We all talk constantly about making a connection with the patient with each visit and ideally in a timely fashion because I think we all agree that time is not a factor when it come to connecting. On etrick I use for myself when I catch myself wandering or out of focus is I use the patient's name a time or two with the Isolation Test commands so instead of just sounding like a broken record and blasting through the tests I will say with a hint of fluctuation in tone "Ed, can you turn your head right." It breaks up the monotony of the tests and everyone likes to hear their name. It is sincere but also purposeful. If I find a patient is getting very routine in their adjustment I will also occasionally throw in a random test that is just a shot in the dark. Takes seconds and often I will hear comments like "that's a new one". To which I will respond something along the lines of, "There are alot of tricks in the bag and I was just exploring to make sure we are covering everything." I think these little things help keep the relationship fresh. I would love to hear about any little things you all do as well to help make a connection albeit in a brief manner.
Connecting with Patients
(11 posts) (5 voices)-
Posted 8 months ago #
-
Great topic Dr. Perron. I have been finding that communicating what I am seeing that day on that patient, and relaying to them how this relates to how they are doing, keeps the 'monotony' at bay. It forces me to stay curious with them. Usually if a new test or check is required it means something has changed (maybe for the good or the bad) and realaying that to the patient in a simple, clean, and fresh manner opens the door for a great connection. The trick for me is trying to do all of this and adjust them in a reasonable amount of time. Focus number one for me right now!
Posted 8 months ago # -
That is where simply using their name is so easy. It takes no extra time and keeps me more "present" as well as them getting to hear it. WIN WIN. As far as an extra test. That is rare that I will do that just for no apparent reason other than to do it. But when I have a patient that is staying well and say comes in once a month and is basically asymptomatic the majority of the time I will just throw in one isolation test like in the wrist for Carpal Tunnel or something like that. Odds are fair that there might be something there but when they ask "what was that with the wrist?" I can say very quickly "that is a check for carpal tunnel syndrome" that usually will gets them "aroused" and they might say "do I have it, I don't feel anything" and if they did not then I say "no but it is something that is good to keep track of because once you feel it it is usually pretty innflammed by then and this is an easy way to make sure you don't get it because it is very avoidable with what we do" and if they did I say "yes but not to worry because this is a very easy way to manage it and we will keep track to make sure that it remains more of a technicality than a noticeable problem, I see it all the time and that is why I wanted to check it on you today." I will also get comments like "I did not know you could check wrists too." Which opens the door to tell them that "thankfully they have not had needs in other areas but that we treat shoulders, knees, ankles, wrists, etc. all day long." Opens up to increased referral pool because know they jsut learned that my scope is alot broader than they previously thought. Very quick stuff. I think adjusting times will always be a needed focus. It has been at the top of my list also recently and I just got this weeks times in from my staff and i am not where I want to be but it was nice to see that every day averaged about the same and they were about 30-40% better than in the recent past. Just keep chipping away. I finally REALLY got the high-er volume recently. Purposeful constant imporvement is all we can ask of ourselves. Better everyday is my new goal but I have some clear steps each day as to how to ensure that as opposed to "better everyday" being the actual goal without any action steps to accomplish that. Along the lines of what we were talking about on the POD this week.
What are some of the steps you are taking to improve your times, Dr. Swystun? And anyone else.
BTW the way for the sake of keeping things concise the areas in quotes above are literally what I would typically say and not elaborate further. But if it is on someone that I just cruised through anyway because they have so little going on then that extra couple of seconds once in a while I feel is fine for the sake of making that "connection" or highlighting reasons for being adjusted regularly but very indirectly.
Posted 8 months ago # -
Just a quick hit on this while I have a second. Chris, how many times do you find a positive on that "random" test? I have a suspicion that they come from flashes of intuition. I think at times we all could use to trust our gut a little more.
Posted 8 months ago # -
Ah, Dr. Davis. How many audiobooks have you listened to already. Great thought. I do get a bite quite often otherwise I would not have kept doing it because I can't stomach things that have NO substance. It is a little game that Dr. Frank has also told me to play but the trap is to go fishing too often or too much then it just becomes a pure waste of everyone's time. I like the carpal tunnel test because it is an easy chat point for all the IT folks around here. I use other things for the mom's, can't think of it off the top of my head. But there is always some basis for the "random" test so maybe it is not so random afterall. Good catch Dr. Davis!
Posted 8 months ago # -
I wonder if Chris knows that some smart hacker has usurped his forum name! Or maybe it is just Karen giving her tuppence worth! Regardless though some great tips! I love the idea of subtly introducing other intuitive ideas/areas! One other thing I have also started doing more of, having being reminded to by Dr T, particularly if I felt I was not present is getting my CA to go over exercises or posture or nutrition or what have you. Something very specific that I consider relevant that day! It certainly helps me get back on focus and keeps a certain energy about the place!
Now a couple of weeks ago I mentioned my struggle with carrying the patients rather than caring for them and being responsible for them rather than to them! Now I don’t know whether any of you struggle likewise but you may be interested to hear the advice that I was given by Dr Sea following a brutal if very honest beating! A couple of things I really came away with was that our strengths can actually be our greatest weaknesses! In other words when we become overextended our strengths actually become a major hindrance! So first be aware of our strengths! The second thing was my need to be right! I must develop the skill of realising that other people have their own ideas and will make their own decisions – I cannot control that element! All I can do is focus on my half of the relationship and ask myself repeatedly when I feel my rat brain kicking in whether it is a battle worth fighting! It is strange but it sounds so obvious when I read through it but I tell you the actual realisation is so refreshing!
By the way I now don’t feel left out and I can give out about the snow – albeit not 10 feet of it, just a mere 6 inches but enough to leave me stranded in the UK for 24 hours! Cork airport was closed for 36 hours because of snow!! That may seem hard for you guys to imagine but we just cannot cope with a little flurry! I was sat on the plane beside some Canadians when we finally got on a plane 24 hours later albeit to a different airport and they were literally dumbfounded at the whole situation. They couldn’t believe the hassle!
Posted 8 months ago # -
I like that tip of using the tech's more since it is one the major installations into my new habits I have been implementing recently. It also helps to improve my adjustment times quite a bit by handing the patients off to a tech to get some good info, so everyone wins. Thanks for that Ed. Could you elaborate on the greatest strengths can be your weaknesses though. Maybe use an example of one of yours. Since you hide them so well. :)
Posted 8 months ago # -
Ed, I hear you on the whole responsible for them thing. This is something that was brought to my attention with my times as well. Dr.Perron asked what I was working on with regards to times, and this is definitely one thing. Feeling responsible for every little thing going on with the person, and then micro managing with a bunch of tests. If I read things correctly, I think that when you say our strengths can be our biggest weaknesses you may mean that because we care so much, sometimes it puts the burden of responsibility for the patient onto our shoulders. For me, learning to be more responsible to the patient by addressing major subluxations, letting go and letting innate take over is a major thing I am working on. I am fairly new to Activator and having all these tests and adjustments at my disposal is kinda like being a kid in a candy store, and I have been getting way too wired on too much candy.
Posted 8 months ago # -
One good example of this that Dr Sea used was if someone was a good listener! On the surface that is a great attribute to have however when over extended so if you become slightly over confident or tired or cocky it can lead you to make assumptions, in other words you start predicting what the patient is going to say; so you interrupt them, finish their sentences etc etc!
Now for me I suppose what I consider to be one my greatest strengths is my “caring side”, which in a caring profession such as ours is a good attribute! I have very high social, and with I, S and C above the line I am a supporting relater – yes I can adapt but it tends to cause me, as Dr Thackeray pointed out when I did Core style, to be more concerned about pleasing everyone else bar me! So when I come under pressure such as a patient questioning my recommendations I take it as a personal insult and that leads me to depreciate myself needlessly. In other words the practise becomes an emotional roller coaster with me almost needing validation and improvement from each and every patient! That is obviously incredibly tiring and a major road block! Yet when I first switched techniques and was building my systems I did not have any mental ram to think about these nuances and so the practice exploded, the growth in those 2 years was incredible. But then sadly the systems were all done and my technique became pretty proficient and suddenly I found myself with time on my hands to start reacting to patients rather than just saying next!
By the way I hope this makes sense and is of some value. Hope fully Dr Sea may correct or elaborate on any of the points! So what I need to do is develop a strategy to stop my rat brain kicking in and so I must repeatedly ask myself whether “arguing” or “justifying” my recommendations or whatever the issue is; is actually worth it! Is this a battle I need to fight? And by continually asking myself I have a choice to let my rat brain continue to wreak havoc or simply by asking myself a question I can revert back into the executive brain! And that is where this need to be right ties in, is it that important that I must correct them or chastise them. So for 2010 that is my focus and my day to day mini goals is targeting the development of that skill!
So in response to your question Dr Swystun absolutely the tendency to do every conceivable test becomes a real problem! Just ask Cathy about when they came to visit my clinic! She practically fell asleep as I tried test after test after test on not just one patient but several! My excuse was they were “challenging” cases!! So my mini goals are now targetting that area and so I am trying to restrict the amount of adjustments I do! In a previous post I described how Dr Frank describes extremities as mere appendages hanging off the skeleton, so our focus should be more on the spine because of the obvious neurological ramifications! So I try to only look for one or two major positive isolation or stress tests with the extremity area but concentrate on the relevant spinal areas! I think it was Dr Gary McLeod who said you have got to leave something to innate!
One other thing that Dr Thackeray mentioned recently was to use the sEMG and thermo scans more to help interpret how the body was adapting to lifes stresses and strains! In other words use the scans to identify the possible primary subluxations by looking for recurring patterns on the thermo scans and focus on that specific area with only a cursory look elsewhere! Cheers all
Posted 8 months ago # -
I think even the most proficient DC's can get caught up in checking to many things. Ed you mentioned almost putting Cathy to sleep checking so many spots, I am sure there are times where we almost put ourselves to sleep while on cruise control and over testing our patients. At times I think adjusting should be like golf, the least strokes (or adjustments) the better, and let the body take care of the rest.
Posted 8 months ago # -
Ed, I think you explained your point very well. Thank you for obliging. So one could argue that not having strengths could be beneficial that way. Don't think just do.
Actually, I complete relate to the extra busy intial 1-2 years in this process where some major changes were done and I felt like I was flying by the seat of my pants and you are absolutely right that in just trying to keep up it did not allow the time to listen to the background chatter. But as it has been expressed to me, as I am sure you, this is where it is at. The time where the real focus and effort decides how much of the challenge do we desire to take on and then therefore to level do we truly want to grow our practices. It is definitely a to each there own but I get it. And your input always helps me. Thank you.
Posted 8 months ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.