Q: Hi Dr. M I hope you can give me some advice regarding my DC. I have been a CA for over 4 years now and absolutely love my job!! However, I am having a hard time keeping my DC motivated about patient care. He seems to have lost his purpose and only asks about numbers and income all the time. How can I help him rekindle those sparks that led him to this career in the first place? I feel as though I am following him around the office trying to carry the positive morale for everyone and the burden is getting pretty heavy. I would like to find a way to make him realize this without crossing my boundaries. Should I just take it upon myself to create a more positive atmosphere and leave him some motivational notes or something? Or do you have some other advice that might work? Your time and advice are appreciated. A: Thanks for the e-mail. I wish all CA's were concerned about their office and DC as you are. Your DC is lucky to have you. Unfortunately .. there are many reasons someone loses focus and gets burned out. It seems that your doctor suffers from a combination of both. The best you can do is to review your office and determine areas where the office may have slipped .. it may be new patients .. referrals .. patient compliance .. reduced exams and services and office excitement to mention a few. Possibly .. review your last 25- 50 new patients and determine if they are still patients and if not .. when did they drop out and why .. an office analysis will allow you to stop the bleeding and make the changes to turn things around. Next .. get some excitement and life including fun in the office. We are coming up with Easter soon .. create an office promotion for this holiday attempting to attract new patients as well as reactivate old ones. Begin a campaign of gather patient e-mails so you can begin sending e-mail newsletters to patients. If you think it can help .. reply with ideas and I will help you tweak it. The fact that your DC is counting patients like counting sheep may be indicative of his financial stress and numbers are his target. An office On Purpose will have both increased volume and income I would outline some ideas that you can do and help .. such as office promotions and the analysis. Go over this outline with the DC with the logistics and costs for the program as well as the goal and hopefully he will be on board. If you need my help .. just e-mail me. I would also visit my webpage often and check under Practice Tips for great ideas. Also .. comvince him to attend some seminars to get him back in focus By the way .. can I copy your e-mail and use it in one of my future e- mail newsletters. You did not mention names so it is generic but may reach to many DC's that may think it applies to them Have a Great Day Dr. M