Doctor's Opinion
From The Desk Of Dr. J. Zimmerman
World Chiropractic Alliance- Board of International Governors
World Chiropractic Alliance- Membership Council
Chiropractic Leadership Alliance-Ambassador
Member- New Jersey Council of Chiropractors
 
 
 
This Months Topics:  February 1, 2003
  • Welcome
  • My short opinion
  • Practice Tips
  • WCA Report   
  • CLA Report
 
 
Dear Colleagues:
 
    I made it to Ireland.  I have been here for exactly 3 weeks and my expectations have been lived up to.  I am practicing in Dublin in one of the largest, if not the largest wellness chiropractic offices in Europe.  I am working with Lawrence Woods, Ken Monte and Bill Black.  If you happen to know them personally drop me a line and I will say Hi for you.
 
    I started a practice here with much trepidation.  I have been practicing in my own offices in New Jersey (USA) for 15 years.  Starting over caused some degree, ok, a lot of angst.  After two weeks of practice, I just finished this last week seeing two people under 70 visits.  That's two weeks in practice.  When I started out 15 years ago, it took me months to get up to that level.  What is the big difference now as compared to previously?  As far as I can tell, my conviction and passion is actually much greater now.  I am not afraid to tell the truth about chiropractic.  I always said that if I could start over, I would do things differently.  Well, I am.  Chiropractic is about health, wellness, performance and function.  Not pain.  This is the platform that I am teaching my practice members from.
 
    Last week, I taught the Health Workshop in the office to over 20 people.  I revamped my whole talk and actually did a talk based on the famous Reggie Gold "N" talk.  For those of you who do not know the lecture, it is based on body chemistry and human performance.  The talk wowed them.  After the talk, every person in the room asked for more information to take home, so that they could give it to their friends and family.  The greatest assets to building a practice in Ireland is that their is little or know preconceived perceptions about chiropractic.  Most do not even know what chiropractic is let alone have any idea that it is the most effective care for musculo-skeletal spinal aches and discomforts.  So, why spend time on treating pain, if I can easily make aware the value of an optimal functioning spine towards optimal health.  It is a no brainer.  Health and performance is more valuable than a minor ache or pain.  That is why the practice here in Ireland is so big, we are teaching health and wellness and people are searching for what we have.  You just have to let them know.  Granted, their are more obstacles in the states with preconceived perceptions and all of the insurance mess.  But Docs are building big practices all the time, just by telling the truth, acting with heart and being chiropractors, not therapists.  I will keep you posted as to how things are going.
 
Practice Tip Of The Month:  When explaining the results of your diagnostic testing (semg, thermal, inclinometry,  x-ray etc.), always compare to the normals.  Ask your client if they can see the difference between the two.  Then ask them if the problem was left to continue, how would it effect their health down the line?  Ask them if they recognize these results to be a significant problem to their spinal health.  And finally ask them if this condition is something that they feel they should get taken care of.  By getting positive answers to all of these questions, your clients compliance to your recommendations will start off on the right foot and then will be cemented in place by your education programs.
 
My Book:   The book,  The Working Chiropractor's 4-Part Course, Build a Booming Practice in 24 Easy Steps, is actually a step by step course on patient education and practice marketing.  Most of the marketing programs are designed for internal referrals and they require almost no expense to put into motion.  There are also external marketing programs that can be implemented for little or no money.  All are ethical and practical, NO SELLING.
 
The Working Chiropractor's 4-Part Course, Build a Booming Practice in 24 Easy Steps was reviewed in the January 2003 issue of the Chiropractic Journal and is featured as the main interview on the January 2003 ON PURPOSE philosophy CD from the Chiropractic Leadership Alliance.
 
Over my past 15 years in practice, I have purchased many "courses" form many different experts in our profession for hundreds of dollars and most have collected dust.  I honestly feel that this easy and fun to read "book" can and will help any chiropractor who reads it.
 
The book is priced at $59.00 plus shipping and handling.  MasterCard and Visa excepted as well as personal check.
 
You may call my office at 609-266-4749 to order.  Eastern Time.
 
WCA Report:  There is a crisis going on in our chiropractic schools, other than the CCE debacle, which we are all aware of.  It seems that a lot of chiropractic schools are not allowing any talk of subluxation based care on their campuses.  They will not allow the formation of clubs, or invite subluxation based speakers on campus.  If students are not able to hear the complete truth about chiropractic, you can see how our profession as we now it will meet its untimely demise.  The WCA has its eye on this critical issue and is in the midst of deciding what to do to address this.  I will keep you posted as to what you can do to help out in this situation.
 
Parker Las Vegas:  Being I just arrived in Ireland, I did not make it to Vegas this weekend.  For those of you that went, I would appreciate an update as to how things went. 
 
That is all for this month.
 
Take care.
 
Dr. J.Z.