Q: What is the best way to meet attorneys and to ask for referrals or at least get on there list of referrals, send letter, phone call both, news letter, ask the attorneys I work with to give me referrals of other attorneys? A: Thanks for your e-mail. The best advice is to purchase my PI Workshop Workbook .. a great $20 investment .. all your questions are answered there. I also recommend you visit my webpage and look under Practice Tips and Cyberconsulting .. scroll down until you find some advice about attorneys. I will send at the conclusion of this e-mail something from my Smart Start Book .. I'd send something from the PI book but this isn't in my computer to retrieve. Attorney Alliance: Personal Injury cases are a necessity in our business. These patients, more than others, need our attention. They also can be converted to maintenance patients once they are released from active care. Nonetheless, if narrative reports, careful and clear S.O.A.P. notes, depositions, and very rare expert court appearances do not fit your personality, then stay away. But if you have a hankering for this type of work then meeting with local attorneys may be very helpful. The first contact is the telephone book. Look under the trial or personal injury sub section in the Attorney section of your local phone book. Create an attorney log for these attorneys and their firms. Ask for the name of the attorney or attorney¼s doing PI work, as well as the paralegal assisting with these cases. Often it is the paralegal that does the initial case study or entry evaluations, and often they refer their new clients to doctors they have a relationship with. They are always looking for competent doctors in different locations to refer their clients. Once you have their name, place it in your Attorney Log. Send them a letter of introduction, and be prepared to phone them a week later. The letter can look similar to this: John Q. Franklin, Attorney 1234 Peaceful Blvd. Somwhere, Utah, 23454 I appreciate this opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas concerning our mutual interest, Personal Injury. A professional alliance is crucial in today¼s business environment. Clients/patients often depend on their attorney and doctor for advice, and their referral should be based on confidence. In this regard, I have enclosed some of my work, and would appreciate working closely with you in the future. Our reports and all communications with your office are always timely and without hesitation. I keep current regarding new Personal Injury research, including being certified in both Impairment Rating and Independent Evaluations, utilizing the most current edition of the AMA¼s Guides to Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. Too often, medical records are incomplete or difficult to decipher. Our reports and notes are clear and easy to understand. Enclosed please find a copy of a partial narrative report, as well as daily office notes. Impairment ratings are included when appropriate For those patients who need a medical referral, I¼ve built up a professional referral network with many medical specialties. I realize you may already have a professional relationship with many fine chiropractors, therefore, I can only offer you my years of experience; my knowledge of Personal Injury work; and the close working relationship between our office, your clients, and you. If you have any clients living or working in my area, I would appreciate your kind referrals. I can also offer you a second biomechanical evaluation; an impairment rating upon your client meeting Maximum Medical Impairment, or an opinion concerning further conservative care prior to their medical release and/or settlement. When you call them, it¼s for the purpose of advising them that you¼d like to work with them, as well as inviting them for lunch. The purpose of this meeting is to let them know you understand the nuances of personal injury and would make a great witness. More often than not the cases do not get as far as a demand letter from the attorney and the settlement check. But, your concise and proper report, as well as your notes will show the opposing side that you are credible and it¼s best to settle. An attorney needs to know he or she can depend on you. If the attorney is always beusy, take the paralegal responsible for new client interviews to lunch. This is your opportunity to shine At the meeting you should have a copy of a generic narrative, as well as a copy of generic daily notes on a patient (leave out names). Also discuss what you feel you can provide the attorney: „I appreciate this time to discuss what our office can provide your clients. You may have a working relationship with other chiropractors and medical specialists, but for those clients either working or living in our area, I would appreciate being able to assist them. Often a client may be a member of an HMO where care is limited and their physicians are encouraged not to get involved in litigation. If this is the case, it is the perfect opportunity to refer them to a chiropractor. As you may be aware, clients going to the hospital emergency room, or to their family physician are given a cursory evaluation and possibly medication only for care. If your client was released from medical care and still has residual symptoms, it is the perfect time to recommend a second biomechanical opinion via a chiropractic evaluation and possible conservative chiropractic care. Who better to work with a spine trauma patient than the chiropractor, as our focus is on spinal health and wellness.¾ Question the Attorney: During your conversation ask them what they find to be the biggest barrier working with a doctor. The purpose of this question is to let them know that you wish to break all these barriers and offer them the best service for their client. Usually their answer will be that doctors send poor notes; they must wait too long for narratives; doctor fees for reports are too high, or fees in general are too high. If this meeting goes off well, you will have given them a set of your cards, included their office on your attorney referral network to give to those patients needing legal advice, and hope for the best. To keep your name in their minds try to send, at least every two to four weeks, a specific newsletter concerning chiropractic and personal injury .. keep this up for a few months .. then every so often.