In this article I talk about building your practice model.
- Bridge to Wellness
- 3-step Treatment Plan
- Nurture – Rebuild – Live Well
- Pain to Pleasure Island
In my experience, over this past 25 yrs in practice, and from my coaches and mentors I have found the following to be true:
Patients need a plan, a guide to navigate away from pain and in some cases, towards a maintenance program.
A structured treatment program produces far better results than an ad-hoc process, oftentimes with less visits and certainly less pain.
There is great value in clarifying, confirming and reassuring patients along the way, i.e. there is justification for these visits.
People want information and lots of it.
Patients want to know there in the right place.
Patients want to be empowered to manage their own health.
They want lots of health options, i.e. other therapies, and preferably in the same place.
They want to show them what they need.
They want you to be clear with them, don’t fluff around.
I have tried many different treatment strategies from purely pain based management, i.e. come back if you’re in pain, to high end wellness programs, i.e. 2x week for 6weeks, weekly, fortnightly etc.
During this time my treatment and diagnostic skills have evolved to the point where I know exactly how many visits will get the outcome I want and the patient wants.
This has taken time however, so the purpose of this exercise is to introduce a simple, proven 3 step model which can be modified according to how many practitioners you have working with you and how experienced you are.
One thing is consistent. Believe in your plan. Have conviction and the compassion with come thru. You can always modify the plan but without any plan you have no place to go.
Here’s my 3 step practice model template to get you started:
Step One The NURTURE program (Get Immediate Help)
What happens: Initial care? You’re in pain…we take care of you.
What’s involved:
- 6-8 visits, 2x per week
- We recommend spinal x-rays under Medicare.
- 2ND or 3rd appointment > Report Visit (RV) > Find the Cause.
- Digital Foot Scan – Assesses the impact you’re feet are having on your spine.
- Progress Review (PR) > Tell us how you’re doing?
- Care Plan. Give out form.
(Keeping you’re appointments = better results)
Step Two The Renew program (Get in Training for better health)
What happens: Get in training. You have less or no pain…Let us help you Prevent relapses)
What’s involved:
- Weekly-fortnightly to monthly visits.
- Periodic PR appointments.
- Find out how to better self -manage.
- Build your own toolbox
- Referral to other health experts, e.g. Myotherapy, Counselling…
Step Three The Live WELL program (Experience Long Term Wellness)
What happens: We support you to continue using your self-care tools.
What’s involved:
- 4wkly Chiropractic Adjustments?
- Regular muscle work – massage
- A regular exercise plan
- Good diet and nutrition
- Nutritional Supplements
- Emotional care / Stress manage
- Using Foot-spine-pelvic stabilizers
- Using Posture and exercise aids
- Periodic PR appointments
All the modalities in our practice follow this over-arching practice model. This forms the basis of our vision and mission and is communicated at every level in our practice. This ensure consistency, congruence and alignment between you, your practice members and your patients.
About the Author:
Dr. Andrew Arnold (Chiropractor) is the ‘Practice Leverage Expert’; Principal Chiropractor and owner, Cranbourne Family Chiropractic and Wellness Centre; Accredited Business Coach; Founder, Million Dollar Wellness Practice. Andrew is married to Dr. Linda Wilson, the Stress Specialist and has two children, Isaac and Bella. He lives in Melbourne, Australia.