Fresh Perspectives for the Experienced Doctor

When we discuss the age of a dog, the equivalent is 7 years to 1 year of age. As we become more mature in practice, much like an aging dog, some of us may lose our zest and enthusiasm to chase the ball or roll over. Some of us that are in practice are actually playing dead. The appeal of serving patients and doing the best for them has become more of an irritation than anything.

Let me ask you, would you want to be getting adjusted by you? If you have to ponder that question for even a nano second, the first change that is necessary for building the practice of your dreams is between your ears. I know this is something that you already know, so why aren't you acting upon it?

There is a choice that we make every morning when we get up; that is how our day is going to look and what we are going to do to improve it. Headspace is the final frontier and is the driving force behind your success potential. Oh sure, that sounds very cliché, but look at it from a patients viewpoint. If you are not 100% on with your adjustment as though your life depended upon it, is it fair for your patient to pay for that service? Being grounded with a strong philosophy and maintaining enthusiasm is the key to your being on or off in your practice.

Write down what your vision for you and your practice is and share it with your staff and your patients. Because when you write things down you make a commitment to do them. When you simply say it but don't write it down there is no commitment. The old perceptions of chiropractic need to be broken down. Many of us have bought into the old perceptions of being "back crackers" and have forgotten the high value of being a doctor of the nervous system, adjusting subluxations, talking more about function and less about symptoms.

Your practice and you need to be tested to your maximum capacity levels. If you want to test your level of capacity and practice efficiency, stop limiting the contents of your practice and try cluster booking 10 patients at 10:00 and 10 more at 10:30. That will give you a new perspective on how efficient you, your staff, and your practice can respond to true capacity.

Patients only respond to their health and wellbeing to the level that they have been taught. That means that they stop seeing you when you stop educating them as to the necessity of care. When they become disinterested and see no further benefit, they make the decision on how important it is for them to continue their care. The doctors that have created the practices that see volumes of patients and several new patients a day started their practices based upon helping others achieve better health through chiropractic care. Most had no idea that they would be rewarded by doing the right thing for the people who needed their services. They did what they did because they had the strength and conviction to do the right thing.

True, there needs to be fair exchange, but that is not the primary reason to do anything. As soon as this shift can take place within you, the practice and your life will change. Keep focal distractions, like the internet, personal phone calls, and reading the sports pages to a minimum when you are in your office and you will find that everything else will flow smoother. Don't confuse activity with accomplishment. Continue to use at least one hour of uninterrupted time to improve. There is plenty to think about as an old dog, but it is more important to act upon and then implement the steps that are overlooked in creating momentum to move to the next level.

Dr. Gay can be reached at
1(866) 797-8366, or e-mail us at ultimatepractice@ultimatepractice.com. For more information on Ultimate Practice, visit their website at www.ultimatepractice.com