Dr. Ken Krimpelbein, former high school physical education teacher and personal trainer, and a 1995 graduate of Cleveland Chiropractic College, is now the owner of a successful multidiscipline practice in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. He presently employs three chiropractors, a massage therapist, a registered dietician, five personal trainers and will soon have a physical therapist and a neurologist on staff. “Treat your patients the way you would want to be treated. Implement nothing in your office unless you, yourself, would want that service,” is the cornerstone of his success.
In an interview with The American Chiropractor (TAC), Dr. Krimpelbein describes his practice now, and how he sees it and chiropractic in the future. With his dedication to his patients and to the chiropractic profession, he is a TAC “Amazing Chiropractor.”
TAC: How did you become involved in chiropractic, Dr. Krimpelbein?
Krimpelbein: In the summer of 1990, I was living above a chiropractic practice while I was doing my undergraduate studies in physical education and health. The girl I was dating at the time got a bug up her butt and wanted to move out to California; I had nothing better to do, so I moved out there with her. During the day, I would teach high school physical education and health classes and, in the evenings, I would ride my bike to a chiropractor’s office and personal train some of his clientele. The chiropractor I worked for had a fitness center connected to his practice. That is when the light went on.
Soon after this experience, I called my friend, Dr. John Freidrichs, who was enrolled at Cleveland Chiropractic College in Kansas City, Missouri. He told me to get my butt to Kansas City. The next thing you know, I had packed up a U-Haul and moved from California to Kansas City. I often tell other chiropractors that they did not choose chiropractic. Chiropractic chooses us. We are the chosen ones.
TAC: What types of patients do you generally treat or attract?
Krimpelbein: We treat anybody with a spine. The conditions we see in our office are no different than those that are seen in any other chiropractic office. My job is to take the spine from where it is to where it needs to be, regardless of the patients symptoms.
TAC: What techniques do you use and why?
Krimpelbein: Techniques that we use include Diversified, Chiropractic Bio-Physics and Cox Flexion Distraction. My motto is, “Fit the technique to the patient, not the patient to your technique.”
TAC: Tell us your most amazing patient success story.
Krimpelbein: I can’t tell you one that sticks out the most, but I can tell you about the patient that resonates with me the most—the patient that comes in here with the mindset that I’m going to make them feel better and they leave here with the mindset knowing that they’re responsible for their health. Based on that information, this patient decides, on their own, to continue with chiropractic wellness care, implement a sound nutritional program, and become a member at the health club I own. That is the reason that I get out of bed each morning. As chiropractors, we preach the inside out philosophy of healing, yet, most of our interventions are outside in. To me, a true inside out healer is one that has the ability to empower the patient to realize that they’re responsible for their health, not their doctor and certainly not their insurance company.
TAC: Is there any one thing or incident that really impacted your growth as a chiropractor and/or your practice’s growth?
Krimpelbein: Currently, I am a senior coach of Breakthrough Coaching. I originally became a Breakthrough Coaching client because of my desire to master Rehab/Active Care. Presently, I’m creating a multidiscipline practice. Multidiscipline practice is not for everyone. Thanks to my staff, I am able to run a very successful chiropractic practice. Other professions are certainly not needed in this practice.
However, I really struggle knowing that there are procedures that could help my patients that I can’t offer. Many times I feel uncomfortable referring to other professionals, because I don’t know what is being said to them when they are outside the walls of my facility.
At this time, my facility employs three chiropractors, a massage therapist, a registered dietician, five personal trainers and, in the near future, a physical therapist and a neurologist. The neurologist that is going to be working in this facility is not just any medical doctor. He has an M.D., Ph.D., Pharm.D. and an M.B.A., and played a key role in removing Vioxx from the market. He is very wellness based and I look forward to building on the relationship that we have established.
TAC: What marketing strategies do you use to attract new patients and to keep current patients?
Krimpelbein: Hands down, the one thing that has built this facility is my New Patient Orientation. I’ve been in practice now for ten years and have consistently done a New Patient Orientation every other week. Our Patient Visit Average (PVA) on a patient that attends a New Patient Orientation is double that of one that does not. The purpose of the New Patient Orientation is to sell the principle of chiropractic. Care plans tend to run out, but the principle lives forever. Once a patient grasps the inside out principle of healing, they are yours for life. It is also a great opportunity for them to not only buy into the message, but for them to buy into the messenger.
TAC: With your practice being multidisciplinary, can you tell our readers your advice about setting up and maintaining such a practice in today’s healthcare system?
Krimpelbein: My advice in creating a multidisciplinary practice is to not build a house of cards. Make sure you have all of your policies, procedures and protocols in place before another professional, such as a physical therapist or medical doctor, comes into your clinic. You do not want the inmates to run the asylum. If you’re not sure where to start, find yourself a reputable consultant with a good track record to help you with this process. Mistakes cannot only be costly, they can jeopardize your license.
TAC: Where do you see the future of chiropractic headed?
Krimpelbein: The wellness revolution is here and we are positioned perfectly to take over that role, but we all have our responsibilities. I can’t fathom why anybody would not belong to a national or state organization and would not contribute their money or energy toward the advancement of this great profession. I’m proud to be a coach for a team that just contributed $500,000 toward the Campaign for Chiropractic. I hope other organizations step up to the plate as well.
TAC: Any final words for our readers?
Krimpelbein: Treat your patients the way you would want to be treated. Implement nothing in your office unless you, yourself, would want that service.
You may contact Dr. Krimpelbein via email at [email protected].