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New Patient Attraction Through Appreciation by Daniel and Richelle Knowles, D.C.s New patient attraction through appreciation is a fun and effective way to attract new patients into your office. Our personal favorite is a practice member appreciation program that we...Want to Become a Doctor of Chiropractic? 3 Reasons Why the Profession is so Rewarding
With growing demand for preventative and non-invasive healthcare, it’s a great time to embark upon a rewarding chiropractic career. There are few more satisfying experiences than transforming a patient’s life by helping to restore their body’s optimal functionality, and chiropractors can achieve this through completely natural methods. Chiropractors enjoy the freedom to establish their own practices and become respected leaders in their communities.
In a recent listing of professions with the best job security from MarketWatch, chiropractors were ranked number one, with the lowest unemployment figure among all occupations reviewed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition, chiropractors also enjoy high earnings potential and strong projected growth in demand. As education about the benefits chiropractic expands, chiropractic’s more holistic approach to health is being embraced by a growing variety of potential workplaces, including fitness and sports centers, hospitals and wellness clinics.
So why is job satisfaction so high among doctors of chiropractic? Here are some of the biggest reasons why it is such a rewarding career choice.
1. You Can Make a Real Difference as a Doctor of Chiropractic
One of the most powerful motivations for entering the chiropractic profession is to make a difference in your community by improving patients’ wellbeing. Chiropractors address the root causes of health issues by removing interference—or subluxations—in the spine, helping to restore proper nerve flow and optimal performance. The body becomes better able to heal itself when the nervous system functions normally, resulting in improved overall health and wellbeing.
Chiropractors improve patients’ quality of life by helping the body restore proper nerve flow
Chiropractors help patients live better lives without the use of surgery or invasive drugs. Doctors of chiropractic like Sherman College graduate Tapiwa Chiwawa appreciate the ability to change lives. He says, “I always pictured myself in a setting where if the only tools I would have at hand would be my hands, I would still be able to help people.”
2. You Can Set your own Working Conditions with your Chiropractic Degree
Many graduates with a degree from an accredited chiropractic program choose to start their own practice—it’s estimated that about one-third of chiropractors are self-employed. These chiropractors enjoy the freedom to establish their own offices and associated working conditions, setting their own flexible hours and business practices wherever they decide to work.
Sherman College graduates can choose to start their own practices and work for themselves
Being your own boss as a business owner often results in greater job satisfaction because you have the opportunity to expand your practice however you see fit. With a positive work environment and one of the least stressful jobs—according to employment website CareerCast—it’s little surprise that the profession is ranked highly in terms of quality of life.
3. You Can Enjoy Growing Demand as a Doctor of Chiropractic
Employment for chiropractors is growing faster than the average for all occupations, and with the “grey tsunami” of aging baby boomers increasingly seeking non-invasive alternative healthcare, demand for chiropractors should continue to rise. Chiropractic care is the third largest healthcare profession in the nation, according to the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
A growing trend for specialization, focusing chiropractic on demographics such as for pregnant mothers, children and even animals, is also widening the potential patient base. Another exciting career opportunity for a doctor of chiropractic is serving corporate clients seeking occupational health for their employees.
Interested in making a real difference after graduating from chiropractic college?
Sherman College’s focused and rigorous program is widely respected for its comprehensive education.
The Rubicon Group Funds $20,000 for Research on the Effects of Chiropractic Care on Stroke Patients
The Rubicon Group (TRG) has announced a funding commitment of $20,000 (NZD) to the Centre for Chiropractic Research at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, Auckland, New Zealand, in support of a randomized clinical trial entitled “The Effects of Chiropractic Care on Functional Outcomes, Somatosensory Processing and Motor Control in Patients Who Have Suffered from a Stroke.”
The proposed stroke study will be the first of its kind, and ground-breaking, particularly if it’s possible to show that chiropractic care improves brain function and neuromuscular control in people who have suffered from a stroke. The clinical trial will involve scientists from Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark, Riphah International University, Pakistan, and the New Zealand College of Chiropractic.
The Rubicon Group is a collaborative effort of Sherman College of Chiropractic, Life University, Life Chiropractic College West, McTimoney College of Chiropractic, New Zealand College of Chiropractic, McTimoney Chiropractic Association, the Scottish Chiropractic Association and the United Chiropractic Association.
Participants in this study must have had a stroke at least six weeks prior to their involvement in the study and have ongoing neurological deficits due to the stroke. A crossover design will be used, and participants will act as their own controls. The study will compare the effects of a single session of chiropractic care addressing vertebral subluxations to a passive movement control intervention on outcome measures that assess sensorimotor function.
The outcome measures for the trial will assess whether a single session of chiropractic care improves performance in the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) and whether it increases muscle power, strength, and cortical drive and reduces fatigue in stroke survivors who have muscle weakness. The TUG and measures of strength and fatigue are clinically relevant outcome measures in the assessment of stroke rehabilitation.
The H reflex, m waves, strength, fatigue and v waves are clinical and neurophysiological measures that have previously been shown to change following chiropractic care and are also important indicators of changes in central nervous system function that are important for motor recovery following a stroke.
This trial will also assess motor unit recruitment pattern changes after chiropractic care. This will be achieved with multi-array EMG electrodes (subject to the ability of the participant to move their own muscles). Other outcome measures will assess how the brain and target muscles communicate (EEG-EMG coherence) and will also assess which brain regions are involved with any changes that are observed in somatosensory processing following the chiropractic care session.
Identifying the relevant brain regions involved will be assessed using somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and a cap that has 62 EEG recording electrodes. In several past studies utilizing SEPs it has been shown that adjusting vertebral subluxations can alter the way the brain processes and responds to sensory information from the upper limb. It was recently demonstrated, in an award winning international collaboration, that the brain changes that occur after a single session of chiropractic care take place in the prefrontal cortex.
The Rubicon Group joins the United Chiropractic Association (UK), the Australian Spinal Research Foundation and the chiropractic profession in New Zealand in supporting this study.
4 Essential Communication Skills for Success as a Chiropractor
Sherman students develop their communication skills at the college’s on-site chiropractic clinic
As you embark on your chiropractic career, you’ll use your communication skills often as you interact with patients, employees, and other healthcare providers. Communication will play an important role in how you build trust with patients, attract new patients to your practice, explain the philosophy of chiropractic, and work with your chiropractic colleagues and other professionals that might work in your practice. As a result, your communication skills will play a crucial role in your career.
What are the most essential communication skills for chiropractors? Read on to find out!
Successful Chiropractors Use Plain Language to Explain Chiropractic to Patients
Patients can sometimes feel nervous or unsure when they first visit a chiropractor. They might not know about the philosophy of chiropractic, or they might be unfamiliar with how chiropractors perform adjustments. One of the best ways chiropractors can help relax patients is by addressing any questions they might have, as well as taking the time to explain how chiropractic works in language they can easily understand.
As you complete your chiropractic training, you can gain patient communication experience at your college’s in-house clinic. Schools like Sherman College, with chiropractic accreditation, help students build valuable communication skills right in the classroom where they learn how to effectively explain the philosophy of chiropractic.
Generally, it’s best for chiropractors to use plain, simple language when explaining the concepts of chiropractic. Try using analogies that are easy for patients to relate to, and use everyday language instead of unfamiliar chiropractic terminology.
Active Listening Helps Chiropractors Build a Rapport with Patients
Being able to talk with your patients and carefully explain complex concepts is important, but so is the ability to listen to their concerns and questions.
Try using active listening as your patients explain their medical histories or voice any concerns they might have. Active listening involves carefully paying attention to what the other person is saying, and then asking questions or rephrasing what they’ve said to make sure that you’ve fully understood them.
Not only will patients feel better having voiced their opinions, but active listening also helps build trust and a sense of connection between a health professional and his or her patient.
Communicating with Co-Workers and Employees in a Chiropractic Practice
Once you graduate from chiropractic college, you might open your own practice or decide to work at an established practice. In many cases, you will work closely with an assistant that takes care of booking appointments, filing paperwork, and answering the phone. You might also work with several other chiropractors or healthcare professionals. To keep a harmonious work environment, you’ll need to use your communication skills often.
Try communicating with staff members regularly. Thank them for a job well done, and let them know about any important changes in policy, customer requests, or other feedback so that they can act in a timely manner. Open and regular communication helps create a welcoming and friendly work environment.
Written Communication Skills Can Help You Market Your Practice
Written communication skills are also an important part of chiropractic care. Not only do you use these skills to fill out important forms and paperwork, but you can also use writing to help promote your practice.
Many chiropractors use marketing tools such as social media, a blog, or a website to help market their chiropractic business. To help promote your practice, use a professional and accessible tone in your writing. You don’t want to scare away patients with unfamiliar chiropractic terminology, but you also don’t want to be so casual that patients don’t take your expertise seriously!
What other communication skills do you think help contribute to chiropractic business success?
President’s Assembly: Dr. Julie Hunt
Last week, Sherman College hosted Dr. Julie Mayer Hunt for a President’s Assembly. I had heard she was a very intelligent and captivating speaker, so I was excited. My expectations were certainly surpassed.
Dr. Hunt is part of a group that is developing a protocol for taking/reading standing Cervicocranial junction MRI scans. This is a substantial accomplishment since most MRIs are taken in the supine position (lying on the back) and don't directly address this area. Laying down for an MRI chances the dynamics of the body’s response to gravity/weight bearing, and may affect the accuracy of detecting certain spinal abnormality.
This protocol is also substantial for understanding the upper cervical region. This is a key region for chiropractic analysis. With MRI studies in hand, chiropractors such as Dr. Hunt are modifying their thrust to account for conditions that can be missed with Xrays alone. Some examples of conditions include congenital malformations, Arnold chiari, invagination ectopia, as well as general torsion put on the spinal cord due to misalignment of the spine.
During the presentation, some of her pre and post MRIs studies were shown. It was incredible to visualize the soft tissue changes that occurred during her MRI guided adjustment. I wish I could share some of the images, but she requested that they not be photographed.
By the end of the presentation, many students including myself were excited and curious to find out more about this topic. I hope that Dr. Hunt will consider returning to Sherman for information about this topic.
The Unexpected Crisis pt 2
Traditionally, society has depended
on physicians in the medical field to be responsible for their global
health. This really isn’t possible as medicine
confines itself to the scientifically, quantitative interactions of bodily
systems. Doctor’s diagnose and treat on
the basis of case history and medical tests which are shown to most accurately
describe bodily condition not global health. Medicine has a clearly defined
niche and is very good at stabilizing patients after serious invasions to
health such as car collision injuries, third degree burns, and appendicitis. However,
modern medicine doesn’t always do the best job treating chronic conditions or
encouraging people to make healthy lifestyle choices. For example, people with high
blood pressure are usually given medication to control the problem, rather than
working with them to adjust diet and lifestyle. There are also endless amounts
of antidepressant and high cholesterol drugs which have more side effects than
original symptoms of the disease they treat. Chronic diseases require
management and lifestyle changes that need to be addressed by the individual
through patient education.
The major issue preventing healthy
people in developed countries is the lack of understanding what is healthy or the
lack of desire to choose health promoting activities. Most people today live a
sedentary lifestyle with minimal time for exercise. Others live in constant stress due to their
jobs. Fast food and processed food is
the standard for meals. All of these
activities and choices have a negative impact on our health. Yet, our society continues to do what is easy
and the quickest. Instant gratification
is the goal without thought of current or future consequences on our health and
well-being. It’s hard to undo years of
poor health choices with a pill. It
requires education regarding what is beneficial for our health and a desire to
make wise choices throughout our lives.
So, how can we become a healthier society? We need to become an educated society. With
so much information available at our fingertips through the internet and other
sources, we can educate ourselves on almost any topic. There are also alternative healthcare options
available that are less invasive than medicine and promote health. We also need to make wise choices based on
the information we have obtained even if it seems counter-cultural. Healthier living is not always easy, convenient
or less expensive. If we want to have a
healthier society in the next ten to twenty years and beyond, we need to be an
informed society and make wise choices as it relates to our lifestyle each and
every day.
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