Business
Show Notes When I sit down to think about the perfect Chiropractic office, these are the elements that come to mind. In a perfect world you would be 100% in all of these areas, for your practice to run smooth and successful. The reason most doctors haven't gotten these elements perfect is usually two-fold. First, the doctor doesn't realize what systems are critical or how to set them up and follow them. For example, some doctors don't know how to run reports, so they aren't doing it. The second reason is that the doctor is lazy and isn't making the office a priority. So, the doctor knows what needs to be done, but lets other things take their time and ignores the systems and principles of the practice. For those of you who have joined us in The Foundation, it's a great start for you because there you will learn the beginning elements of running a successful practice. We have a lot of what you need in there, but it's up to you to get the systems right and maintain them or train someone else to maintain them as your practice grows. Elements of a Successful Chiropractic Practice: Frictionless Systems - Everything in your office should run frictionless, especially from the patients perspective. So, when the patient calls to schedule - the phone is answered, their questions are answered, they schedule, they're given instructions, and all is smooth. Same for when the patient comes in for the appointment - the wait time is minimal, the exam and treatment are quick but thorough, and they're rescheduled for the next appointment. The inner workings of the office should be the same - insurance and patient billing; opening, closing, and cleaning procedures; notes and scanning; inventory; maintenance, etc. When you find points of friction, take note and make a plan to put a system in place to ease the friction. Keeping up with this practice will greatly reduce the stress you'll feel from being in practice and running a business! Organized - There are two reasons offices are disorganized. They start that way. Nothing gets put back where it goes. So, it's best to start organized from day 1! As you bring items into the office, give them a home. The less you bring into the office, the easier this will be. Keep buying to a minimum and eliminate items as they aren't needed. Clean - This should be obvious, but I have found with Associates and Independent Contractors that keeping the office clean isn't always a priority. The trash needs to be emptied regularly, face paper should be changed after a person gets off of the table, not right before they get on, the lobby should be pristine, the front desk should be clean and decluttered, your desk/bookcases, display cabinets should all be clean and free of clutter. Energy - I don't want to get too woo woo here, but your office needs to have an energy to it. It can be tailored to your tastes, but it needs to be attractive to your Ideal Patient Avatar. Thorough - Follow your systems and complete your tasks as they pertain to office procedures and patient care. Taking shortcuts, being lazy, and not following through are all reasons offices fail. Take notes, keep a log - do whatever it takes to follow through on the operations of your office. Goals - You need goals! what are you working towards this next year, in 3 years, in 5 years, and in 10 years. What is the vision you have for your practice, and what are the goals that will get you there? Setting goals, tracking numbers, and assessing where you're at will all take time outside of your busy practice hours. Take that time, so you can maintain the momentum of your growth. Plans - Once you have goals, you'll need plans. The plans will breakdown your goals into easy steps/events that can go on the calendar and serve as a roadmap for reaching your goals. Checks and Balances - As with any system, you'll need to have checks and balances to make sure it's all working properly. This is most important when it comes to the accounting, finances, and insurance billing of the practice. Core Values - Core values define what your practice stands for and how you'll achieve the vision you have for your practice. Your patients will pick-up on your values and that's how they'll describe your practice to the patients they refer to you. Clear Branding - There is power in building a brand for your practice. It should be clear, concise, and consistent, so that it builds raving fans for your service. A better brand will win, over a better price, with most patients! Low Overhead - This isn't for every practice type, but definitely should be something you consider from the beginning. Keeping overhead low, keeps more money in your pocket in order to cover operations for as long as you need as you get started. You will also start to see a profit sooner by keeping overhead lower. Mentor/Mastermind - It's best to have someone to run ideas by, get encouragement and recommendations from, and be held accountable by. Everyone who is ultra-successful has a coach, mentor, or mastermind that is helping them to reach their next goal. Social Media Presence - The future is social media. You need to have a presence on there, and so does your practice. Have a system for posting and be consistent with it, so you stay top of mind for past, present, and future patients! Like what you hear? Subscribe! If you’ve found any value or helpful information in the Chiro Business Mojo Podcast then we’d love to hear about it! Please head over to iTunes and subscribe. While you’re at it, leave us a rating (5 stars would be great) and a review so others can find us! 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