It's Our Light, Not Our Darkness That Frightens Us...

Dr. Hammett is a chiropractor in private practice in Kenosha, Wisconsin. After graduating from Life College in 1979, he completed several post-graduate programs in Physical Impairments, Diagnostic Imaging and Rehabilitation. He completed his Juris Doctor in 1995. He has written articles for several Journals and has lectured to numerous Chiropractic groups on the topics of Practice Management and Risk Prevention.  

 

by R. J. Hammett, D.C.   

  Audacity, Audacity, always Audacity!!! Fredrick the Great warns us not to fear the dark, but to step into the light. What is holding you back? What is keeping your practice from being the size that you want it to be? Is it staff? Lack of new patients? Patient complaints? HMO’s or insurance companies? The Board? Your peers? What?

      As you may know, the only fear we are born with is the fear of falling! All other fears are learned. In my opinion, the greatest fear of them all is the fear of our real abilities and what we can really do with our lives. The profession of Chiropractic has grown by stepping into the light, not hiding in the darkness. In the last twenty years of our profession’s history, we have undergone a renaissance of darkness. We demand more “scientific” evidence, more documentation of our acts, more validity and respect! When in reality, all great deeds and accomplishments come from those who step into the fears of the light that burns within, those liberated souls who have gone before us to say what chiropractic does and can do, and get out of my way while I am doing it.

      From the 1980’s to present, in reality, chiropractic has gained respectability and some minor acknowledgements for backaches and such, but not for much more. In fact, we have retarded our growth by conforming and hiding our profession behind musculoskeletal health care. The light on the inside of you still burns, it is only your fear of it that disallows you from telling the world what you are, and what you can do. As year 2000 comes to a close, what have you gained, has it been a better year? Has it been an exciting adventure, or a boring day in and day out grind?

      Have your patients and staff lived better for your being here? Now is the time to take a long weekend by yourself and be honest in what you want from your life and your career. Yes, it is time to be real. Write down your goals, and get pictures of what you want. Look at them daily, knowing that if this is what you want, you can have it! Lastly, what about your practice? Is it all that you want? The following is a checklist for your practice. Take this list and see how you are doing, what needs fixing, attention and improvement. Sit down with your staff and ask them why the practice isn’t where it needs to be. Ask them where the blockages and problems lie and go to work fixing them.

      1.    Do you have enough trained staff?

      2.    Do your patients have to wait for anything in your office?

      3.    Do you have enough equipment and supplies?

      4.    Does anything in the clinic need fixing or replacing?

      5.    Are you backing off of procedures? Re-exams, re-xrays, lectures, etc.?

      6.    Do you only speak about chiropractic and health in the office?

      7.    Are you tolerating unproductive staff?

      8.    Are you saving patients’ souls, instead of correcting subluxation and educating them about chiropractic?

      9.    Have you timed your adjustments? How long does it take to adjust your spouse?

      10.   Are you servicing patients at any level of their commitment?

      11.   Are you chasing missed appointments?

      12.   Do you have a year 2001 calendar of new patient events?

      13.   Are you emotionally in the practice, or somewhere else?

      There are many more items that should be on this checklist, but this is a starting point for you to start thinking. Finally, whatever dream, goal, or project you want, see it very clearly, for this is the starting place in any adventure in life. . . . .your mind!

      ÔTil next time . . .