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Dr.
Peter Fernandez has been a practice consultant for the for the last 20
years. He has written 14 books and over 200 articles on chiropractic and
is president of the Fernandez Discipline Consulting Company. |
AJCC Jan 2000 |
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Attention Doctors who specialize in Cervical ProblemsPeter G. Fernandez, D.C. I
need your help! However, before asking for your help, I’d like to
thank the publisher of The American Journal of Clinical Chiropractic,
Dr. Don Harrison, for his permission to address all of the “cervical
treating specialists” in the country through this technical journal.
Do you want to get mad, blow your cork, raise your blood
pressure? If so, go to the health section of your local book stores and
look at the number of health books written by chiropractors—almost
none! It’s absolutely amazing to me that for the last 100 years, we
chiropractors have been talking about nutrition, care of the neck and
back, alternative health care, etc. And, now that alternative health
care is in vogue, there’s all kinds of books written on alternative
health care—by MDs, not chiropractors. We have dropped the ball and
the MDs have picked it up—they are taking over our market. It gets me
mad, and I intend to do something about it.
I’m going to write a book that boldly states chiropractic
doctors are the experts at treating neck injuries, that we have no peers
in this field, and if an individual wants to get well from a cervical
problem, they need to go to a D.C. who is a “cervical treating
specialist!” Then, I am going to identify who the “cervical treating
specialists” are.
If you are a D.C. who 1) specializes in the biophysics technique;
2) specializes in another cervical specialty technique; 3) specializes
in the correction of cervical subluxations; or 4) specializes in the
correction of abnormal cervical curves, I would like your help. You are
the very best in our profession in the care and prevention of cervical
problems . . .and I need your expertise.
Being such a cervical specialist, I’m sure you have many
valuable insights on how patients can help keep their cervical spine
aligned, relieve their own neck pain, etc. Your ideas should be put into
a book. I’m sure you know that writing a book and having it published
can further your career. And, when patients, attorneys and physicians
read your name in a book as a “contributing author,” their respect
for you will soar. Yet, if you are like most chiropractors, you don’t
know how to go about writing and publishing a book, and if you do, you
simply do not have the time.
If you have not (yet) written a book, perhaps you would consider
helping me write mine. Every doctor submitting material to me which is
printed will be listed as a “contributing author” and free to use
that credit in advertising and public relations for his/her own
practice.
The book I am writing will be devoted to how the patients should
take care of their neck to prevent themselves from injuring or
re-injuring their cervical spines, i.e., activities of daily living such
as don’t look up, don’t sleep on your stomach, don’t lie down and
read with your head on the armrest of a sofa, etc. This book is intended
for the common man and most of its distribution is planned through a
national publisher who will see to the placement of the book in retail
book stores and on the internet. Wholesale distribution will be through
chiropractic offices worldwide. I am hoping the retail sales will be
sufficient to support a low enough price for doctors that will enable
them to give the book away free to their patients, or charge only a
nominal fee. Anyway, that’s my dream.
Please don’t think I am asking you for any type of financial
backing or support. I’m not. Your title of “contributing author”
is for contributing your knowledge only, not money.
I have written and published 14 books on chiropractic thus far,
and am quite experienced in the publishing process. But enough about me.
Now I want to talk about the book . . . and you.
To further give you an idea of the type of material I want for
“our” book, I will be happy to send you a copy of my research on the
“self care of neck problems.” If you would like to be a
“contributing author,” please read it over, then jot down any
patient recommendations you advise that are not included in my material.
I’m looking forward to your reply, your suggestions and to adding you
as a “contributing author.” Remember, this is a book of prevention .
. . not treatment.
What is important is what your patients can do to prevent,
relieve or not re-injure their neck problems, not how chiropractic takes
the pain away.
The information you and I compile and share with the public will
provide a great service for our fellow man, because there has never been
a book on this subject in chiropractic or medical history! Together we
will not only make history, but we will greatly enhance the reputation
of our profession. Let’s let the world know chiropractors are the
doctors to treat neck pain, not the M.D.s. And, by being a
“contributing author,” you will be letting the people in your
community know that among chiropractors, you are the specialist in
treating neck problems. My job has only begun and is far from complete.
. . I need your help!
Please don’t think that this project is unimportant. It’s
very important! We chiropractors have to counter the negative publicity
that adjustments of the cervical spine cause strokes, by letting the
public know that we are the experts at treating neck problems, and we
can do so safely with scientific precision. How do we let them know
these facts? Surely not by advertising. If we could spread the
chiropractic story by advertising, the whole world would already know
since there has been so much chiropractic advertising. To accomplish our
aims, we have to get published and have an authoritative book placed in
book stores. And, by having hundreds of chiropractic cervical treating
specialists reveal their secrets on how patients with neck problems can
help themselves, we will have produced one of the most authoritative
books ever written on the subject. This will be a book written not be
academics who don’t have much patient contact, but by hundreds of
D.C.s who are patient-treating specialists. Please join me in this
cause.
Check out your local book stores! I’m sure you’d be amazed to
find out there is no book on how to take care of neck problems, either
by an M.D. or a chiropractor. This is our shot at doing something great
for our chiropractic profession. Let’s do it!
What’s in it for me? A heck of a lot of work and a lot of
expense. It will cost me over $30,000 just to get the illustrations done
for the book, but I am willing to do it to enhance the name of
chiropractic to the general public and to help you, the practicing D.C.s,
instruct your patients on how they can help you by properly caring for
their neck problems.
One of the ways you can provide me with the information I need,
is to look at the instruction sheets you hand out to your patients on
how to take care of their neck. Circle the instructions on these sheets
that are not included in my “self care of neck problems” information
and then send these instruction sheets to me.
When you send me the information I lack, I’ll do the work and
you’ll receive the credit as being a “contributing author.” Its a
“win-win” for everybody concerned.
Thank you for giving consideration to this request. I hope your
name will appear as a “contributing author” in this important work.
I know you will proudly display this volume in your office and your home
libraries. There is a chance, too, that “our” book will be in all
public libraries. Lastly, I’m sure your patients will be extremely
proud of you, their doctor, the “contributing author.”
If you would like a copy of my “Self Care of Neck Problems”
so you can submit your new ideas, please contact me at the address at
the end of this article. When I receive your request, I’ll promptly
send you the information. If you have an e-mail address, please provide
it to me as it is the fastest and least expensive way to get my material
to you.
Again, thank you to Dr. Don Harrison to allow me to write this
guest column requesting your assistance.
Dr. Fernandez can be contacted at 7777 131st St. N., Suite 15,
Seminole, Florida 33776, 1-800-88-CHIRO or by e-mail to drpete@drfernandez.com.
If you have any questions regarding his request, contact him and he’d
be happy to talk to you. |
