Q: I am interested in the field of occupational healthcare, but my approaches to industry have been unsuccessful in the past. How can I break down the barrier I seem to be confronting?
A: The...
TITLE: Cell phones and brain tumors: A review including the long-term epidemiologic data
CITATION: Surgical Neurology, September 2009; 72; pp. 205–215
AUTHORS: Vini G. Khurana, Ph.D., F.R.A.C.S., C...
Around the country, Blue Cross Blue Shield policies are denying chiropractic care for children under the age of 12. Labeling chiropractic care for children as "experimental and investigational,"...
he most important things in life come from inside out – happiness is inside-out, love is inside-out, health is inside-out, and indeed, success in chiropractic practice is also inside-out.
So, what do you need inside you to experience the level of success and satisfaction in practice that you desire? There are many qualities that figure into this equation – discipline, creativity, presence, healing consciousness, willingness to do whatever it takes, decisiveness, confidence, technical skill, motivation, passion – to varying degrees, such characteristics seem to be predictors of practice growth and development.
But there is a single attribute that seems to drive all the others, and that is self esteem. You cannot develop or demonstrate any of these other traits unless you believe yourself to be worthy of so doing. Self esteem is the foundation of all positive movement, professionally and personally, so it will help you to understand and appreciate the importance of self esteem, and the ways to evaluate your own self-image to make the most of yourself and your practice.
Dr. Nathaniel Branden, author of The Six Pillars of Self Esteem, says that self esteem is feeling “competent to cope with the basic challenges of life” and “worthy of happiness.” He goes on to say, “It is confidence in the efficacy of our mind, in our ability to think… our ability to learn, make appropriate choices and decisions, and respond effectively to change. It is also the experience that success, achievement, fulfillment — happiness — are right and natural for us.”
Notice the impact of self esteem on your evolution as a professional and as a healer – you’ll have to see yourself as being competent to deal with challenges and being worthy of happiness to generate any personal or professional progress. Why would you work at improving yourself if you didn’t feel competent and worthy? These are the precursors to optimal performance, and an invitation to achieve at the highest level possible.
And that’s why it’s so important for the doctor of chiropractic to understand the role self esteem will play in his or her practice success and satisfaction. Let’s compare those with sufficient self esteem and those without, and note the distinctions between them, so you can identify where you are in this continuum and take the necessary next steps.
Doctors with high self esteem feel good about themselves and their work. They are proud and confident, inspired to share their ideas, and driven to provide an outstanding service. These doctors invest in themselves, through seminars, reading, online courses, coaching, masterminding, and otherwise enriching their internal maps, imprinting new ideas, constantly learning, and sharing with patients and other doctors.
Doctors with high self esteem have fair policies and effective, enforceable procedures. They are comfortable discussing finances with patients, and confront gently and professionally to guide patients toward compliance. They are neat, timely and organized, and they lead their teams with integrity, while caring attentively for their patients. They are reliable and service-oriented.
Doctors with poor self esteem, on the other hand, may feel insecure, indecisive, and weak. They resist change, are defensive, and underachieve for lack of drive to succeed, since they don’t feel competent or worthy of success.
The same thing happens when you get squeezed – what comes out is what’s inside.
You can build self esteem by reinforcing positive habits and behavior patterns, and by establishing a constructive inner environment, so you perceive the world optimistically and respond accordingly. You can use affirmation, visualization, empowering self-talk and goal-setting to shift your self-concept, among other self-development tools and techniques. Self esteem influences every aspect of a chiropractic practice.
It encourages confrontational tolerance in asking for referrals, addressing delinquent payment or re-delegating staff responsibilities. It turbocharges your patient compliance, because patients will automatically gravitate toward and follow the recommendations of a doctor who is certain and authoritative without being unpleasant about it. And finances are managed more efficiently because the doctor and staff with good self esteem expect to be properly compensated for their excellent work, and won’t settle for less, since it would be out of balance any other way.
Like Wayne Dyer says, when you squeeze an orange, what comes out is orange juice, because that’s what’s inside. The same thing happens when you get squeezed – what comes out is what’s inside. In practice, every day you’ll need to perform professionally, charismatically, and compassionately. You’ll also have to deal with patients or staff who may need extra guidance to stay on course, families who struggle to afford the care they need, and people’s very real health challenges.
For those reasons and many more, you must feel good about yourself as a person and as a doctor to effectively handle modern-day practice. Who you are determines how well what you do works – success comes from you, not to you. Show up as a better version of you and your patients will be better served, and your overall practice experience will be more fulfilling.
Dennis Perman DC is co-founder of The Masters Circle, a leadership coaching, practice building and personal development company for chiropractors. The author of numerous CD albums and books, and the executive producer of TMCtv, the world’s largest online video success library for chiropractors, he has published “The Column” every week for over thirteen years. Contact him at
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.
“Murphy's Law” is an old adage that is typically stated as: "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong". When you start a new practice you’ll experience many examples of Murphy’s law. I’ve opened over 3,000 new practices. Just when I think I’ve heard them all, a new twist on Murphy’s Law comes along. Here are a few of my favorites. I offer them with the hope that they just might help you avoid getting “Murphied”.
Everything takes twice as long as you think it will – then double it.
L
ook at your projections … then double the length of time you’ll need to open your new practice. You’ll find that whenever you set out to do a task, something else must be done first. And if you think you don’t have time to do something right, you’ll always find time to do it over again. I’ve had many clients who tried to rush into practice. The day they arrived in town they put up their “open” sign. Unfortunately, the city noticed that they didn’t purchase their city and county licenses and closed them down. Then when they solved this problem they rushed into practice… forgetting to apply to and sign up with Medicare, HMOs & PPOs. Therefore they didn’t get paid. All that work and stress resulted in extremely little income and more stress. Trying to speed up the process doesn’t work. Unfortunately, you’ll find that out when you skip a step, it will take longer because every shortcut breeds new problems. This results in the saying, “A shortcut is the longest distance between two points”.
Don’t try to establish an opening date for your practice. You’ll never open on that date. Your opening date will occur when everything that needs to be done is completed…not until then. Remember, everything takes twice as long as you anticipate. And if you pressure yourself to open on a certain date, all you’ll accomplish is greatly increasing your stress…unnecessarily.
Nothing is as easy as it looks... nothing. EVER!
The best made plans usually go from bad to worse. Most of the time when you apply for a remodeling permit the city won’t approve it. When they do approve it they will usually change their mind. When you are ready to sign your office lease, the landlord will lease your office space to someone else. That’s Murphy’s Law.
When you cheat… you’ll get caught… KARMA
When a doctor tries to remodel his/her office without a permit, he/she will usuallly get caught. Too many times a doctor will try to save money by not paying for an architect to design his/her office to city specifications, not paying for building permits, etc. He/she is trying to outsmart the system. This doesn’t work. City codes are made to protect you and your patients. The city building inspectors and fire inspectors will notice construction going on at your office site and close your office. At this point the city will be furious at you and will make you tear out your drywall to make you re-do the electrical, plumbing, spacing of studs and fire protection. I’ve actually seen cities make doctors tear out all the walls and re-do the process (i.e.: architect, permits, inspections, etc.). Because the city is furious at the doctor for cheating, they will be twice as stringent on their codes and inspections… and take their time approving anything the doctor does. I’ve seen cities take 1 ½ years to approve the remodeling. Imagine the loss of income you’ll suffer by delaying your opening by 1 ½ years, e.g.: $250,000 – $400,000 all because you cheated. Cheaters get caught. Every shortcut breeds new problems.
Anything that can go wrong… will go wrong.
If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the first one to go wrong. And, if there is a worst time for something to go wrong, that’s when it will happen. It’s amazing how contractors, subcontractors and suppliers can screw up your plans (e.g.: they will have a $3,000 X-ray tube protecting a 10 cent fuse… the x-ray tube will blow first).
If your X-ray equipment is to be installed on a certain date, it will be late. If it is on time, the floor will be uneven. If it is delivered on time and the floor is even, they will forget the lead for the walls. If it arrives on time and the floor is even and they have the lead for the walls, then the electrician has installed the wrong wiring. Does it sound like I’m being cynical? I’m not. One of my clients purchased her used X-ray machine against my advice. She had it installed and then had a contractor build the walls around it. You guessed it. The machine didn’t work and it couldn’t be fixed or disassembled in order to be removed from the room. Therefore the doctor had to have her contractor tear out the door and the walls to remove the old unit, and then place a new X-ray in the room and then replace the walls. By trying to save a few thousand dollars on a used X-ray machine, it cost her over $20,000 for the contractor to tear out and reconstruct the room. And, she still had to purchase a new X-ray unit.
Lastly, all equipment you purchase will break down after the last payment or when the warranty expires… whichever comes first.
Everything will cost you twice as much as you think it will – then double it.
Trying to save money will usually cost you more money. You’ll find that the few pennies you save will not be worth very much… considering the money you’ll lose trying to save a few pennies.
Unfortunately, the temporary joy of a lower price will soon be replaced by the sorrow of poor quality. I’ve always instructed my Practice Starters® Program clients on the brands of equipment they should buy… or should not buy. Naturally some of my clients didn’t like my advice and bought equipment that was of inferior quality, or had a history of breaking down. I remember being berated by a doctor because I told him not to buy a certain brand of adjusting table… he bought three. After a few years, I asked him how his tables were working. He got red in the face and said all three of his tables had broken down… and the company had gone out of business.
Lastly, no matter how good of a deal you get on your equipment, it will be put on sale later. Count on it.
Did you encounter a different Murphy’s Law when starting your practice? If so, I’d like to hear about it. Send it my way at
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. I’ll see that it gets published along with your name. For more information on starting a new practice go to www.practicestarters.com.
Dr. Peter G. Fernandez is the world’s leading authority on starting a practice. He has 30 years’ experience in starting new practices, has written four books and over 100 articles on the subject, and has consulted in the opening of over 3,000 new practices. Please contact Dr. Fernandez at 10733 57th Avenue North, Seminole, Florida, 33772; 1-800-882-4476;
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, or visit www.practicestarters.com.
o the benefit of chiropractors, there are more and more full automated paperless systems available for their practice. This rapid growth in the chiropractic software industry is due to the high demand of the product, which is great for chiropractors because it keeps prices down. With all these choices of software systems, how can you make sure you choose the best fit for you and the way you practice? How can you make sure you choose the provider who will meet the service level you need? Choosing the right software system and the right provider to suit your needs is very important. This important choice will reduce your stress and will turn your money into an investment instead of an expense. Here are a few good tips that will help you to make this important decision.
Online demo
With Internet, it is very easy to shop software systems with online demos. An online demo can be a good start for your shopping and should be a step during your decision process, but should definitely not be your one and only step. Software vendors will demonstrate your online demo using small databases, showing you great speed, while in reality, with eight or ten thousand patients in the system, the speed can be very different. Since a full automated E.H.R. system includes complete patient flow management, it is just impossible to show you that aspect.
Online demos can only show you a few screens here and there but you miss the most important aspect of the system, the patient flow management. Ask for online demos from a few vendors you are interested in and do not make any decisions at this point. Don' t make up your mind yet and stay neutral as much as possible.
Visit a practice close to yours
Ask vendors if you can visit a practice close to yours that uses their system so you can see the system in action. The software provider will arrange this visit for you. If they have a good service and a good product, users and doctors are very happy to help their colleagues and show their system.
During this visit, the users will give you some great tips on how to maximize the system based on their own experience. By far, this live visit will give you a totally different perspective of these systems. Good chances are you will see happy patients coming in, swiping their Chiropractic Health Card in an arrival station, being called and being directed to a treatment room automatically. The doctor will show you how he sees all X-rays on the screen, how he enters his accurate SOAP notes in the system and so much more.
Try before you buy
At this point, you had an online demo and you visited an office that is using the system. You saw the system live and you really liked it. Your decision is made. But wait! Seeing it and using it are different, much different. Maybe your chiropractic technique is different from the doctor you visited. Your office may be designed differently and your patient flow may also be different. Don' t take any chances to lose your money or sign a contract for a system that may disappoint you. Try before you buy. Software providers who stand behind their product and service will give you this option. A minimum of six months to a year of free trial will give you enough time to use the system and make sure it works as expected. Not only will you try the product, but you will make sure you will be receiving the service and live training you need. Worst case scenario, if the system does not work as promised or if the service is deficient, you leave and you do not have to spend any money for the software.
This is a very simple and effective plan to shop for a software system. You can't miss and you will be assured you will be using the best automated software system for you. This buying process can be the difference between a nightmare and the greatest investment you have ever made for your practice and for yourself.
Claude Cote is an expert in EHR systems, insurance billing and chiropractic clinic management for 22 years. He has installed EHR system in 18 countries over 5 continents and nationwide in USA. He is the President and Founder of Platinum System C.R. Corp (www.platinumsystem.com). For comments or questions, please email to
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Written by Jay S. Greenstein, DC, CCSP, CGFI-L1, CKTP
Saturday, 28 January 2012 03:31
T
hroughout my travels I have had the opportunity to meet lots of great people in our profession. Many have been in practice for years, but some are in school, getting ready to graduate or just getting started. I’m often asked by these folks what it takes to build a sports chiropractic practice. The answer essentially revolves around three key ingredients. They are (1) education and training; (2) building strong internal and external relationships; and (3) hard work. So let’s jump right in and discuss each of these ingredients in detail.
Education and Training
When I graduated National, I decided I was going to do whatever it took to work for a great sports chiropractor. I was fortunate enough to be hired by Dr. Jan Corwin, who was the official US Olympic Team Chiropractor in Seoul in 1988. I spent a year with Jan learning each day about what a high quality sports chiropractic practice looked like and the importance of having great relationships with people both inside and outside the profession – more on that later. When I decided to return home to my roots in Washington, DC and start my own practice, I realized I had a lot more to learn – clinically. Immediately I enrolled in my CCSP course. In that course, I was trained by some of the world’s best sports chiropractors – Drs. Marianne Gengenbach, Tom Hyde, Bill Moreau and more. Once you begin to go down the road of postgraduate training, my advice would be to never get off. Continuous education to pursue a Diplomate, an ICSSD, a masters in sports, and/or certifications in great programs such as Functional Movement Screen®, Active Release Technique®, Graston Technique®, Kinesiology taping, FAKTR®, and more, can be extremely beneficial. These degrees and certifications are not about the letters after your name – they’re about tools in the toolbox. The more tools you have the more you can correctly apply those tools to the athlete you are treating and their goals and needs. Dr. Tom Hyde, DC, DACBSP, co-founder of Functional and Kinetic Treatment with Rehabilitation, Provocation and Motion (www.faktr.com), and one of the world’s preeminent sports chiropractors, emphasizes never stop learning, saying, “It’s amazing how far sports chiropractic has come in the last two decades. Dedication to learning has turned into a process whereby now we are teaching some of the most advanced techniques in managing the athletic chiropractic patient. Continuous focus on education and evidence-based practice will propel the sports chiropractor to new levels in the future.” Further attending interdisciplinary conferences can be extremely beneficial. Dr. Angela Salcedo, Past President of the International Sports Chiropractic Association and now a member of Federation of International Chiropractic Sport, states, "Attending other sports medicine conferences outside of chiropractic has afforded me the opportunity to build multi-disciplinary relationships. Over the years, these relationships in turn have given me additional opportunities to build my sports chiropractic practice as the team sports chiropractor for the British Virgin Islands Olympic Committee and Track and Field team and support my leadership role in the International Sports Chiropractic Association and the Federation of International Chiropractic Sport."
Thus, investment and commitment to education and training will pay off in spades when it comes to…
Building Strong Internal and External Relationships
This second ingredient is not necessarily a “second step”. Building strong relationships can happen congruently as you build your sports chiropractic skill set. I always recommend that any doctor wanting to be a great sports chiropractor join the American Chiropractic Association Council on Sports Injuries and Physical Fitness (ACASC). Dr. Corwin took me to my first ACASC convention in Santa Barbara, California. Dr. Corwin emphasizes the importance of intra-professional meetings… “Having a network of other DCs around the country to share your trials and tribulations with, knowing they are also involved in sports chiropractic can be extremely beneficial because the knowledge sharing is so strong.” Certainly for my first ACASC convention, it became abundantly clear that not only was I surrounded by phenomenal sports chiropractors, I was surrounded by phenomenal people. Every person I met was (and still is) completely engaged and committed to bringing chiropractic to the forefront of sports. Not only that, they were, and still are, committed to helping others grow sports chiropractic. I met Dr. Hyde for the first time at this convention and he literally changed my life. He took me under his wing and helped me, and continues to help me to this day, increase my involvement in sports chiropractic. The lesson to be learned here is that had I never gone to our national association’s convention, I would have never met these people who have had such an impact on my life. And, as great as the professional opportunities that came about because of building these internal-to-chiropractic relationships, it’s actually the personal connections that I’ve made with these great folks that are the most rewarding. In addition, being part of the national association provides tremendous resources to the budding sports chiropractor. Local, regional and national events that require staffing, educational meetings and vendor resources are just a few of the many reasons to join.
The message that was reiterated over and over again in speaking with the world’s best sports chiropractors was that in order to be successful as a sports chiropractor, you had to be humble. Even though we leave school with a passion to literally change the world with our hands, we have to be respectful of the other healthcare providers on the healthcare team. I remember hearing stories of Dr. Phil Santiago, who was the official chiropractor for the 1992 US Olympic team in Barcelona, Spain, cleaning up the training room because there were no patients that day and he wanted to do something to begin to make a contribution. Those sports chiropractors who think cleaning, or helping in any way, is below them will find the road to gaining acceptance long and hard. Those sports chiropractors who are willing to roll up their sleeves and do whatever it takes to make a positive contribution, listen and respect others, and clearly communicate how they can be an integral part of the healthcare team in a manner that is humble, but confident, will excel. Dr. Alan Sokoloff, Chiropractor for the Baltimore Ravens, adds, “Most chiropractors do well to get involved with sports teams, but many of their struggles come with staying involved. I have found good communication to be the key. 1. Communication with your team supervisor (Physician, athletic trainer, etc.) about what you recommend for the player. 2. Communication with the player and making sure your message is consistent with that of the rest of the medical staff. 3. Communication with your office and family, so they know your time commitments. The goal is to not just get involved, it’s to stay involved.”
What’s the best way to go about building these relationships? If you are already in practice, have inquisitive conversations with your existing patients about themselves, their kids, their friends and family that are participating in sports and offer your services – in your office, on the field, and/or in the company lunchroom for a lecture. Do they know coaches and athletic directors? Do they know of community groups that are bound by a particular sport – running, skiing, bowling??? For those of you who are starting a brand new sports chiropractic practice and don’t have a patient base to leverage, use my favorite tool…Google…think about the sports you want to serve, and Google “youth football league, your town” and see what comes up. Also spend some time out of the office introducing yourself to local coaches, trainers and owners of health clubs. Dr. Peter Garbutt, President of Sports Chiropractic Australia, states, “I would say that one of the things that I found most beneficial with building relationships with other professionals was to join a sports medicine association and participate in the interests of the organization, not yourself and not chiropractic. Throughout our training and general socialization we tend to become a part of the chiropractic community automatically. We don't have that luxury within the sports medicine community, so we have to show that we are a part of that community and not an opportunist or pariah in their organization.”
There are infinite possibilities…Of course, if you’re going to be a great sports chiropractor and you’re going to have all these potential opportunities, you better get used to…
Hard work
We’re all tasked with working hard to have successful practices. But the great sports chiropractors take hard work to another level. Working in their practices during the week and then working on the weekends doing community sports events, treating patients on the sidelines or on the court, providing sports injury treatment and prevention lectures, are all critical elements to building your brand as a top sports chiropractor. It takes hard work to raise your level of education, it takes hard work to spend time building new relationships with the outside sports world – coaches, athletic trainers, parents, personal trainers, other physicians.
Most highly successful sports chiropractors work a lot more hours, and they do it not because it’s going to get them another new patient, but for the love of service. They know they can help that athlete recover from an injury faster, prevent an injury and/or provide information and feedback that will change the game in the positive direction for the athlete. It’s that commitment to service that shines through, and when intent is altruistic, great things happen.
Dr. Greenstein is the CEO of the Sport and Spine Companies, a multi-location, multi-disciplinary, evidenced-based practice in the Washington DC Metro region. He is also the President and Founder of the Sport and Spine Rehab Clinical Research Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to high quality, clinical research. He is a member of the scientific advisory board for Thera-band®. He serves on the CCGPP as the Vice Chair and represents CCGPP on the Chiropractic Summit and the Government Relations Committee.
alk to just about anyone, in any profession these days, and a similar theme weaves itself throughout the conversation; our nation’s poor economy has left few untouched. Many chiropractors have certainly felt the sting of this unfortunate downturn. We’ve had numerous conversations with several practicing chiropractors in recent months and no doubt, times are tough out there. However, we’ve noticed that while many stories started out with the same details– lower collections, few patient visits, a few of these doctors have ended the conversation by saying their practices are healthier than they have been in a long time and their outlook is optimistic for the future. The circumstances started out the same, why were the outcomes different? It may surprise you to know it had nothing to do with the market, their staff, or a magical newspaper ad. The difference was in the doctor’s response to the adversity he or she faced.
While some doctors lament their falling collections and hopelessly describe their uncertain future, others, in the same circumstances, tell us a different story. They say when their practice started hitting bottom; they knew they had to do something different. Let’s take a time-out right here. That sounds simple, doesn’t it? Something isn’t going the way we need it to go, so we decide to do something different. Simple logic. However, we never cease to be amazed at the powerful results of acting on this simple thought, and we also never cease to be amazed at the number of doctors who don’t think this way.
We tell clients who find themselves in troubling situations that if they don’t do anything about their current situation, they’re insane. That may sound cruel until you understand our definition of insanity, which is, “continuing to do the same thing while expecting different results.”
If something isn’t going right, it may be time to do something different. This is the blessing of adversity. Adversity forces us to acknowledge that our current way of doing things isn’t working. It forces us to consider change and do things we may have otherwise never done. This was the common thread in the different outcomes of stories we’ve heard from doctors all over the country. Some of them do nothing, and watch their practices shrivel up and die, while the adversity our economy has brought has stirred others out of their comfort zones and forced them to make changes within their practices. Those changes, albeit uncomfortable or risky, brought about the success they needed to survive the perils of the economic downturn. For many of them, the change they made was calling us and asking for our help. Most admit, they would have never sought out our help had it not been for the desperation they felt as a result of this horrid economy. The adversity they encountered was a blessing in disguise because of their proactive response.
The current situations of many chiropractors remind us of a true store that happened over a century ago in Enterprise, Alabama. This small town’s commerce was all but wiped out, but the same culprit that almost destroyed it, is now the town’s hero. What is on the monument that now stands at the center of Enterprise, Alabama’s town square? A boll weevil.
The monument honoring the boll weevil is a robed, Statue of Liberty look-alike, holding the enormous black bug over its head. The statue’s head is bowed in somber respect.
The boll weevil ravaged 60 percent of the region’s cotton crop in 1915, and even more the next year, decimating livelihoods and towns. Yet, the inscription on the monument’s base says, “In Profound Appreciation of the Boll Weevil and What It Has Done as the Herald of Prosperity.” The herald of prosperity? The boll weevil?
In 1917, with their economy and society almost destroyed, the down-and-out farmers of South Alabama faced tremendous adversity, much like many in our profession are facing today. However, the adversity the boll weevil caused, forced these farmers to do something different. They had no choice; they couldn’t grow cotton any longer. They were either going to die into extinction or they were going to have to adjust and innovate. Over the next few years, they began diversifying into peanuts and other crops and no longer depended so heavily on cotton. This forced change helped the farmers of Enterprise thrive, even when other areas of the South, primarily dependent on cotton, continued to suffer. Take note, the other areas of the South didn’t suffer under the destruction of the boll weevil, their adversity wasn’t as severe, therefore, they were not forced to make the needed changes and diversify their crops. For the farmers of Enterprise, the enormity and severity of their adversity, and their response to it, saved their economy and birthed their prosperity.
What changes is your adversity forcing you to make? Consider the cotton farmers of Enterprise, Alabama and consider making those changes to save your future. What you are suffering through right now may be just what you need to propel you into the changes that will bring the prosperity you’ve been waiting for.
by Tom Owen III, and Todd Osborne, D.C.
Dr. Todd Osborne, a 1989 graduate of Palmer College, ran a successful high volume multiple doctor practice, and is currently Vice President of AMC, Inc., as well as an author and lecturer. Visit www.amcfamily.com or call (877) AMC-7117 for more information.
So, what do you need inside you to experience the level of success and satisfaction in practice that you desire? There are many qualities that figure into this equation – discipline, creativity, presence, healing consciousness, willingness to do whatever it takes, decisiveness, confidence, technical skill, motivation, passion – to varying degrees, such characteristics seem to be predictors of practice growth and development.
If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the first one to go wrong. And, if there is a worst time for something to go wrong, that’s when it will happen. It’s amazing how contractors, subcontractors and suppliers can screw up your plans (e.g.: they will have a $3,000 X-ray tube protecting a 10 cent fuse… the x-ray tube will blow first).
When I graduated National, I decided I was going to do whatever it took to work for a great sports chiropractor. I was fortunate enough to be hired by Dr. Jan Corwin, who was the official US Olympic Team Chiropractor in Seoul in 1988. I spent a year with Jan learning each day about what a high quality sports chiropractic practice looked like and the importance of having great relationships with people both inside and outside the profession – more on that later. When I decided to return home to my roots in Washington, DC and start my own practice, I realized I had a lot more to learn – clinically. Immediately I enrolled in my CCSP course. In that course, I was trained by some of the world’s best sports chiropractors – Drs. Marianne Gengenbach, Tom Hyde, Bill Moreau and more. Once you begin to go down the road of postgraduate training, my advice would be to never get off. Continuous education to pursue a Diplomate, an ICSSD, a masters in sports, and/or certifications in great programs such as Functional Movement Screen®, Active Release Technique®, Graston Technique®, Kinesiology taping, FAKTR®, and more, can be extremely beneficial. These degrees and certifications are not about the letters after your name – they’re about tools in the toolbox. The more tools you have the more you can correctly apply those tools to the athlete you are treating and their goals and needs. Dr. Tom Hyde, DC, DACBSP, co-founder of Functional and Kinetic Treatment with Rehabilitation, Provocation and Motion (www.faktr.com), and one of the world’s preeminent sports chiropractors, emphasizes never stop learning, saying, “It’s amazing how far sports chiropractic has come in the last two decades. Dedication to learning has turned into a process whereby now we are teaching some of the most advanced techniques in managing the athletic chiropractic patient. Continuous focus on education and evidence-based practice will propel the sports chiropractor to new levels in the future.” Further attending interdisciplinary conferences can be extremely beneficial. Dr. Angela Salcedo, Past President of the International Sports Chiropractic Association and now a member of Federation of International Chiropractic Sport, states, "Attending other sports medicine conferences outside of chiropractic has afforded me the opportunity to build multi-disciplinary relationships. Over the years, these relationships in turn have given me additional opportunities to build my sports chiropractic practice as the team sports chiropractor for the British Virgin Islands Olympic Committee and Track and Field team and support my leadership role in the International Sports Chiropractic Association and the Federation of International Chiropractic Sport."
