I want to share with you an interesting story that kept me thinking the entire day. Not only that, but it also made me think about who I am doing business with, and who I am giving my money to.
Since I moved back to Houston from San Antonio two weeks ago to open my new clinic, my office has been getting bombarded with phone calls and unsolicited mail. They all have "potential money maker" ideas to sell. Of course, you are not too unfamiliar with them. What really got me thinking was the Houston Yellow Pages' representative whom we shall call "Lisa."
Lisa was quite pleasant and definitely sincere in her approach to sell me a space for an ad to market my clinic. Every time I expressed the lack of budget to invest in a particular size ad, she would roll to Offer B, then C and so on. Obviously she was not going to take no for an answer. Finally, while I'm impressed by dedication and consistency (something we don't see much in our profession), I asked her the killer question: "Lisa, who is your chiropractor?"
"Oh, I don t have one," she pleasantly answered. When I continued to "educate" her on finding a chiropractor close to home, she insisted," But I am fine, there is nothing wrong with me."
Now, I was not about to take a no for an answer. I told her that chiropractic is a preventive health care and she shouldn't wait until she was hurt to see one, just like she wouldn't wait to run out of gas to stop at the gas station. Lisa quickly responded "When I need something, I go to my medical doctor." Oh boy! At this point, I very gently and diplomatically ended the call by not giving her my money. Why should I give my money to someone who obviously doesn't support chiropractors and/or the chiropractic profession?
So, today, as a doctor of chiropractic, I pledge to support those and only those who support me and my profession. I also pledge to assertively educate people on the benefit of chiropractic. My hope is that chiropractors, chiropractic staff and chiropractic advocates begin to ponder on who you are giving your money to. Remember, your income depends on chiropractic patients, so why not support those who are supporting you, instead of giving your money to those who would never go to a chiropractor?
I recommend that each chiropractor begins building a directory which lists the services your own patients can provide for you and for your other patients somewhere down the road. If your stranger when you have one in your clinic. I am sure this patient will be pleased to know that his doctor is supporting him.
I am currently creating a form which explains to every new patient about the directory I have and its purpose. I will then give the patient the opportunity to sign a release allowing me to make his name and profession available for my other patients who might need and can benefit from their services should they ask for it. At the same time, the patient will be informed that I have a directory which he can also benefit, because other patients (plumbers, attorneys, computer experts, etc.) have signed a release which allow us to promote their services. You expect and encourage your patients to refer new patients to you, so why won't you refer your patients to them as well ? The more money you help them make, the more they will spend in your office.
While I'm here, I would like to invite my colleagues to stop ignoring the important issues that are affecting the chiropractic profession. We all have good reasons for not getting involved in our association. I have two dozen of them and they are not pretty. Discrimination by your own colleagues is never pretty and more damaging than discrimination by strangers, but I am ready to secure a future for myself and my family. The only way I could do that is by making sure I will have a profession 10, 15, 20 years from now. I would pray and hope that you would do the same.
Having been involved in pre-hospital emergency medicine for over 11 years now, and having worked in a trauma center with nurses, medical residents, and other medical professionals, it breaks my heart to see how divided we are and unwilling to join hands to save our profession from the constant threat of extinction. Strong word? Unlikely event? Then prove me wrong.
Not long ago when I was a student, we lost the privileges of calling ourselves "physicians," not because we couldn't have fought it successfully, but because half of us were to busy saying, "But I'm not a physician, I am a chiropractor." Fine, but the issue is the not the label or title, but the fact that "they" keep pulling the carpet from under us and we are letting it happen. After that, we lost the ability to use the term "physical therapy" and the school was forced to change the name of that class to "physical medicine and rehabilitation."
Recently, a Dr. Halterman reported that we'd lost another battle in the issue of "lower extremity." What will it be tomorrow, upper extremity, nutrition and inability to recommend supplements, etc ?
There is an old but standing saying in the Middle East that I will paraphrase: "My brother and me against our cousin, and my cousin and me against the stranger." Even the Bible talks about the strength that exists when brothers join hands and develop an unbreakable bond. If you leave your doors and windows open at night for the thief to walk in and clean you out, then you lose every right to complain about it. People won't listen to you nag either. Start protecting your stronghold, close all those windows and doors and keep the thief out once and for all. Once, during an interview with Mahatma Gandhi, he was asked about his views on Christianity, his response was, "I would love to become Christian if I can only meet one." Today, I wonder the same about chiropractors. Where are you?
Since I am establishing my practice with a good friend who is a well-established family physician, he has invited me to do rounds with him, and introduced me to numerous MDs in that hospital. One doctor in particular said, "Wow, I have never met a chiropractor before," as if we were "Cone Heads" or aliens from outer space.
Special thanks to Dr. Marcy Halterman and those like her who continue to reinforce their dedication to our profession. Obviously they haven't given up on us. As a closure, I would like to remember the words of Col. William Barrett Travis in a letter sent from the Alamo on February 24, 1836: "Victory or death."
I am not a Texan, but I wonder where all those proud Texas chiropractors are who won't defend their chiropractic Alamo.
Hamid Kantara, DC, EMT-P, EMS-I, EMS-E
President
American Middle Eastern Chiropractic Association
Executive Director
American College of Medical Orthopedics
League City, Texas
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