Last Friday 9 of my patients rescheduled and 6 called and canceled. I’ve been in practice for over 20 years essentially in the same practice, so what does this mean?
I’m not doing a great job? I’m not communicating my schedules clearly enough? My patients don’t like me? My patients are not satisfied with my care, or the practice’s care? I’ve not done enough to enroll my patients?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! STOP!
This is only perceived reality, the meaning I’m adding. IT’S NOT TRUE! It is NOT actual reality! And most of all IT’S NOT PERSONAL!
Even after this many years in practice I still have days like this and it doesn’t mean anything other than 15 of my patients decided to change their appointments on one day.
Admittedly that’s a little unprecedented however, it does happen. It’s the nature of our business.
What’s critically important is to recognize the opportunities this presents, and most importantly DON’T TAKE PERSONALLY AND DON’T TAKE it out ON THOSE PATIENTS WHO ARE TURNING UP!
Remember their perceived reality may be many things but rarely is it any of the things I have mentioned here. They understand from time to time your practice maybe quiet, that’s normal for any business.
Think of a major retail store or shopping center where there is hardly any people coming thru? How can that be? It happens across all businesses for a variety of reasons least of which relate to anything you or your practice are doing.
So what can you do?
When your appointment book presents you with space, consider it a golden opportunity to work ON your practice and ON YOU!
I recommend thinking of 3 actions you can take in the moment: Write a blog; Inspire your colleagues via your practices FB grp; swap a treatment; research a new product in your practice; set up a networking meeting OR simply have some down time and manage your state. Meditate, Tap, rest…restore alignment.
We are not invincible and need time to discharge all the negative energy coming our way.
In conclusion, don’t beat yourself up, it’s rarely personal. Make sure you separate day to day trends from monthly and quarterly. Day to day simply focus on 3 actions that’s it! Monthly and quarterly focus on creating that steady upward growth. The two are mutually exclusive.
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.