How Working Hand in Hand with MDs and OBs Will Transform Your Practice in 2024
By Dr. Irum Tahir
As a chiropractor, the thought of collaborating with medical doctors or OBs for patient care can seem daunting, intimidating, or downright terrifying. That is why most chiropractors haven’t worked with MDs to grow their practices. If you haven’t deliberately or intentionally worked with MDs and OBs, you may be missing a great opportunity for your patients, your community, your success, and the longevity of your practice.
Why work with MDs and OBs?
You may be wondering: Why bother with building relationships with MDs and OBs in the first place? In the 16 years that I have directly worked with MDs and OBs, I have found that the medical professional wants to work with chiropractors when approached properly and with a clear system in place.
Millions of patients in the United States could be helped with chiropractic care, but the thought has not crossed their minds, or they simply do not realize the immense benefits of chiropractic. There is a 10% utilization rate of chiropractic care in the United States, and more often than not, chiropractic is not the first place a prospective patient will look when they are suffering. More than likely, they have complained about headaches, low back pain, neck pain, or SI joint pain to their primary care doctor or to the OBGYN or midwife if pregnant or postpartum.
The doctor may refer the patient to physical or massage therapy, instruct them to take OTC or prescription medications, and suggest orthopedic or neurological consultation. Chiropractic care is not often the top recommendation of an MD because they may not know the benefits of chiropractic care for their patients. As chiropractors, we are in an excellent position to be a referral source to take care of patients’ health concerns naturally without drugs and surgery.
How can working with MDs and OBs benefit my practice?
Expertise
Since chiropractic care can benefit most of the population — from children to the elderly, athletes to pregnant patients, and everyone in between — your practice is in an ideal position to be filled with the type of patient or condition you are passionate about working with. When the medical professional understands your ability to help patients, they will refer to you as long as trust is built, and a respectful relationship is created. The MD will see you as an expert in your field, and with correct communication, you can distinguish yourself appropriately from physical therapy and other chiropractors in your city.
Time
I remember when I was a young chiropractor just out of school. Not understanding the benefits of working directly with medical professionals or referrals to grow my practice, I set out to do health talks and screenings at music festivals. I would spend a good part of my weekend doing these events, attempting to discuss chiropractic care at events designed to have people listen to music and drink or buy food and trinkets. These events were exhausting for me, and I would gain possibly one new patient from an entire weekend. Talks in health food stores and libraries had similar outcomes.
When a new prospective patient from weekend events did come to see me, they were typically not my ideal patient, and some were not interested in the benefits of chiropractic care, which was so defeating and frustrating. It wasn’t until I began working in harmony with MDs and OBs that I realized my initial strategies were not effective or efficient, and that I had spent so much time doing events with little results or outcome.
You may be spending a lot of time or money looking for new patients, but working effectively with medical professionals can fill our practice with streams of new patients who are ideal for us, our associates, and our practice.
Positive Outcomes
Getting results and positive outcomes with chiropractic care is always so rewarding. It can be even more exciting when a patient gets help under your care after they have lived in pain or had little to no results with anything else they tried. Many patients will give positive feedback to their MD or OB about the care they received from you and your practice. You will be seen as a trusted source that the medical professional feels confident to refer to regularly.
For the MD or OB, you are another great option besides physical therapy and an alternative to medication or surgery. Patients referred by medical professionals are also more likely to stay, pay, and refer other patients. I have found that patients are much more compliant with treatment and care plans when referred by a medical professional.
There is a right and a wrong way to approach an MD’s or OB’s practice. It is crucial to do it correctly with a proper system and plan. Communication is very important with the medical professional so that they feel comfortable referring to you regularly.
As chiropractors, we must also be prepared for medical professionals to question us about the safety and efficacy of chiropractic care for their patients. Many MDs are taught to refer to physical therapy for neuromusculoskeletal issues and may not be as familiar with chiropractic. These are just a few objections that a medical professional may have, and the chiropractor must be prepared and organized ahead of time.
With a clear system and appropriate communication, working in collaboration with MDs and OBs can be the best thing to happen to your practice in 2024. You can cultivate wonderful referral relationships with medical professionals in your area for years to come.
About the Author
Dr. Irum Tahir is a coach, speaker, and chiropractor. She teaches eight-week live online courses on how to effectively work with MDs and OBs to create referrals into your practice. She will be speaking at Parker Vegas 2024 — make sure to say hello!
Join a free mini-course on MD/OB referrals valued at $197 by visiting www.ignite-spark.com/courses (enter code CHIRO to get it for free).
