you’re at your computer, check us out online at
www.amchiropractor.com to view the e-zine. There’s streaming video, content and sound.

That’s all for now, like I always say, cover to cover!

For The American Chiropractor

Joseph Busch, D.C.

Managing Director

From the Director’s Desk

Welcome to the pages of The American Chiropractor Magazine! This month we plan on blowing your mind with current perspectives in treating patients using methods of Postural Rehabilitation, combined with chiropractic to achieve the most drastic, and apparent changes in the structure of the human frame. That’s why we sent TAC correspondent interviewer Dr. Bill Koch to catch up with Dr. Dennis Woggon, on the front lines, to report on his progress, treating the most dramatic manifestation of postural distortions, in the battle against scoliosis through his work with the CLEAR Institute beginning on page 16.

We’ve coupled this issue with some phenomenal pointers to cover for the courtroom. Don’t miss Dr. Mark Studin’s article on page 38, in which he summarizes very important factors to be aware of before submitting your patient narrative. Also, a very special review of the Medicare Demonstration Project is on page 48, Dr. Ron Short reveals that chiropractic was able to reduce costs in 4 of the 5 areas, in which it was tested, however the Chicago area made sharp increases in expenses to the Medicare program, nullifying the overall cost reduction.

Thanks for reading, remember to acknowledge our sponsors as you flip the pages, they’ve got the right idea, and so do you!

Have a great day!

For The American Chiropractor

Joe Busch, D.C.

Managing Director

From the Director’s Desk

With the passage of National Healthcare Reform on March 21, 2010, by the House of Representatives, Chiropractors opting to work with Medicare are going to need to be able to interact with their medical counterparts on a very regular basis, in language that each understands. One individual that is ensuring graduating Chiropractors are given the fundamental basics to be able to interact on such a level is Dr. Richard Brassard, of the Texas College of Chiropractic. Like the title of his interview conveys, a broad base of knowledge is what will equip graduates of TCC with the tools to succeed well into the future, don’t miss his interview on page 12.

Those same graduates had best be sure that they know exactly what they are doing, as well as why they are doing it, because, as Dr. Stuart Hoffman shares, potential obstacles to having a long successful practice presence are the state boards, other chiropractors, and the educating platform of the internet. Read all he has to say about the matter on page 22.

Don’t miss the profile of Malpractice insurance companies on page 16. Choose yours wisely!

For The American Chiropractor

Joe Busch, D.C.

Managing Director

From the Director’s Desk

This March issue of The American Chiropractor has plenty for every doctor in the field. One area that has been buzzing throughout the profession is the explosive growth, realized by several groups, one of which is considered a franchise, all within a few short years. You may have one in your market soon, if you don’t already. What’s the appeal? Find out on pages 14-20.

If you have a practice, and you’re wondering how to value it, Dr. Kraus has that issue solved for you. Turn to page 32 to understand more of how banks look at what you’ve built, and how to make your clinic look more attractive, and profitable for the potential buyer.

Not selling, just opening a practice? Don’t miss Miles Bodzin’s D.C.’s essentials to practice success on page 26.

Like always, this issue is jam packed with career altering wisdom, so get to reading…cover to cover.

Thanks for your support!

Joe Busch, DC

Managing Director

The American Chiropractor Magazine

From the Director’s Desk

When referring to Pediatric Care and Chiropractic, look no further than Jeanne Ohm, D.C. She is currently the executive director of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), and has even broken out a newsstand publication, Pathways, catering to the delivery of supreme care to the most innocent of those around us, children. Read her interview on page 14.

Also interesting, Dr. John Mayer was able to gather stats regarding Omega 3 consumption by pregnant mothers, and how this may impact their child at 4 years of age, on page 24.

Plus, take a peek at the interview with President of Northwestern Health Sciences University to see exactly where they are heading, on page 32.

Don’t miss next issue featuring Opening a Practice, Franchises, and Satellite Clinics mailing in March. If you aren’t on the mailing list now, or haven’t been in touch with us for awhile, please go to www.amchiropractor.com or call 1-888-668-8728 to renew your subscription.

Have a great day!

Joe Busch, DC

Managing Director

From The Director’s Desk

Joseph-BuschMention the words insurance reimbursement in a group of chiropractors and, I’m sure, there’s going to be more than just one with a horror story of their experience in getting paid from insurance companies. This month’s issue of The American Chiropractor will provide the opportunity to dissect and analyze proper approaches to insurance billing and documentation.

Health insurance should be regarded as a tool that people use to guarantee that, one day, heaven forbid, should some illness overtake their body, they will not be left destitute, or without an option with regard to receiving proper health care. Insurance companies exist to fulfill this objective, through negotiating with healthcare providers, in a way of sharing risk associated with illness. Personally, I’ve always kind of considered chiropractors as a form of insurance in itself. Of course, I have been educated in the chiropractic paradigm, something most insurers have yet to appreciate.

The objective in this issue is to present the viewpoints of several leaders in the profession who have been battle tested, offering their advice on proper procedures in billing your services.

When doing anything at all, the first key to success is to have the proper attitude. If you don’t have the right attitude when fulfilling the documentation requirements, you’re most assuredly dooming yourself to failure. Like my father says, “Your attitude should be one of gratitude.” Of course he was referring to me, or my brothers and sisters doing chores around the house, or yard work; however the same approach could be used when dealing with insurance companies, and their reimbursement practices. Please don’t sabotage your relationship with the insurance company your patient uses. It is a partnership, for the betterment of the patient. Of course, you always have the option not to accept any insurance at all, and that is completely up to you. You also have the right, and really the duty, to hold the insurance companies responsible for their role in this partnership through all the legal means necessary, as Dr. Studin explains in his article on page 42.

If you are looking for experts in insurance coding, a great resource, who many chiropractors have started with is Kathy Mills Chang. Kathy started out originally as a CA for a high volume clinic, eventually elevating all the way to the role of ACA consultant on insurance in the late 90s. Be sure to read the pointers she has, on page 24. Also this issue, another feature you don’t want to miss is Dr. Eric Kaplan’s article with great information on coding and compliance, beginning on page 56.

Finally, without a doubt, ladies and gentlemen, automation is the wave of the future. We feel so strongly about this point that we’ve gathered many of the latest innovations in technologies to make your shopping a bit easier. Take a look at the market profile on pages 14 and 16.

Till next time,

On behalf of The American Chiropractor Magazine,

JP


 

Joseph Busch, B.A., D.C.

Editorial Director / [email protected]

In This Issue….

What a historic summer this has been for the United States! The dream of ensuring healthcare to all JPBof its citizens has become a hot topic of debate, and President Obama has been estimating that the cost to taxpayers, over 10 years, will amount to a mere 1 trillion dollars in increased taxes. The metamorphosis that is occurring with the healthcare system has the potential to send shockwaves through the fabric of the United States well into the future.

The profession wide response to this combustible and momentous effort has been absolutely inspiring! Groups such as The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, the ICA, ACA, COCSA, various Chiropractic Colleges, as well as several well known vendors have all been doing a great job of working together to create a common message. Much of this collaboration has been made possible specifically through meeting at events known as the Chiropractic Summit. If you would like to learn more about how you and your patients may become more active in the fight for non-discriminatory healthcare representation in national policy, please visit either the ACA’s, www.chirovoice.org,  or the ICA’s, www.adjustthevote.org.  Now that’s something to get fired up about! 

Make no mistake about it: Americans are great at budgeting! The patients you see understand what they are paying for, and the services that they receive. With the number crunching going on, it’s easy to get the sense that everything is on the chopping block. If you, as a chiropractor, are running a cash practice, this is a particularly important reality that you must come to terms with each and every day. Even more frustrating than that, is to consider that the insurance companies, which should be trying to stretch the buck of their policy holders as far as possible, aren’t actively referring patients to D.C.’s and, instead, are taking a more defensive posture with regard to the services chiropractors render.

To position yourself on the cutting edge, be sure to take a look at the consultants providing expert advice on marketing, beginning on page 28. Don´t miss TAC media correspondent Eric Plasker´s article on page 36, which relates his experience with branding fitness! Also inside, an always popular author, Dr. Rodger Murphree, details how using the internet will do the work while you sleep, on page 26.

Thanks for reading, keep it up! Be sure to fill out the readers service card at the end of the book, and check the little box that says, “yes, I’d like to continue to receive TAC,” sign the card, and just drop it in the mail; the postage is paid. While you’re doing that, if you have the time, go ahead fill in all of the fields. We here at The American Chiropractor are honored to be able to continue to serve as your source for important clinical information today, as well as into the future.

 

On behalf of The American Chiropractor Magazine,

JPBsig

Joseph Busch, B.A., D.C.

Editorial Director / [email protected]