Q:

Dr. Margolies,

I was speaking with someone this evening who is an 
anesthesiologist. His  group has just added a pain management 
component to their practice. I asked him if they ever worked with 
chiropractors and he said that he had not worked with any DCs 
although he thought some other docs in the group might. 
He wasn't "hostile" to the idea at all. He invited me to give him a call 
and to come over to the hospital and he would introduce me to some 
of the other docs in his group. Here's my question. I go down to the 
hospital, he shows me around, and introduces me to the other docs. 
Now what? Do you have any suggestions for how I should go about 
"planting some seeds" in this situation?

Thanks.

A:

Thanks for the e-mail. There are many DC廣 getting involved with 
DC/MD clinics and I have some alliances with MD廣 as a referral 
source. The pain clinic routine is something unique. Remember .. 
these MD廣 want to keep things in-house via bio feedback .. physical 
therapy or specialized medications and shots. Sending patients to a 
chiropractor would not be cost effective nore poer of th protocol. 
They obviously would love to meet you and have you become a 
referral source for them .. as well as you telling other DC廣. 
Therefore .. consider how you could and should benefit .. ask them .. 
just in general .. how and when they would use chiropractic as a 
referral for their patients. If they haven廠 a clear or quick answer .. 
it will be a win for them probably not a win-win for you as well.

In writing this .. I must also be clear that any alliance and 
networking only helps you .. helping them build and maintain their 
clinics via your referrals will also come back to you in some way. 

In would meet with them and just discuss your conservative 
approach in pain management and as an adjunct and different but 
complementary approach to what they offer their patients .. 
including PT. You may also wish to discuss them sending a few 
patients to you for a biomecchanical chiropractic evaluation. 
Discuss some specific conditions such a sheadaches or chronic 
sprain/strains that have a physical componet as well as a chemical 
component that may need to be addressed  .. I would stay away from 
words like should be addressed .. instead of .. may be addressed. The 
reference doesn廠 place them in a defensive posture.

Give thes some thought

Have a Great Day

Dr. M