How Far Should An Entrepreneurial Doctor Go?
Many entrepreneurial doctors have been winning patents for a decade now on commonly used methods of practicing medicine, techniques such as those used for collecting blood, combining drugs to treat cancer, using eye drops to diagnose disease, intravenous infusion, even the use of ultrasound imaging to determine whether an unborn baby is a boy or a girl. I have to say that as a chiropractor who has developed a number of unique diagnostic approaches and chiropractic treatment protocols, I have mixed feelings about doctors seeking patents. On the hand, if a doctor has developed an actual instrument that other doctors can purchase and be taught to use, it seems to me that that doctor deserves the “credit” and the money derived from a patent on that instrument. But, a “procedure” is slightly more nebulas because “the way” of doing something may be discovered and utilized by any number of doctors, over time, as their experience leads them into new and better techniques. To put it another way, can any doctor actually claim to own the way he or she turns a knife when performing surgery?
Patents for pure medical and surgical methods were virtually unheard of three decades ago, and were rare in the 1980’s. But, beginning in the mid-90’s, several patents a week were being issued, though no official count exists. While the American Medical Association says it knows of no case in which one doctor has paid another doctor royalties for use of a technique, doctors with patents increasingly say they will seek such fees aggressively.
Where medical practices, and all other professional health care practices are concerned, it seems to me that the intentional withholding of new skills and techniques for reasons of personal gain, as with patents, is detrimental to the patients we serve. In addition, patents could restrict access to treatments, obstruct peer review of new therapies, and add to the cost of health care.
An Army of One
When we think about entrepreneur doctors of chiropractic, their being a sergeant in the U.S. Army isn’t generally the first thought that comes to mind. But, I just read an inspiring story about a chiropractor who has combined his chiropractic training with a successful and meaningful military career.
Joshua Eldridge, DC, CCSP, a 2002 graduate of National University and Health Sciences, is a sergeant in the U.S. Army. He’s a Military Integrator/Maintainer with the 321st Military Intelligence Battalion, in fact, who will be securing data and communications conduits in and around the military compounds at an undisclosed location in Afghanistan.
Dr. Eldridge spent his first tour of duty in Iraq (2004-2005) working with the troop medical clinic in Baghdad. In that role, he was one of the first chiropractors to treat soldiers in combat situations.
“Chiropractic is a much-needed addition to the military and I hope that I am able to add to the freedom of others by treating soldiers.”
For more on this entrepreneurial doctor, click on dynamichiropractic. You’ll be able to find out how to follow Dr. Eldridge’s overseas tour online.
Make the People Connection
Chiropractors, medical doctors, and all health care professionals who have their own offices know that in today’s economy, the spirit of entrepreneurship needs to be stay alive and well, and remain an integral part of their practice. What is meaningful entrepreneurship to individuals who have been drawn to the healing profession and who desire to focus on the health and well-being of humanity? The answer is community involvement and community leadership. As a successful chiropractor who is well-known and well-liked in my community, I can’t think of a greater way to connect with people and let them know who you are. They will remember you when a health issue arises.
There are wonderful ways in which to volunteer your services, or open your clinic for special events, in every community. Fall through winter is an especially good time of year as their are busy food banks, numerous toy drives, and harvest and holiday events that make it easy to help others in need wherever your clinic or office may be located. Entrepreneur doctors know how to make the people connection!
Business Savvy in a Box?
Have you noticed how many “lay” people get turned off when you mention chiropractic (and other types of health care) in the same breath with “business”? I’m a chiropractor, and I know that it is often very uncomfortable when a potential chiropractic patient looks at you as if you’d rather adjust his wallet than his spine! But, obviously, health care professionals need to make a living and this requires some business smarts. Learning how to make our businesses grow is just as important as providing our patients with the best care possible.
Besides learning the techniques needed to successfully perform chiropractic therapy, it is important that chiropractors learn good marketing skills. Keeping any business alive is dependent upon getting in new customers and having old customers return. Obviously, the same is true when it comes to our patients. And, not just having our old patients return, but having them refer family, friends, and business associates.
While good patient care is ultimately the way to make sure that our business is successful, it’s also important for us, chiropractors, to development a bit of marketing savvy, or at least to find a marketing company who has it. There are many to choose from out there, but here are a few “essentials” to look for when making your decision. Find 1) someone who knows what they are doing when it comes to “search engine optimization” (SEO), which is to say, someone who knows how to get you ranked on the first page of google, 2) someone who has great tech support, i.e., a good customer service department, and 3) someone who will make money for your website instead of cost you money!
Chiropractic Marketing Course: Ten Essentials of Chiropractic Internet Marketing
Dr. Jamie Phillips and her <a href=”http://www.chiropracticmarketingtoday.com/”>Chiropractic Marketing</a> Team, have just put together
an outstanding free <a href=”http://www.chiropracticmasters.com/”>Chiropractic internet marketing</a> course that is designed
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The course is called the “Ten Essentials of Internet Marketing” You can
find it at www.chiropracticmasters.com. This course will get you <a href=”http://www.chiropracticnewpatients.net/”>chiropractic new patients</a>!
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For Holistic Health Practitioners The Time Is NOW
Now is the time to enter a holistic career, so states an article I just read on mylocalhealth.com. As a chiropractor, I am very excited about the shift that is apparently taking place in the minds of Americans and offers of wealth of opportunities for those individuals who seek to help humanity in this way.
The article suggests that holistic practitioners are “going to be poised” to help the growing number of people in the U.S. who want to take better care of themselves and their health. Why the sudden change in a country that has been allopathically-focused for over a century? It appears that Americans are turning to alternative forms of treatment because they are realizing that conventional healthcare in the United States, though reasonably effective at fighting disease, does nothing about preventing disease in the first place.
As people become increasingly aware that their lifestyle affects their health, the industry for holistic practitioners is going to explode. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, individuals with natural health degrees can anticipate growing job prospects. They project that the employment rate in alternative medicine will grow around 42 percent between 2004 and 2014. According to Forbes Magazine, as massage therapy becomes accepted by more insurance companies, the massage therapy market is expected to see 20 percent growth through 2016, as cited by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There will be 24,000 health care professionals, including physicians, trained in oriental medicine by 2010 and the number of chiropractors will nearly double from 55,000 to 103,000.
When it comes to health, it is fast becoming crucial for individuals to become proactive instead of reactive, i.e., instead of looking for a health solution once we have misused our bodies to the point of illness, they can make the lifestyle changes necessary to prevent many diseases in the first place. And, many individuals are doing just that. A survey sent out by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to 23,000 adults nationwide in 2007 found that Americans spend $34 billion annually on alternative medicine. Approximately one-third of adults use alternative medicine. That includes a wide range of services from meditation and yoga to dietary supplements. Alternative medicine now accounts for more than 11 percent of out-of-pocket spending on health care in the U.S. The report concludes that 38 million adults visited alternative medicine practitioners in 2007. People spent an estimated $27 billion in 1997.
Full article and resources at: mylocalhealth.com (linked above)
Taking Care of Business Along With Taking Care of Our Patients
As a chiropractor, I have to say that our profession didn’t get enough business education and training. Of course, most patients don’t like to think of their doctors, especially alternative doctors, as “business people,” anymore than they like to think of the “ministers” that way. And, of course, altruistically, none of us studied chiropractic medicine “for the money.” However, realistically, we can’t do what we love to do, i.e., help people to feel better, get out of pain, and get their life back again, without the money necessary to keep our office open.
Well, it looks like medical doctors are having the same issues of being business-challenged. I just read an article about physicians who are going to business school to get their MBA. Apparently, nationwide more doctors are finding it both useful and necessary to add business fundamentals to their core of medical know-how, according to health care organizations and observers.
The effort encompasses more than just learning tools for helping doctors run their offices; it is about reclaiming their voice in a sector that has become dominated by non-medical professionals, such as managed care firms, professional administrators and accountants. “Physicians nowadays need to appreciate and understand business concepts and thinking,” said Dr. James Anderson, a Cornerstone Health Care pediatrician and member of the practice’s board who is working toward a business degree. “The way we train in medicine and the way we approach problems in medicine is different than in the business world.”
The conviction that physicians can no longer be blind to the ways of business is at the center of Dr. Bill Applegate’s efforts to retool the curriculum at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Applegate, dean of the medical school, said he intends to take “a slice” of Wake’s Babcock Graduate School of Management content and implement it for the medical campus’ doctors in training. He figures it may take another two years for it to happen.
Until it becomes a staple of medical school studies, gaining business acumen is largely a voluntary effort for doctors. And by no means are most doctors adding to their already super-crowded schedules with business homework.
I believe that it is time for chiropractors, and other health care providers, to take back the business of their professions from those who are not doctors and are truly “in it” for the money. We can still maintain the “heart of a doctor,” but we also must develop the mind of a business professional.
Balanced Choices Are Keys to Good Health and Longevity
Balanced Choices Are Keys to Good Health and Longevity
by Guest Contributor Jamie G. Phillips, DC
Does it seem to you that no matter where we turn these days, there are news stories and advertisements, alike, touting the stupendous studies on innumerable exotic supplements, not to mention the cutting-edge health proclamations of coffee and red wine that, in one way or another, promise to reduce or eliminate all causes of mortality? It would almost seem, in fact, that a quest for immortality has replaced our search for longevity!
First of all, let me begin by saying that I’m not against taking supplements. Actually, I take them myself on a regular basis. Secondly, the idea that drinking red wine could possibly be healthy for my heart is a very attractive thought. And, I’d genuinely like to accept that drinking coffee truly could be an “easy fix” for preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
However, before taking ill-considered action, and haphazardly adding more coffee to your morning habit, another glass of red wine to your evening meal, or an extra expenditure of your hard-earned cash on exotic herbs that promise to make you live forever, let’s rationally consider a couple of things.
For instance, let us think about the fact that we, humans, are dynamic, biological beings, free to enthusiastically interact with life. We have not been detained in a cage, and none of us has been “propagated” to artificially develop the age-related debilitation and disease that lab animals are bred to do, conditions that are then “reversed” by resveratrol, caffeine, or some exotic herb.
Basically, our being dynamic and biological is another way of saying that we, humans, are not ” mechanistic automatons.” In other words, we aren’t all precisely alike. Due to the fact that our central integrative states are not exactly the same, internal provocation factors and external irritation influences affect us in different ways. For example, though smoking cigarettes is commonly harmful to most people, there are a few individuals who can smoke cigarettes and still achieve longevity without any related ill effects.
Scientific studies isolate certain variables in order to achieve particular outcomes. That’s scientific inquiry! But, because the results occur through such isolation, and due to the fact that they are generally done on animals, when it comes to translating such results to humans, it can be said that what may work for some of the people all of the time, won’t work for all of the people all of the time, and sometimes won’t work at all (to paraphrase Abraham Lincoln!).
You make choices each day, some that are intentional and others that may be indifferent, that will affect your physical health, now and in the future. You decide what (and how much) you’ll eat and drink, and the amount of physical activity and rest you’ll get. Even though you can “sense” what is healthy for you, by the way your body responds, sometimes, perhaps too often, you may override the feedback. Clearly, when you don’t consciously make healthy choices, you jeopardize your health and longevity.
Then you, like many others, may enthusiastically jump on the bandwagon of the latest report that announces that researchers have uncovered THE VERY THING that has the potency to reverse all of the excessive and unhealthy things you have been doing to your body on a routine basis! Talk about wishful thinking!
The elegantly balanced system of your body (homeostasis) is highly responsive and intricate. This delicate system becomes “off balance” when you live an unhealthy lifestyle. Eventually, the imbalances nurtured through poor health choices, result in diseases.
If supplements help you to feel more energetic and healthy, then as a chiropractor who takes them as well, I say great, take them! If it feels like the thing to do, drink that additional cup of coffee as well. And, have a little more red wine if it honestly feels beneficial. But, keep in mind that the only legitimate way for anyone to avert or reverse age-related health problems is by choosing a consistently healthy lifestyle. You won’t get healthier by chance. There is no “lucky charm” when it comes to health and longevity.
Dr. Jamie Phillips, a Ventura Chiropractor, has been in private chiropractic practice for over two decades. She is also a consultant for Bloczone Marketing, a chiropractic internet marketing company specializing in chiropractic websites that attract new patients. She can be reached at (805) 985-9502
Home Based Business As One of the Effective Ways to Be Frugal
Interesting post, but of course, as chiropractors, home based business is not an option.
When one thinks of Ways to Be Frugal, it is very seldom that one would come up with a business. Why? It is because coming up with one would require a certain sum of money as well as time and effort. But for those who are thinking of long term benefits, coming up with a business-especially those that are hone-based-would help them save lots of money in the long run.
How can home business help you Spend Less?
Yes, coming up with a business would require one a lot of investment. But, did you know that you could Save Money by just coming up with one? This is because you will be able to Save Money from everyday expenses when you are working in an office.
The first thing that you would cut down some costs is transportation. If you own a car, you can save lots of money just by not spending on gas. Can you imagine how much you can save if you are not using your car off to work or in going to places that is related to your job? And, if you can handle it, you can even sell your car since you won’t be using it that much because you have to stay at home to manage your business.
Aside from transportation costs, you can also save some money by not spending so much on clothing and other things that you need in order to look good in an office setting. Many people who work in offices are obliged to wear corporate attires that would cost a lot of money. Can you imagine how much you can save when you don’t have to buy a skirt or blouse to use? Or how much money you can save when you don’t have to buy a new pair of shoes or a bag just to match your outfit?
Operating your own business at home can also help you Spend Less Money because you will be veered from the temptations outside. Although this would mean that you have to give up your nightlife or everyday lifestyle but imagine how much money can you save when you don’t have to spend so much on foods that you will eat in a restaurant or the drinks you will order from the bars.
The easiest options
Aside from saving money, having a business at the comforts of your home can also be the perfect job for you since you will be in control of your own working patterns. Imagine, when you prefer to make money from home, you can set your own working hours. And if you are just looking for one, there will be no need for resumes, job interviews, dress codes and slave driver bosses.
If you are one of those who are thinking of Methods to Spend Less though a business, the most viable option for you are those that are related online. With Internet, almost everything became virtually available. This is the reason why more and more people decide on operating online home businesses because there are so many target markets here. Some of the online business options you can work on would include writing for online sites, selling products online and offering services online.
Aside from these, there are so many opportunities available online for you to explore. But, if ever you decide to put up a business at home as one of the Ways to Spend Less Money, make sure that you consider very well the pros and cons in working all on your own so you won’t have any regrets in the end.
For other ways to save money please see: get car insurance quotes online or term coverage quote or how to get individual health insurance quotes.
Big Money in Weight Loss: Losing Weight Can Help Your Arthritis Pain
San Diego Chiropractor: Chiropractic and Arthritis
Are you suffering from painful arthritis? Do you also have a difficult time with your weight? If you’ve answered yes to both questions, it’s conceivable that you’re having back pain not only due to arthritis, but also as the eventuality of the strain your weight is putting on your spine. The body was not designed to carry around additional weight in the form of body fat. Your spine, which supports your body, is being put under a tremendous of strain even if you are merely carrying a surplus 20 or 30 pounds everyday. This sort of strain can created aberrations of the vertebral column. These misaligned vertebra can generate arthritic changes in the spine and continue to aggravate the degenerative changes that are present already. Moreover, your body may compensate in other ways, like your hips moving forward or tilting to counterbalance the extra weight. This can pinch the sciatic nerve, which is extremely painful.
A current survey by the NPD Group, a leading market research company based in Rosemont, Ill., reveals that around 62% of adults and 34% of adolescents are overweight or obese. The pervasiveness of arthritis amplifies with accumulating weight. Research suggests that cultivating a healthy weight reduces the risk of developing arthritis in the first place and may slow degenerative progression. A reduction of just 11 pounds can decrease the occurrence (incidence) of new knee osteoarthritis and would do quite a lot to reduce back pain as well.
In order for an individual to overcome their back pain, knee pain, and pain in the joints in other places in the body, a nutritious diet and appropriate exercise is definitely required. Even though you have likely been told this for the better part of your life, it really is the only solution for you to get out of pain and get your life back.
First of all, let’s tackle the issue of dieting. Many diets (and there are a large number from which to choose) can be temporarily helpful. It may sound cynical, but let’s face it, if you were to lose weight permanently, the diet industry would lose a good customer! In order for you to lose weight effectively, you must eat a healthy diet as well as to cut your calories so that you are at a slight calorie deficit. Shedding a large amount of weight too quickly is not only unhealthy, but dangerous. A good goal is to lose about 2 pounds every week in order to have positive results.
Research has shown that exercise and physical activity not only reduces pain and augments function, but genuinely slows the process of disability. Be certain to get a minimum of one-half hour of moderate physical activity at least 3 days a week. Even at 10-minute intervals such movement is beneficial.
Besides the good your joints will undergo from exercise, chiropractic manipulation is an excellent way to get motion back in the joints of your spine and other regions of your body. A spine in alignment makes exercise and physical activity much easier and actually slows down arthritic degenerative changes. The Annals of Internal Medicine published the results of a survey of 232 people who had arthritis and were under a rheumatologist’s care. Of those people, 63% answered the survey by indicating they were using some kind of “complementary care” as named by the study. Of those people, 31% were using chiropractic. Possibly the most consequential statistic was that 73% of those using chiropractic found it effective. Explaining why they’d tried the non-medical chiropractic care, the responders provided a number of reasons: 1) to reduce pain, 2) they’d been told that it helps, 3) they felt confident that it is safe, 4) it had assisted someone they knew, and 5) because their prescription medication wasn’t doing the job.
Chiropractors, also called doctors of chiropractic, have been aiding men and women suffering from back pain due to arthritis as well as other arthritic conditions for over a hundred years. Your San Diego chiropractor treats misaligned vertebra that, in addition to creating arthritic pain and degenerative changes in the spine, can weaken resistance and immunity, thereby causing new health challenges.
It is always smart to see a health care professional to talk about diet and exercise. Your chiropractor is a knowledgeable resource for information on the sort of lifestyle changes that you will require to aid you in managing your arthritis. By the same token, in addition to getting your spine in alignment through gentle adjustments, your chiropractor will analyze any faulty gait patterns or posture irregularities that may be compounding the pain you are experiencing.