Hello I’m Dr. Frank Sovinsky and welcome toDC Mentors v-blog. For chiropractors, business as usual is dead and, in my opinion, good riddance. We are now free to move about this cabin of success in a whole other way. That means we’re not subjected to having to prove what we’re doing for a patient every time. We need to improve what we do with that patient and then improve their lives. We get to sit back and lose all of our entitlements and get back to the thing that made us amazing in the beginning which was to create value with every patient, to be value-able, to give them more in exchange than anybody else can. Giving them hope with a plan called Chiropractic, a way to restore and revitalize themselves so when I say the business of Chiropracticis dead, I mean the old way is dead. That means that you’re free to create a business that actually works for you and your patients not for some other entity. So don’t try to readjust to the old way, it will keep you in an old mindset and you will not make it. Chiropractic business as usual is dead. Give our website a peek, www.dcmentors.com, look at DC Mentors’ processes, look at the people, have conversations on DC Mentors’ forum. I think you’ll agree that it’s time for a new plan for you and we have it.
I want to share with you the idea of managing your practice. You know 25 years ago Michael Gerber introduced the idea of the E-Myth and revolutionized small businesses. Well today we have The E-Myth Chiropractor that I co-authored with Michael E. Gerber. The E-Myth Chiropractor says that most chiropractic practices don’t work but there is a solution.
I want to teach you something about the whirlwind of practice today. Sometimes you get caught in people, caught in time, you don’t have enough people or the right people, or the right time. Step back and you start to look at chiropractic businessas managing the work that needs to be done, managing the time. In other words, manage the clock because it’s very important. Time equals life to people.
Then you manage the space, the office space, the flow of the office. We think that small is the new big, meaning we want to keep your overhead under your feet. So don’t look at management as managing people but managing the processes, managing the things that you can actually grab ahold of and take this whirlwind and make it spin the direction you want it to and don’t be driven by it or let it spin you.
We want you to be compelled to make a great chiropractic business not be propelled down into the ground, not consumed by it.
I’m here with world famous author, Dr. Nathan Unruh. It’s an awesome book, “Building a Better You.” I read it already. And you say there’s going to be a new title for it and picture on it, but the 7 Pillars of Wellness. Is there a website our viewers can go to?
Dr. Unruh – Envive your life. enviveonline.com
Dr. Sovinsky – OK, cool. So, I want to carry on with the conversation we were having last time. That conversation is – we’re not dooming and glooming. What we’re saying is, “Have you considered that some things are coming down?” I think, on a break, someone was asking if the medical home will be a good thing or a bad thing, do we know?
Dr. Unruh – I don’t think we do and I think that if it does show up, do you want to risk the fact that it could be a bad thing?
Dr. Sovinsky – Can you afford not to pay attention?
Dr. Unruh – Right. If it is a bad thing, which it very well could be, is your business going to be viable?
Dr. Sovinsky – So if we’re not being politically correct right now, let’s just say you’re the expert, OK? Because asDr. Douglas Sea says what he’s an expert in is his own opinion. So in your own opinion, when you’re steering your practice right now, as you look at what you’re going to do with your business, what is your prediction? Is this a good thing for your business?
Dr. Unruh – I don’t think so. I’m not willing to take that risk with my business.
Dr. Sovinsky – That’s what it comes down to because I know you have to do the political things. And that’s why I’m saying, “Seriously, let’s talk.” That’s the thing when we’re with Chiropractors, and what’s this naked thing you were talking about it? Talking about the naked, what was that concept of just really being real?
Dr. Unruh – It comes from a book written by Patrick Lencioni called “Getting Naked” – awesome book. Being vulnerable. You can’t get anywhere in conversations or making new decisions if you’re not vulnerable where you currently are and where you also want to go. Not that you ever have all the right answers but you have to be vulnerable with what’s going on.
Dr. Sovinsky We just want you to take a break, not trying to use fear, but just say, “Wake up. See some things going on.” The getting naked part is in the book I penned a few years ago, “Life: The Manual, When the Pursuit of Happiness Makes You Miserable.” One of the things I had people do when they’re taking themselves so seriously is to stand in front of a full length mirror and do jumping jacks naked. In our profession we’re kind of in this cocoon of not thinking about the future, “I just have to go in there and pay the bills today.” It’s the mindset we describe in “The E-Myth Chiropractor” as one of the employee. “I’ve got to go in there and I just got to do it, do it, and do it all the time.” So your mindset now as a visionary is you’re cleaning up your business model because you see insurance companies and government cleaning up a healthcare delivery model. Any advice for this chiropractic profession?
Dr. Unruh – Your business model has to be able to survive no matter what the environment is from government to the third party reimbursement system, can your chiropractic businesssurvive without those?
Dr. Sovinsky – I just want to make sure viewers know what we mean when we talk about the word affordable healthcare. Is affordable to the patient the $15.00 adjustment for everybody, or the family plan where the people are getting the prepays or what do you see as that key piece of a viable chiropractic business model, what is the economic engine of a practice because if you don’t sustain the economic engine you don’t have a business to transform the society or your patients. What do you see when I say affordable?
Dr. Unruh – Affordable in that everybody can access it, not give it away, not come from the standpoint of a poverty complex or scarcity complex where you just have to give everything away. Affordable is a fair fee for great service that’s going to be delivered in such a way that you can serve more and more people.
Dr. Sovinsky – So let me say affordable to most because there are viewers saying, “But I see this one family of 6 and they don’t have a job. . .” I’m just saying affordable to most, profitable enough to you to sustain your vision, your mission and your purpose in your life. Would you buy that one?
Dr. Unruh – I would.
Dr. Sovinsky – OK, so you’re switching your model?
Dr. Unruh – Yes, I’m switching but I think by switching some things it’s going to make it stronger.
Our second night in San Jose del Cabo we went to check out a restaurant that was recommended to us by a friend. Since I’m the navigator I checked the directions online before we hopped into the rental car. I could hardly believe my eyes when I read the 7th step in the directions, “Turn left onto a dirt road at the cement plant.” Seriously!
Since I knew there was no way the driver would be comfortable with that if I sprang it on him real time, I requested that he review the map too before we left. Frank confirmed what I was seeing, we laughed and drove off to our dining adventure with my mom. It turns out there were a few more dirt roads and lots of potholes and, fortunately, a lot of signs pointing toward the restaurant and a charming little organic farm and restaurant at the end of it all. Dinner was outdoors, under the stars, at the edge of the garden with a jazz trio playing and it was delicious.
After dinner we hopped back in the car and headed out of their parking lot following the arrow that read, “Exit.” Past that sign, at the top of the dirt drive the signage ended. We didn’t know whether to turn right or left. It was dark now and everything looked different. Well, it didn’t look like anything, it was black. Since we are on dirt streets it’s not like there were a lot of street lights. There were plenty of signs showing us the way in, but none showing us a way out. I turned on the map on my phone. It still had the directions on it from our trip out. “We should turn right,” I deducted.
We drove a bit more and all three of us realized, dark or not, this was NOT the way we came in. I was following the map on my phone, but had neglected to remember that I did not use the phone map on the way there. It was different than the directions on the restaurant’s website, so I had used theirs, not the phones. Not to worry though, I had the phone map and directions and we could just keep following those. Onward we went.
We got to the point where the dirt was supposed to turn back into asphalt at the base of this new bridge. I felt a bit of relief when I saw the bridge. Being on a dirt road, at night, in a foreign country isn’t the most secure feeling in the world. All I could think of was the reports of shootings that we read about in the news at home and the people who would tell me how crazy I was for going to Mexico these days because of all the violence. Pretty much anything bad I’d ever heard about was going through my mind and I added some new things that I just made up compliments of my imagination.
We drove up to the bridge and passed under it looking for what should have been a ramp onto the pavement, according to the map on the phone. I don’t know if there used to be
a ramp there before the bridge was built or if some day they are planning to put a ramp there, but there was no ramp, just shrubs and dirt and the bridge overhead . . . and cows lying around! Hmmm, this wasn’t in the brochure. It sure as heck wasn’t on the map!
We had passed one car since we had left the restaurant. You could feel the uneasiness in the car, but no one said anything. I went to plan B on the map. Although I wasn’t positive it would be accurate, I thought it was worth a try. The other 2 thought we should go back to the restaurant and start over again, but I had the map and could see that IF it was accurate we could be back to a real road in 2 turns. So we tried my plan B. We were nearing the spot where the road should turn into pavement again when we passed a field with 4 or 5 pickups in it, with their lights on. Two of them turned onto the road behind us. What did they want? Our rental car had a warning light on since we’d picked it up that there was a tire with low air. “Oh please don’t get a flat now.” We have no idea where we’re going. Why are they following so close? What if we hit another dead end? What are they going to do to us?
Then the road took a really sharp right and left around this drainage pipe and we popped up into the main highway going right through the middle of town.
Laughter of relief. Although no one had said a negative word the entire time you could tell what the general consensus was, and it wasn’t positive and upbeat. We just knew we were lost and in danger. And now we were relieved that we back in civilization.
Two days later I drug everyone to the Mercado Organico, the local farmer’s market and guess what? We drove off the main highway, took a sharp right and then a sharp left around a drainage pipe. People were walking and jogging on this dirt road. There were other cars. In the daylight we could see the foliage and farmland and we pulled into this field, the exact same field we had passed with the pickups in it two nights prior, and we parked for the farmer’s market. The exact same field that we had imagined the most horrible, evil things happening was in reality, in the daylight, the field that housed arts and crafts and cooked creations and freshly harvested fruits and vegetables. This time we laughed at how completely wrong we were.
You need to prepare, you need a plan, a map. You have to know where you are now to get where you want to go.
When things don’t seem to be going as planned and your visions seems dark remember:
Don’t listen to the naysayers
Control your own inner voice
Keep your EQ (emotional intelligence) in check
Circumstances change, keep your map updated
Things always look better in the daylight
Without a doubt, the worst battles never fought take place in our heads! Stop it!
I’m continuing my conversation with Dr. Nathan Unruh because we have so many topics, you being an author, you being involved in leadership in your chiropractic association, I mean not just leadership as a word, you know, we’re all leaders and we’re all servants in our practices but you’ve taken it and kind of gone nuts with it because that’s how you think. You think on the level, “I’m here to serve, put me in coach.”
I think you have, not only from your physical stature, but from the stature of the things you’ve accomplished already in your career. You have a positioning point where you can look through the woods and you can say, “Here’s what I see coming,” and earlier you said you want to protect the chiropractic profession. On the topic of this home health thing, what do you want to teach us?
Dr. Unruh – Over the last few years we’ve been seeing a lot of things changing. Up to this point, in my chiropractic practice, we’ve been a heavy insurance based model, but we’re seeing deductibles are going up, the fees for services are being reimbursed lower or not being reimbursed at all. Patient visits are being limited. The insurance companies, they have to change their model because of what’s coming down the pipe from the Government.
Dr. Sovinsky – So, I’ve never heard anybody express that from the insurance company’s point of view because everybody usually thinks insurance is bad andchiropractic practice is good. So when you say insurance has to change their model you really got my attention. What do you mean?
Dr. Unruh – Well with the current environment, with what’s going on here in the United States, this idea about the “medical home” will dramatically affect who’s making the decisions, who’s making the decisions for the patient’s care, who’s also going to be paying it and how’s that money going to get disbursed?
Dr. Sovinsky – Back up just a second. I just hear people thinking, “OK, I got a medical home.” That’s a metaphor for an organization that’s going to be delivering healthcare. Is that how you would describe it? It’s not a home, people are not in the same physical proximity, correct?
Dr. Unruh – Correct. Within the “medical home” there are a number of people who are going to be invited to play within this “home.” They’re not going to be physically all in one area. It’s like a mini mall. Are you going to be involved in that or not? And I’m going to be the guy who’s going to decide whether or not you are. And right now we don’t know, as chiropractors, if we are going to be invited to that mini mall, if you will. So I think there’s some work to be done if we’re going to be included. But as I looked at that and I looked at the insurance companies and what’s being changed, the models changing, whether or not we like it. So versus having to make a decision in a state of duress I started looking around and tried to be strategic and that’s what brought me to DC Mentorsand looking at the model you guys teach. You coach and mentor chiropractorsto build their practices to be viable no matter what happens with insurance.
Dr. Sovinsky – Nice. In Michael Gerber’s book, “The Most Successful Small Businesses in the World,” one of the principles in there is that it’s our duty, as a small business owner and as a leader with stakeholders, to make our businesses viable in all economic environments. So the inside I hear today is protecting the chiropractic profession by saying to everybody, “Really, wake up.” This is not like scare tactics. I’ve never been about scaring anyone. We’ve been talking about this model, we teach this model because that’s how we practice(d). It’s the model of being viable, of being able to exist as a small business owner, sensitive to the reimbursement model, but not dependent upon it.
Dr. Unruh – And regarding the scare component, Chiropractors are scared. What’s going to happen to my practice?
Get a look at it with a bright light on it and be very optimistic. It could be a very good thing for our profession.
Dr. Sovinsky – I want to actually have you give me evidence as to why you think that. I know you’ve been thinking about it, but I’m going to carry that in another conversation.
I’m Dr. Frank Sovinskyand welcome to DC Mentors’V-blog. I’m here continuing my amazing dialogue with Dr. Nathan Unruh. I’ve already established that you’ve been around awhile, that you’ve been involved awhile, you’ve been in practice, you have three practices?
Dr. Unruh – Yes
Dr. Sovinsky – and how many chiropractic associates have you worked with over the years?
Dr. Unruh – probably 10
Dr. Sovinsky – So, if you were to describe the good, the bad and the really ugly, what has been your experience as the senior doctor providing an opportunity for an associate? What’s been really good about it?
Dr. Unruh – Being a part of their lives and being able to mentor them. Serving them, to watch them grow, seeing those people that have a thirst to be coached and they’re teachable but at the same time you learn so much more yourself from them.
Dr. Sovinsky - How do you know if a chiropractic associate is coachable?
Dr. Unruh – The statements of, “ I already know this,” don’t come out of their mouth on a regular basis. They’re willing to try, they’re willing to take that leap of faith with you and if it doesn’t work take a 90 degree turn and do it over again.
Dr. Sovinsky – When you do that it almost feels like your impacting Chiropractic at another level.
Dr. Unruh – Absolutely.
Dr. Sovinsky – The other piece of this would be, what is the thing that really gets in your craw when you hear this person’s not coachable? What the ugly piece of this?
Dr. Unruh – Unclear expectations as students, even myself early on. What is thisChiropractic profession, what’s it going to provide for me? I think so much of it becomes the “give it to me now” concept and they’re not willing to serve first. You know, the people that show up at the door and say I’m ready to serve and the first question out of their mouth is, How much do I get?”
Dr. Sovinsky – As a matter of fact, a whole chapter in “The E-Myth Chiropractor” says, “Why most chiropractic associateships don’t work and what to do about it.” We have had that experience, and you’re a live example, the unrealistic expectations and the first question is, “How much money do I make?”
Dr. Unruh – When I look back at my career as a Chiropractor the best lessons I’ve had is from people, like yourself, who have poured into me and served me to try to teach me how to serve more people and to get better at my trade. I think the advice I would give to brand new chiropractic graduate is don’t stop learning. Learn from who’s doing it, the money will come. It will manifest itself more than you will ever know but you have got to learn to do it and be and learn to be.
Hi, I’m Dr. Frank Sovinsky and welcome to another DC Mentors V-blog and we’re continuing our discussions at the Glass Lodge, the home of Liz an Dr. Douglas Seaand I’m here with Dr. Nathan Unruh.
Dr. Nathan Unruh is one of those new people in my life that I’m pretty psyched about meeting since Dr. Seastarted talking about your history and the things that you have accomplished in the profession. So, I just want to establish for our listeners why they should listen to you. I mean you’re semi good looking, you’re tall and I’m guessing a good athletic but your dad’s a Chiropractor?
Dr. Unruh – Yes, my dad’s a Chiropractor, he’s been a Chiropractor for over 40 years, my uncle’s a Chiropractor, 30 some years, my brother’s a Chiropractor and now I’ve been a Chiropractor for 12 years.
Dr. Sovinsky – And Sioux Falls, SD is where you practice. So earlier this morning I was talking about how, in my mindset, I wasn’t much involved in state politics. Tell me what you’re doing. And when we say politics I mean you take your passion and you actually take time away from your practice and your family to go and what are you doing in government? Why do you have to play in that realm?
Dr. Unruh – We’re so fortunate in the State of South Dakota to have a very close knit group of Chiropractors and we have a chiropractic association that gets things done by using our patients and our leverage there. It’s important to me that we continue to see the chiropractic profession stay strong and we have that opportunity. I’m in the State that you can actually get those things done from a legislative position. I wanted to be involved in it.
Dr. Sovinsky – I heard you say, “patients involved.” It’s not about our academics and our chiropractic research, it’s about what our patients are experiencing because it’s their profession too, in a way. They are giant stakeholders because when we, as Chiropractors, started to legislate and started to go to jail, we weren’t going to jail for ourselves so that we could make money. We were going to jail so that people had access to chiropractic. But when you say legislators, are you telling me that you sit and have coffee, like this, with a legislator or is this some kind of process you have to send these bills up and you never hear from somebody?
Dr. Unruh – It’s a process of doing all the above. We write letters, we get involved in their campaigns, we have legislative coffees where we tell them who we are and what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. We go to the State Capitol and meet with them, thank them for serving and then being able to protect our profession and giving them the tools to help to protect what we want to do for our patients.
Dr. Sovinsky – I hear the word protect. What was a fear, fear meaning it drove action and it drove you to do something? When you say protect what were you afraid of happening to the profession in South Dakota?
Dr. Unruh – Not being able to provide chiropractic services to our patients.
Dr. Sovinsky – Like what?
Dr. Unruh – Having somebody else dictate if a person can see us, how they can see us and how much it’s going to cost.
Dr. Sovinsky – People who don’t get involved in politics don’t really think that’s true and you’re saying you have to be vigilant. I’m not trying to be redundant or rhetorical here. I’m saying, you’re the kind of person that really watches the fort and makes sure someone is on point.
Dr. Unruh – If I don’t protect it, who’s going to?
Dr. S – Wow. Thank you.
South Dakota Chiropractic Association
http://www.sdchiropractors.com/
South Dakota Chiropractors Association has been around since 1921 before D.D. Palmer discovered chiropractic in 1895. Chiropractic has become the second largest health care profession in the U.S. SDCA’s goal is to inform and educate others in the state about chiropractic and how it relates to their health. People can search for a local South Dakota chiropractor and learn more about what chiropractic health is. If you become a member of the SDCA, you get to attend the education program that is offerend twice a year and get informed on the latest local, state, and regional chiropractic happenings. The SDCA has been the leaders in promoting chiropractic and looking out for the rights of all chiropractors since the 1920′s.
The American Chiropractic Association
http://www.acatoday.org/
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is the largest association of chiropractic doctors in the world. Based in Virginia, the association provides a variety of resources for the development of chiropractic practice, from educational opportunities for chiropractors to providing funding for research. The association is actively engaged with public policy that affects chiropractors and their right to practice. The ACA sustains high standards of ethical practice and high quality patient care, and devotes all efforts to the preservation, protection, and improvement of chiropractic practice. The ACA is committed to informing the American public about the many whole body benefits of chiropractic with a goal to transform American health care.
Florida Chiropractic Association
http://www.fcachiro.org/
Founded in 1931, the Florida Chiropractic Association was created to offer both protection and nourishment to the state’s chiropractors. It is currently the largest state chiropractic association in the country with many legislative victories to name as accomplishments. The association continues to devote efforts to protecting the legal right of chiropractic doctors to practice based on their educational credibility, and state licensing or certification. The association is committed to informing and educating the public about chiropractic as a unique healing arts science.
International Chiropractors Association
http://www.chiropractic.org/
For over 80 years, the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) has served chiropractic members worldwide. Founded in 1926, it is the oldest international chiropractic association in existence. The organization aims to be a leader in licensure establishment. It is committed to the education, development, research, and political and social action that will nurture the chiropractic profession. The ICA collaborates with other health care organizations and governments in the implementation of chiropractic care in family and occupational health programs. The association’s objective is to achieve the full inclusion of chiropractic in all of health care while protecting the profession’s distinction as a unique, drugless, and surgical-free healthcare option.
The Chiropractic Association of Louisiana
http://www.cal-online.org/
Based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Chiropractic Association of Louisiana (CAL) is committed to legal action for chiropractic and representing its members’ interests before legislative bodies. The organization also works to improve patients’ access to chiropractic services. CAL is devoted to the advancement of chiropractic and maintains a continuing education program for its members. For students of chiropractic who are enrolled in a chiropractic college, CAL offers assistance through a scholarship program. The association remains regularly involved with other chiropractic associations and groups and is a sponsor and contributor of several progressive chiropractic initiatives.
California Chiropractic Association
http://www.calchiro.org/
The California Chiropractic Association (CCA) is committed to encouraging and maintaining high standards of professionalism and patient care in chiropractic practice across the state of California. Based in Sacramento, the association provides its members with representation before the government and is committed to keeping members up to date with news and policy changes. The CCA encourages continuing education for chiropractic doctors while building advocacy for the profession. CCA seeks to increase public awareness about the benefits of chiropractic. Members enjoy access to a variety of seminars and conventions, resources, opportunities and information that help them to improve their practice and skills.
Texas Chiropractic Association
http://www.chirotexas.org/
Established in 1916, the Texas Chiropractic Association (TCA) is a strong association that offers services and benefits to the chiropractic profession, its due-paying members and to the general Texan public. The TCA is dedicated to the growth of the profession and the advancement of Texan chiropractors. It sponsors a variety of continuing education seminars and chiropractic students in Texas are automatically considered “student members” of the organization. Committed to positive pro-chiropractic change, the TCA fights legislature that threatens chiropractors’ practices and works towards improvement in insurance coverage and benefits. The TCA publishes the Texas Journal of Chiropractic.
Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association
http://www.pennchiro.org/
The Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association (PCA) is dedicated to defending chiropractic as a healthcare option that is viable, healthy, and effective. It takes the challenging task of tackling discriminatory practices amongst traditional healthcare providers. PCA has legal representatives and lobbyists to navigate legal issues affecting the profession, and advocates for health insurance coverage and fair reimbursements for services. Members have access to an insurance hotline where they can reach an Insurance Committee member with their individual questions. Committed to advancing the interests of all chiropractors regardless of their philosophies, clinical skills, or practice styles, the PCA supports a variety of respected continuing education programs.
North Carolina Chiropractic Association
http://www.ncchiropractic.com/
The North Carolina Chiropractic Association (NCCA), based in Asheville, is the only statewide association for North Carolina chiropractors. The NCCA represents chiropractors in regulatory, legislative, insurance, and public issues and maintains programs that offer support in these areas. The association also offers quality continuing education opportunities for chiropractors to continuously enhance and add to their training. The association has its own Acupuncture Council that maintains acupuncture certification standards and provides continuing education for its NC chiropractors. The NCCA also has a Chiropractic Pediatric Council division devoted to information and education regarding the practice of pediatric chiropractic including maternity care.
Colorado Chiropractic Association
http://www.coloradochiropractic.org/
Founded more than 80 years ago, the Colorado Chiropractic Association (CCA) continues to lobby for the rights of chiropractors and their patients. The association’s legislative teams keep its members abreast of bills being passed and changes being made to public policy. Devoted to the growth of its members, the association sponsors continuing education programs on a variety of topics including an online continuing education center. Amongst other features, chiropractic doctors who join the association will have access to an insurance committee, an online discussion group, and an on-line library of free tools to enhance their practices.
Illinois Chiropractic Society
http://www.ilchiro.org/
The Illinois Chiropractic Society (ICS) was founded in 1926. Since then it has legally represented the interests of chiropractors all over Illinois. The society was acknowledged in the Illinois Medical Practice Act of 1987 as a credible body to approve Category I Continuing Medical Education for chiropractors in Illinois. In addition to education, the society is devoted to advancing the chiropractic practice in Illinois through training, a high standard of ethics and high quality health care. ICS serves the rights of patients who are interested in chiropractic care, and also serves the integrity of the profession and chiropractic community.
Washington State Chiropractic Association
http://www.chirohealth.org/
The Washington State Chiropractic Association (WSCA) is a rich source of information and resources for the community of chiropractic physicians in Washington State. Established in 1991, WSCA engages with industry and policy issues of the profession and actively lobbies for the recognition and inclusion of chiropractic in the Washington health care system. The WSCA sponsors continuing education for professional development and hosts a variety of learning events. The association also has an online learning program with courses tailored by the New York Chiropractic College. A Sports Council division is devoted to chiropractic in the realm of sports and raises awareness of chiropractic benefits to athletes.
The Unified Virginia Chiropractic Association
http://www.virginiachiropractic.org/
In 2009, the Virginia Chiropractic Association (VCA) and the Virginia Society of Chiropractic (VSC) merged to become the Unified Virginia Chiropractic Association. Committed to achieving fair and equal access to chiropractic care, the Unified VCA is devoted to the health of the public. The association has a legislative committee that brings the concerns of chiropractic before the legislature. The association has an acupuncture committee for chiropractors that utilize acupuncture as one of their healing modalities. The association, interested in the advancement of chiropractic, offers help and expertise with coding, documentation, Medicare, insurance, legislative issues, financial and accounting issues and more.
Tennessee Chiropractic Association
http://www.tnchiro.com/
The Tennessee Chiropractic Association is a dynamic organization committed to equal recognition and participation for chiropractic in health care and insurance. Devoted to supporting Tennessee’s chiropractors in holistic healthcare, the association offers chiropractors the resources, support, advice, and leadership they need to reach excellence in their profession. Founded in March 1935 the organization’s scope and goals has transformed over the years from maintaining standards in education and professional competency to helping chiropractors offer the best quality healthcare in Tennessee. The association is engaged with activities that seek group collaboration, the increase of public awareness and productive government relations.
Maryland Chiropractic Association
http://www.marylandchiro.com/
By educating and informing the public, the Maryland Chiropractic Association (MCA) promotes chiropractic care as a high-quality healthcare option. Founded in 1928 the MCA is devoted to the best quality techniques and procedures of chiropractic. It supports continued training and education for its members. MCA’s chiropractors are, in fact, distinguished in their knowledge of chiropractic procedures. The association acts as a liason for its members with state and federal agencies and other chiropractic associations. It offers Medicare and Medicaid information resources and has a by-monthly newsletter. The association provides a Chiropractic Assistant certification program for new assistants and has a Sports Council Committee.
Massachusetts Chiropractic Society
http://www.masschiro.org/
The Massachusetts Chiropractic Society (MCS) focuses on maintaining professional education, ethics, and competency within the chiropractic profession. Devoted to helping chiropractors deliver the best healthcare, the MCS would like to see every Massachusetts citizen granted full access to chiropractic. The society maintains governmental relations and works to affect legislation and insurance policies. With the interest of disseminating information and news having to do with the profession, and providing MA chiropractors with the help they need, the society has local regional societies. Every MA chiropractor can get support with insurance issues, patient education, healthcare philosophy, billing, or the development of a successful practice.
Minnesota Chiropractic Association
http://www.mnchiro.com/
The Minnesota Chiropractic Association (MCA) works with several organizations to gather the latest research on chiropractic. With the aim of increasing awareness about the benefits of the profession and helping Minnesota chiropractors achieve their highest level of proficiency, the MCA provides important news and information relating to chiropractic. An MCA Journal also keeps members informed. A professional lobbyist works on behalf of the group and the entire chiropractic profession. MCA doctor members receive helpful consultation for their practice. There is also help for Chiropractic Assistants.
Ohio State Chiropractic Association
http://www.oscachiro.org/
The Ohio State Chiropractic Association (OSCA) advocates chiropractic as the preferred choice for health care needs in spinal care, neuromuscular care, or nervous system treatment. The association maintains high standards of ethics and chiropractic unity, and encourages collaboration amongst doctors and with other health care individuals and groups. Members take advantage of continuing education opportunities, one-on-one guidance for their practices, discounts on services and products from company members, and leadership and staff training.
Michigan Association of Chiropractors
http://www.chiromi.com/
Committed to supporting the vibrant community of Michigan chiropractors, the Michigan Association of Chiropractors (MAC) offers its members help with legal, legislative, and insurance concerns. Members are also kept up to date on changes in insurance codes, legislative updates, and billing procedures. Members are encouraged to continue their training with continuing education programs, seminars, and conventions. New doctors are supported with specialized programs and an assistance network. The MAC Journal, Sports Programs, and elite clubs are other features of the association. The organization is devoted to providing research and information to the public.
North Dakota Chiropractic Association
http://www.ndca.net/
Working with legislators and regulatory bodies to represent the chiropractic community, the North Dakota Chiropractic Association (NDCA) serves its members by lobbying chiropractic legislative concerns and maintaining vital public relations. Members also gain opportunities to expand their skills and practices by taking advantage of sponsored education programs and events the association has to offer. The association is dedicated to informing and educating North Dakotans about the benefits, methods, philosophies, and techniques of chiropractic. With increased awareness of chiropractic, the public will gain access to a science that promotes the well-being of the entire family.
I’m Dr. Frank Sovinskyand welcome to another DC Mentors’V-blog. In this episode I want to follow up on this idea of occupying Main Street. I want to step back for a moment and talk about the organization of a chiropractic business. Most Chiropractors still don’t see themselves as small business owners and that’s why we wrote the book, “The E-Myth Chiropractor, Why Most Chiropractic Practices Don’t Work and What To Do About It.”
As we look at the chiropractic profession we see 3 different models.
The first model is no business. All the chiropractor might have is someone who becomes an office manager to do the things that the chiropractor doesn’t want to do. So we’re business owners but not business OWNERS. We don’t have ownership and passion about creating the noble profession of business and merging it with the noble profession of Chiropractic. When that becomes the synergy, things happen.
So there’s no organization, no business and then there’s the corporate mindset that a Chiropractic office is actually a corporation, a big business. Yes, we have LLC’s and s-Corps and we do that for tax purposes but really, when you look at the essence of the definition of a Chiropractic office, it’s a small business with huge potential and big vision. When we organize our mind around thinking like corporate America speaks and thinks we end up having a P.R. person and marketing person and an office manager and personal assistant when in reality it’s a two staff office with one chiropractor. It’s a little bit of overkill.
See that this is a small business and when you lose the corporate mentality and the corporate concepts about growth and expansion then you can really be liberated from your chiropractic business. You can really occupy Main Street next to the jeweler, next to the Optometrist, next to the Orthopedist, next to the bookseller and you represent the best small business in that entire community because the impact you have on everybody that comes in blending the two noble professions, small business owner and Chiropractic. When you do that people will listen.
I’m Dr. Frank Sovinsky and welcome to DC MentorsV-blog. Have you hear or read about the thing called occupy what Wall Street? I had a little spin in my head the other morning when I woke up and I thought, “What if we, as a Chiropractic profession, started to actually occupy Main Street?”
Here’s what we have to do as Chiropractors. We are social reformers. We wake up in the morning, read the paper, read about another immunization study, and read another autism story, read another study on back pain andChiropractic and we go, “Look, it’s really simple. Why don’t you give us a chance?” So we can walk around with little plaques or we can beat our chest, we can saber rattle all we want but nothing’s going to happen until we occupy Main Street. What I mean by that is you have to be more successful. What you do is already incredibly transformational, you’ve got to scale that. Scale means grow it, that means you need to see more people in order to make an impact on Main Street. People will listen to success. They hear noise of mediocrity, but they listen to success. What I’m saying to you, is that you have to get your game together. You have to get your chiropractic businessstrong. You have to create a cultural authority on Main Street and people will listen to your message.
