The magic bullet
By Susan Hoy

Every day, people come into your office suffering from some sort of pain. And no matter how long they have suffered, they expect to go home pain-free.

They want a magic bullet.

Your challenge is to re-educate your patients on the quick-fix mentality (fueled by drug companies).

You explain drugs only cover up symptoms, but chiropractic gets to the cause of the problem. Your goal is to give the body the tools to heal itself.

You inform your patient there is no magic bullet —that returning the body to health is a time-consuming process in which he or she is as responsible as the doctor for a return to good health.

You also explain you must take a methodical approach to solving the problem and during the first phase of care he or she may actually get worse before improving.

If you’ve done a good job, you get a commitment from your patient, and the process begins. You hope your patient won’t give up before you’ve had time to make the necessary changes needed for improvement.

Your goal for your patient is eventual supportive or maintenance care, whichever is appropriate.

No magic bullet for you

Just as there is no magic bullet for your patients, there isn’t one for your practice either. To make your practice successful, take the advice you give your patients:

• Be patient. Your practice didn’t get this way overnight, and it isn’t going to get better overnight. Most problems are a result of years of insufficient systemization, organization, and follow-through.

• Look inside for the cure. A consultant cannot heal your practice any more than you can heal your patient. He or she can only give your practice the advice and tools to heal itself. The healing comes from within because you and your team make a commitment  which includes goal setting and proper action steps.

• Take responsibility. Once you and your team make a commitment to regain a healthy practice, you must work hard to create a positive result. This means not being resistant to change and it requires a constant and consistent commitment, because no matter how good your practice is, there is always room for improvement.

• Be systematic. Begin by identifying your areas of concern. Once those are identified, focus on the most serious problem first.

You know if you work on all of the patient’s problems at the same time, the body will be overwhelmed.

It is the same in your practice. Trying to fix everything at once is a recipe for failure.

• Expect to feel frustrated. The situation may get worse before it gets better. Procedural changes initially create frustration. Expect this, but work through it.

• Stay with the plan. Never give up; never give in. 

Don’t give up prematurely. Give your plan an opportunity to work. Just keep tweaking your system until you see positive results.

• Maintain care. Continue with maintenance or supportive care. 

Once your practice begins to improve, don’t stop working the plan. Continue to maintain all the systems you have put into place. Plan your work, and work your plan consistently.

The bottom line is this: There is no magic bullet for practice success. Success requires a methodical, systemized approach.

Success takes planning, effort, and consistency. And it takes a willingness to change. 

Susan Hoy is an award-winning team trainer and consultant. She presents training seminars for teams throughout the country and is the author of two team training manuals. The newest is entitled Systemize, Organize, Simplify.  Susan can be reached at 215-674-0130, suzzhoy@aol.com, or through her Web site at www.beefitup.net.