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From: Dr. Margolies.. 8-8-25
joel3639@aol.com
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Time Management In The Office
One culprit of longevity in the healthcare profession is burn out. This comes in many forms such as personal or practice depression, loss of concentration and worst the inability to continue further without compromising your health. If you have been in practice long enough, managed staff, dealt with insurance and attorneys and kept a tight ship with patient compliance and acquisition, you will have times of burn out. How you handle it is how best you'll manage it
As chiropractors we handle patient issues beyond a sore back, their lifestyle, their eating habits, their emotional overlay and their chronic physical mistakes that usually brought them to the office. The best practice builder is education and the doctor that finds time to collectively or knee to knee gets their chiropractic story out and the doctor/patient game plan find a more compliant and referral based practice. Obviously with less stress less time for burn out. But, time management within the office can drag you, your staff and your patients down.
 At this point, you may feel that I am off the mark, especially in your practice, but there probably is some truth to it. To avoid burn out and have a smooth running profitable practice, time management tools are crucial. So let's explore the three ways chiropractors earn a living and how to utilize each in a time management profitable way.
The three pillars of income as a chiropractor are Volume, Services and Fees. There is no other way. If each pillar is supported with thought and diligent adherence towards profitability the end result is a peaceful smooth running practice, doctor and staff working in synch and a patient flow that is sustainable and growing. All towards the bottom line. Managing time within each pillar is the key
Fees: The easiest income booster is just raising fees. When I taught at Life to fledgling graduating students the components of Starting a Successful Practice the topic of fees was discussed. At that time the price of a postage stamp was the average adjustment fee. So, my advice was to candidly call chiropractic offices within the area they decided to practice in and determine an average and not start too low or too high but a better barometer was what I called the gag reflex.
If I was recommending care to a new patient and discussing fees, the number that made me hesitate and gag was about the level of my comfort zone. I bit higher was my starting point. Obviously, this was not the routine, I handed the fees to the front desk and all was good. But if you want to raise your income, just raise your fees. So, what is you gag level?
Time Management Concerning Fees: train staff, role play with them, be sure they appreciate the power of the adjustment and any supportive adjunctive therapies so their credibility level is high. Patients that understand the need will follow their schedule, pay their fees and refer. This is especially true if you have a cash based practice. What could be better?
Services: This is the best way to increase income but can create a time management issue. Adding rehabilitative equipment, traction, nutrition, orthotic evaluations and cold laser may add income but takes time. If your practice is well oiled and you have dedicated staff and room to handle the therapies as well as a dedicated staff member that can be accountable for patient compliance, the road is clear for increased income without the burden of extra time that may be a drain to you.
Caution, how much equipment, supplement inventory and durable products are just gathering dust? We often attend a conference or fall prey to a vendor representative and purchase stuff that will be rarely used. Talk about burn out. Think before spending the money and time it'll take to make a profit.
Time Management Concerning Services: depending on the therapies and staff training, time should be based on quality rather than quantity. Spinal traction may be more time consuming than thoracolumbar traction (rolling table), but the insurance coding and reimbursement is the same. Muscle stimulation and ultrasound may be helpful but a 15 minute window starts at 8. Nutritional assessment will take time but only profitable if the patient understands the need and you feel they will be compliant. Again, education during the flow of a patient life within your office should include how best they can achieve Wellness beyond ridding their back ache.
 Volume: This pillar takes the most time, energy and finances but if managed correctly can sustain your practice towards profitability and success for the long haul. The Taj Mahal in India is a beautiful edifice but was created as a tomb. A beautiful office with the latest and greatest equipment, most up to date software is nothing but a tomb without patients. Want to get burnt out, just spend every day counting patients like sheep wondering when the new one will come and how to keep those you have active and referring.
Time Management Concerning Volume: A successful office is well oiled with each staff member doing their job as intended crossed trained to assist as needed. Time spent educating patients allowing them to be a team member with their care as well as having an educated idea why and what you and they must do to get them well will be worth every minute. An educated patient follows their schedule as well as more apt to refer.
So, How Well Oiled Is Your Practice?
Do you work too many hours (quantity over quality), take too much time writing patient notes, spend too much time with each patient but less time for yourself. Be aware. by managing your time accordingly and determine if profitability is compromised due to poor time management skills
Make a Long Story Short avoid burn out and enjoy your life as a chiropractor and the personal life you desire by reducing wasteful time, avoiding overworking and try to have fun. This will only happen if you create a plan with baby steps up the ladder of success.
Manage Your Time Wisely and Profitably. Remember what you see in the mirror is the creator of the plan and its implementation
If You Have Questions or Concerns, Reply Back To Me: joel3639@aol.com
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