Almost exactly one year and one month ago, Dynamic Chiropractic presented the Practice Management Associates (PMA) situation to the chiropractic profession. The February 14, 1990 issue revealed that in 1989 PMA had filed lawsuits against over 180 of their clients. This was in sharp contrast to the less than seven lawsuits filed by Markson Management, Ward Management, Singer Enterprises, and Kats Management combined! That issue also contained an interview with Peter Fernandez, D.C., president of PMA.
It's time again to review the issues surrounding PMA. Some problems have only gotten worse: In 1990, PMA sued another 186 of its clients. This, when combined with the 195 clients PMA sued in 1989, brings them to a total of 381 lawsuits filed against clients in just two years. When the number of clients who filed suit against PMA, (approximately 200) is added, it brings PMA to a grand total of 581 lawsuits. This translates to PMA being in litigation with one out of every 80 chiropractors in the United States.
The lawsuits filed against PMA are group actions by former clients, most of whom are former "Practice Starters." The largest of these group actions is being represented by attorney Larry Beard who is suing PMA on behalf of over 100 DCs. There are a number of other group actions, each involving chiropractors that signed their contracts in the particular PMA seminar city. Mr. Beard represents those PMA clients who signed their contracts in Chicago, even though they live and practice in many other states.
Some issues are getting better: A number of chiropractic management consultants have come together in an effort to create a "congress" of chiropractic consultants with ethical guidelines.
As the year has gone by, quite a bit of information has come to light: A number of PMA's non-chiropractic "phone consultants," who are no longer working for PMA, have come forward to testify against PMA.
Here at Dynamic Chiropractic, we have received literally hundreds of phone calls and letters (and still do) from PMA clients. Most of the phone calls are from dissatisfied PMA clients. Many of the letters were from clients who had very positive comments about what they learned from PMA. Some of these positive letters were elicited by a PMA conducted client-mailing, where PMA had asked former clients to send positive comments to "DC."
Through all of this communication there appeared a very clear trend. The experience pattern of a satisfied PMA client was very different from that of an unsatisfied, perhaps even hostile client.
Satisfied PMA Client:
One of the more positive aspects of this entire situation is the extra care and attention many of the PMA "refugees" are getting from other practice management consultants. A number of the dissatisfied (and many times financially failing) DCs report compassion and care from other consultants who just want to see chiropractors succeed. These consultants, most of them well known, make every concession possible to aid these individuals.
But the bottom line issues remain:
Why are all of these former clients in court with PMA?
How can a company that is supposed to be serving clients wind up in litigation with so many of them?
Are percentage contracts so lucrative as to render all of these lawsuits as "just another business expense?"
To address these issues, we have asked Dr. Fernandez to comment. In addition, we will be drawing from comments of over 40 DCs who have filed suit against PMA and are awaiting the verdict on summary judgment motions.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
