Welcome to the Planning for Practice Success Newsletter

Practice Startup Success

Information Advice Encouragement

April 9, 2007                                                                           ISSN 1934-3248

QUOTE:    Again and again, the impossible problem is solved when we see that the problem is only a tough decision waiting to be made.     Robert Schuller

In this issue:

The Power of the Internet:  I’m writing an article on using the power of the Internet for practice marketing.  There are many examples out there.  Here’s one:  Ask your patients to record a testimonial for YouTube and use it on your web site, or in your e-newsletter.  Or take a laptop with you to a health fair and show these videos (you will need an Internet connection, of course).  Here is an example of testimonials for an acupuncturist:  http://wholisticblog.com/index.php/2007/03/20/long-term-benefits-of-acupuncture-testimonial/  Check out the testimonials on both pages.  Note that the testimonials aren’t very professional, but that’s what makes them so effective.  If you know of any effective chiropractic web sites, let me know.  Next issue I’ll let you know about a new service to help you put together a chiropractic web site. 

Three Chiropractors: three stories:  A common theme
To alleviate the suspense, the common theme for these three stories is employees.

Story One: Someone sent me an article from the Chicago Tribune (March 26) about a chiropractor in Chicago, Amanda Case, who has over $1 million in revenue!  Wow!  She has a staff of 17 workers.  She has had more than 500 people work for her since she started into practice in 1990 and twice she fired the whole staff.  Her suggestion is to “find that person who really deserves a great job and give it to that person.”  “Every employee is a key employee when you’re a small business owner,” stated Dr. Case.

The second story comes from a local chiropractor who spoke to my business class.  The first time he had to fire someone he was a wreck; it affected him emotionally and physically for over a month.  The biggest problem was that this woman was the wife of his best friend, and she had stolen over $10,000 from him.  He advises putting together an employment manual to save a lot of grief and potential lawsuits.  Read my article from Chiropractic Economics (http://chiroeco.com/article/2006/Issue11/PM3.php ) for more on hiring friends and relatives – bottom line is:  Don’t Do It.  

The third story came to me through a phone call from a grad who wanted me to put more information about hiring, training, firing employees in the curriculum.  She said she just had her first employee quit (before the person was fired), and the doctor said she wished she had learned more about this in school.  I definitely agree, but it is very difficult to teach this stuff to students who are not interested, since it’s not right in front of them.  My suggestion is to purchase Planning for Practice Success™, which includes two chapters on employee issues. 

For information on putting together a Practice Manual (employee policies and benefits, staff procedures), along with a template, check out The Practice Manual for only $29.95 (or you can get it as a bonus when you purchase Planning for Practice Success™. 

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Ask Dr. Jean Murray a question:

email her at jean@professionalpracticesuccess.com
 

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