My wife and I recently took an extended holiday. It had been quite some time since we had taken more than a three-day weekend (usually associated with a professional meeting) or a trip which did not include an activity associated with my son's sports schedule (including his lacrosse bag and what my wife describes as  "his smelly laundry.")

While I love all of those trips, during our recent excursion, we revisited our honeymoon destination, which brought back many wonderful memories. Further, it was a chance to recharge and revitalize both personally and professionally which we sometimes forget is needed.

Having practiced for many years, I feel blessed to be part of a terrific and special profession. Like most, challenges are many, but opportunities to assist others with their health care needs are abundant and rewarding.

It's been my observation that many within the profession as well as others, work extended hours pursuing their dreams and helping those that need care and services, at the cost and peril of their own well being.

As the holidays approach, I would strongly recommend that you consider a few days of rest and relaxation to recharge and reinvigorate. I have no doubt that it will benefit not only you, but your family and patients.

Happy days!

Continuing with the discussion Mike Whitmer and I had with a new doctor, Dr. Z,  we asked, “What do you feel has been disappointing to you concerning what you thought your “real world” practice would be like?

Dr. Z  slumped as he replied, his hands folding one over the other as though he needed further thought.

“I feel disappointed that patients don’t seem to understand what a chiropractor does in order to help them. The attitude of ‘my bones are cracked and I feel better,’ is sometimes bothersome to me.  In the office I work in, the statement was made that ‘some chiropractors do not get all of the crunches out’ meaning that unless the patient’s cervical spine did not make the right noise when adjusted, it could not possibly be effective.”

The young doctor paused, lifting his head just enough for us to see his hopeful look.

“I would like to educate the patient a little more. I think if they were to understand why an adjustment helps them, the patient would be better able to inform others about chiropractic and we would not be looked upon as such an ‘isolated’ profession.”

It’s not unusual for new doctors to feel a bit discouraged. You’ve been in a “chiropractic bubble” for years now, speaking to knowledgeable professors, and colleagues who know and understand the value of chiropractic.

Now you’re off to find your way and you are encountering people who have been fed nothing but rumors of “back-cracking” with no knowledge of what that means!

Don’t be alarmed. It only takes a short time to garner trust from your patients. As they learn to trust you, first as a person and then as a doctor, you’ll be able to educate them about the world of chiropractic and it’s benefits. From there, you’ve got no place to go but grow!

Before we continue our interview, do any of you have any “real world” experiences that disappointed you at first?

No, this blog is not about some chiropractic question … it is about relationship building.

A new book by Keith Ferrazzi entitled Who’s Got Your Back is one worth reading.  Mr. Ferrazzi dispels the myth of the lone professional, the superman, the eccentric genius working alone.

He maintains that the real and only path to success is through a circle of deep, close relationships created with a few trusted individuals.  Those select individuals will give you the real truth and honest feedback about your self-destructive habits. 

His earlier book Never Eat Alone has a similar message about forming and nurturing a few trusted relationships. The author lists a series of steps designed to help you create the lifelong relationships that will help you get the advice you need. 

The Personal Success Wheel lists these elements to personal growth and development: 

• Giving Back
• Spirituality
• Intellectual Stimulation
• Physical Wellness
• Financial Success
• Professional Growth
• Deep Relationship

In almost every book about success, these elements are present.  Perhaps before you attempt to use your skills on others backs, answering "who’s got yours" might be a good start.

Intrepid blogger Ginger Marcinkowski and I had the opportunity to have a long, frank disucssion with an associate doctor who has been practicing for about three months.  Let's refer to him as Dr. Z.  We will be posting a series of blogs to pass on some of the insights this young DC had to share.

I was first curious as to what Dr. Z had learned during the first three months.

First area of growth for the doc was with case management.  Dr. Z felt he was seriously lacking in getting all facts during the initial examination and preparing the report of findings. 

He struggled with managing patient expectations and communicating what results can be expected after treatment. 

"Telling the patient, in some cases, that they may only have a 50/50 chance of benefiting from my care was a statement that never crossed my mind in college."  Dr. Z found that offering the patient a trial period of care and allowing him to decide if it has been beneficial made the patient feel he had been dealt with honestly, fairly, and was receiving quality care for their money.  "I found it instills immediate trust in the doctor," says Dr. Z.

The other area of growth for Dr. Z has been learning how to properly treat various cases.  The variety of patients is far greater than what was his experience in the college setting.  Observing and treating acute injuries, how to correctly apply therapies, and the correlation between patient complaints and the amount of time between maintenance visits were all areas of learning during the first three months.

"Initially, I did not realize just how little I knew about case management and I now realize I still have much more to learn"

Well said, Dr. Z.!

In today's economy, it's no surprise that everyone is trying to thrive, and often just survive. However, when it comes to the price of professional services, I often wonder - how low will we go?  

Social networking sites have opened doors to other networking and advertising sites that offer services at discounted rates.  These sites can be an effective means to advertise a new business and create traffic flow.

I, myself, belong to two free online services where a "Deal of the Day" appears in my in-box.  This has been a great way to try new restaurants and purchase discounted oil changes.  However, what I find disturbing is the trend to offer professional services - chiropractic, dentistry and optometry - on these websites.

Another example I have come across lately on three separate occasions is the parking lot tent or state fair booth and a banner advertising "Free Adjustments TODAY only!" 

When we compare the three listed professions above (chiropractic, dentistry and optometry) the common denominator is "self employed doctor." There is no set hospital salary, insurance reimbursements are limited, and the overhead is self-funded.

I get it.  We all have bills to pay.  

But is this the way to get it done?  Does this promote quality patient care and create the cultural authority we are still lacking? 

I know what my reaction and personal feelings were to these, but I wonder: what do the rest of you think?  

Students?  Colleagues?  I'd love to hear the buzz on this topic.  Is this a sign of the times, or just another cheap marketing ploy?