With your permission, I’d like to NOT beat around the bush about this.
Patient “Education” comes in many forms:
Consults
Report of Findings
Brochures
Videos
“Spinal Care Classes”
Emails
Snail Mail
Websites
…I can go on and on, but you get the point.
HERE’S THE BIG TAKE AWAY:
There IS a time and a place for patient education and it is RARELY effective when communicated to the general public. (ANYONE OTHER THAN INACTIVE AND ACTIVE PATIENTS)
…and it seldom-NEVER works when you talk to even a new patient about something UNRELATED to what motivated THEM to see you in the first place.
In actuality, patients don’t want to be educated.
They want to feel better.
Actually, ALL of your patients want to get out of pain and out of your office as quickly as possible and there’s virtually nothing that you can do that will EVER change that. Ever.
Now, I know there are consultants out there who can get you totally fired up about Chiropractic but until you can give patients ONLY what they want first, most won’t listen, most will drop out of care, and most will never come back or refer.
So, lighten up on the “education.”
Give ‘em a few handouts on diet and nutrition, if you like, but focus in on first relieving them from discomfort… because even though some Chiropractors don’t want to believe or accept it, it’s what motivates people to visit a Chiropractor.
The old business model in Chiropractic was to hard sell, over “educate”, then force compliance through the use of “Pre-pays.”
…and when I mean pre-pays is anything other than “pay per visit.”
…and you won’t build a practice on “corrective only” care. You will lose a lot of patients.
So, even if everybody needs corrective care, you will help more people longer if you stick with a solid relief care practice and relief care communication.
Listen, in the “should be” world EVERYBODY would be interested in prevention and wellness care but in the REAL world, preaching that model will repel more than attract.
Like a friend once said, “Build a bridge and GET OVER IT.”
Because, once you do, you will see more people crossing it towards your office than away from it.
…and you’ll be a lot happier, more profitable, and be able to get your life back.
Watching Your Back,
Ben Altadonna, D.C.
“The Practice Building Alliance™”
Article by Ben Altadonna
Dr. Ben Altadonna is the creator of "The Practice Building Alliance™". You can connect with Ben on Facebook, Twitter, and Google +
Ben has written 691 awesome articles.
