Shared by: behapy@karlparkerseminars.com Professional Procedures By W. Karl Parker, B.A., D.C., F.I.C.C., F.A.C.C. The Parker WayÅ New Patient Procedures teaches a three phase method of handling new patients. This method is called the CHIROPRACTIC "P.D.R." (Pre-admission consultation, Discovery examination, Recovery report of findings). Phase I: PRE-ADMISSION CONSULTATION - Initially, the general position of new patient procedures is that the problem could be serious and complicated, therefore a thorough fact finding case history interview is performed. Phase II: DISCOVERY EXAMINATION - Then it is wise to perform an extensive examination and likely X-ray studies without revealing initial results. This is because usually you can't be sure until all facts are evaluated. Phase III: RECOVERY RECOMMENDATIONS - During the report of findings, come from the position of having high hopes of the patient being able to be helped. Then during the first adjustment, display less hope for fast relief of symptoms. All the previous procedures have also been designed to help you with the: PROPER IMAGES FOR THE NEW PATIENT 1. DC image to build. … Credibility. … Good Judgment. … Competence. 2. DC image to eliminate. … High pressure. … Excessive fees. 3. Patient image to build. … Seriousness of problem. … Symptoms are usually last to appear after cause begins and often first to disappear after corrections begin. … Regular chiropractic care maintains previous corrections and prevents many new health problems. There are basically three ways to administer the three phase Chiropractic PDR. This allows for all the flexibility needed to properly consult, examine and report to any type of patient. Here is a listing of the primary activities to occur in each of these methods: NEW PATIENT P.D.R. VISIT OPTIONS. 1. BASIC. (Majority of patients) a. VISIT #1 1) Consultation. 2) Preliminary screening exam. 3) Thorough examination. 4) X-rays. b. VISIT #2 1) Report of findings. 2) First corrective adjustment/care. 2. EXTENDED (Patients with exceptionally chronic problems) a. VISIT #1 1) Consultation. 2) Preliminary screening exam. 3) Initial portion of extended examination 4) X-rays. b. VISIT #2 1) Completion of extended examination. 2) Other X-ray views if necessary. c. VISIT #3 1) Report of findings. 2) First corrective adjustment/care. 3. EMERGENCY (Small per cent unless specializing in WC or PI) a. VISIT #1 1) Consultation. 2) Preliminary screening exam. 3) X-rays and wet reading. 4) Partial oral report. 5) First aid treatment. b. VISIT #2 1) Partial oral report, show X-rays. 2) Thorough examination. 3) First aid adjustment/treatment. c. VISIT #3 1) Complete report (oral and written). 2) First corrective adjustment. These procedures have all been designed to help you be a DC - a Doctor of Chronics - and as a Doctor of Chronics, most of your patients will best be served with the BASIC or EXTENDED new patient procedures. In both of these procedures you NEVER ADJUST THE NEW PATIENT ON THE FIRST VISIT. Even in the Emergency procedure, you never administer a corrective adjustment on the new patient on the first visit or at least until you have time to study the examination and X-ray findings. Here are a couple of ways that work well and allow you to adhere to this general rule. 1. When an emergency patient comes in your office in the morning, follow the emergency procedure through the preliminary exam and X- rays. Then have the patient return that afternoon for a partial oral report, viewing of X-rays and first aid treatment. 2. When an emergency patient comes in your office in the afternoon, follow the emergency procedure through at least the preliminary exam and X-rays. Have the patient lie down and wait until you have time to study them. After you have viewed the X-rays and reviewed the exam findings, have the patient moved to the report room and give a partial oral report and show the X-rays if they are dry. Not adjusting on the first visit is an important procedure in establishing patient control. And patient control is essential for a successful practice. Is not adjusting on the first visit absolutely necessary for having a successful practice? No. If you are having as many patient visits per week as you desire and you are adjusting on the first visit, continue to do so. It works for you. However, if you are not having as many patient visits per week as you desire, don't adjust on the first visit. That may be the key that allows you to have the patient control necessary for a more successful practice. As you study this training series of articles, you may notice specific forms of logical reasoning for the process being recommended for you to use with each new patient. First, we begin with a deductive reasoning process, going from the specific to the whole. We begin with the patient's symptoms in the case history, then a thorough examination and end with a report of findings usually with showing X-rays that demonstrate the cause ... the vertebral subluxation. Dad enjoyed using the acronym S.E.X., which stood for Symptoms, Examination and X-rays to describe the deduction reasoning process. He always said that's one acronym all DCs will remember! Then when you give the report of findings, you explain what you found in this same order (symptoms, examination, X-rays) to show your patients how you derived at the cause, the root, of their problems. Then, immediately after you explained the subluxations you found, we recommend you use a Peripheral Nervous System chart to demonstrate how subluxation can produce pain in any part of the body followed by an Autonomic Nervous System chart which demonstrated how subluxation can affect organs. That was incorporating the inductive reasoning process which leads people to understanding the basic principles of chiropractic ... from the whole, the principle, to the specific, any symptom. Whether you remember any of this from your basic courses in chiropractic college or not, I assure you it coincides with the way humans generally think, and what's logical ... lodges. They understand and remember much better and longer when this basic form of human logic is used in the manner we have discussed. Even though we have discussed or will discuss in much detail the proper procedures of processing the new patient, this training series is not everything you need to know to become an expert in placing every new patient into that category of those who stay, pay, get well, refer, return or maintain ... which provides the basis for a very substantial practice. There is still more excellent information in your Member¼s Enrollment Package as well as at each KPS Seminar. One of the key ingredients to becoming a very successful practitioner, is in developing the proper attitude of mind and being, which even though I can allude to it in writing to you, you have to experience the feelings that are generated when these concepts are discussed at KPS in order to ever OWN them so they become a part of your very essence so all your patients can feel the deep abiding caring you have for them as you administer these excellent health care procedures. Therefore, as you study this training series of articles, I hope you gain an understanding of how much there is to know, if you sincerely wish to serve your patients the best you can as well as have a very successful and lucrative practice. And if you do sincerely wish to better serve your patients and continue to develop or maintain the practice of your dreams, then I'll see you regularly at the KPS Seminars ... SOON!