It has been just over one-year since my wife, Melissa, and I started practicing. In that time, Melissa has been associating in a well-established office in the community with two other doctors and I have been in private practice.
While we’ve had some ups and downs like any new practitioner, overall I would consider this year a success. If you would ask us, in the first year, what was the single most important thing we did to help us succeed in practice it would be this: find a mentor.
Melissa and I have been extremely fortunate in this regard as we have been surrounded by experienced and willing mentors. When I purchased my office, the retiring doctor stayed at the office for two months, acquainting me with patients and particular adjustments that he had learned in his many (many, many) years in practice. He was quick to share the clinical pearls that often only come with experience.
When Melissa started practicing in her office, the advice of the other two doctors and their office staff was invaluable to her, but also for me as I worked to establish my office in a nearby community.
Melissa was able to ask her colleagues about particular issues of patient management. And they offered me a wealth of knowledge from experienced practitioners and staff whenever I had questions about insurance companies, billing issues, and a variety of other things you cannot prepare for until you are in practice.
If you don’t have a mentor in your area, do not be afraid to look elsewhere.
Recently, Melissa developed an interest in pediatric chiropractic. However, there are few chiropractors in the area that specialize in this particular population. Through one of the many professional organizations she was able to contact a female practitioner in Michigan.
Like Melissa, she is married to another chiropractor and just out of school she became an associate while her husband opened an office. Through email they learned that our situations had much in common and she was able to share the ups and downs of their experiences with us.
She freely offered suggestions and advice which will be invaluable for us as we continue in practice. As you go into practice, whether as an associate, an independent contractor, or private practitioner, there are many practicing doctors who shared similar experiences as they were starting out.
It is worthwhile to develop a relationship with a chiropractor either in your area or your particular area of interest as their experience and advice can be invaluable.
And when you become an experienced practitioner, don’t forget to pay it forward.
If you are having trouble finding a mentor, consider starting here. Feel free to post a comment or question for any of the bloggers on Starting Into Practice.