Q:

Dr. Joel,


I'm having a lot of trouble getting new patients in the office.  It 
seems that most

people try to keep their distance for some reason.  Getting in is the 
hard

part.  I need to expand my workshop subject matter, and want to do 
a carpal

tunnel workshop.  But my info is limited.  I understand you have a 
workshop

book that you sold at school.  Can I still get it?



I have gotten frustrated I guess...seems I'm putting a lot of effort 
into

unseen returns.  I know it is still early in the game of my career, 
but

survival is foremost on my mind.  We've been open 8 months or so.  
The HMO

and PPO game is pretty big here, and we've just been added to the 
Blue Cross

provider list.  But the big one is closed to new add ones.  Anyway, 
I'll keep

plugging away.




A:

Thanks for the e-mail. Unfortunately .. your plight is shared by many. 
All business start ups has its own timetable .. with many reasons 
for the diversity. Rather than dwelling on the negative and 
impossibility try to dwell on the possibility and with each day 
renew your vigor to grow. There is no reason to be held back 
whatever the environment .. insurance or not.

Pick a PR and Practice Management topic and stick with it for at 
least two months .. this means pour your energy into it and what 
resources you can spare.

Lets work this together .. okay .. you want to do workshops .. great. 
This should be your PR project. First create a demographic plan for 
your area. What is available within 5 and 10 miles from your office .. 
labor and clerical. Begin to log the companies and what their 
employee base is. Check my webpage: www.chirosmart.net and look 
under Practice Tips and Cyberconsulting for ideas. If you wish to do 
a search use the search engine on the homepage but scroll down to 
what seems appropriate as it searches everything. Look for the links 
that mention 5-10 miles and the mention of clerical .. labor etc.

Once you have the demographics begin organizing your thoughts and 
create a menu of programs. Spend time on my webpage under 
weblinks and then under ergonomics and begin the process of cutting 
and pasting data and then a workshop. It takes time but will be used 
for years to come.

As far as Practice management .. begin collecting every patients e-
mail address for twice monthly e-mail newsletters. material for 
these can be found on my webpage under Newsletters .. again copy 
and past from the Today's Chiropractic e-mail newsletters .. good 
and quick paragraphs to share with your patients. Next create a 
simple program for valentines day .. this is a great time to attract 
some new patients. Don't place a goal too high just have a goal this 
time as a completion of the project whether it is successful or not .. 
these are springboard for the future.

Have a Great Day

Dr. M