Can We Be A Primary Wellness Provider?
Finally! For the past year we have been working with some of the brightest minds in the industry to develop an online wellness platform for the chiropractor in an effort to position chiropractic squarely on the wellness map as the “gatekeeper” and source for information on wellness.
Chiropractic and the Wellness Paradigm
For years we have watched as the chiropractor has struggled to position themselves in the wellness world. There is no doubt that the current healthcare trend is to move towards wellness and preventative measures. However, the chiropractor has struggled to find their place in this emerging environment.
At first we tried to position the monthly adjustment as a wellness concept. However, as the wellness industry continued to grow and develop our message was quickly diluted by the overwhelming amount of competition for a piece of the wellness pie.
Furthermore, our history and oftentimes-schizophrenic image in the public eye has hindered our ability to convince the public that a monthly adjustment is an important aspect to wellness care. It finally seems that our decision to become pain oriented in our approach and adopt a therapeutic paradigm has cost us dearly in the wellness arena.
Our next attempt at “wellness” was to attempt to maintain our chiropractic identity but wear “wellness” clothes. We created “wellness centers” by brining in nutritionists, massage therapists, acupuncturists, naturopaths, etc. into our offices. This was well received in some circles, but for many this did not change the fact that chiropractic was still not considered to be a part of the wellness paradigm, just simply another add-on struggling to move up the hierarchy of wellness care delivery.
Primary Wellness Care Provider
Rather than position ourselves as another tool in the wellness toolbox, chiropractors need to begin to look to becoming Primary Wellness Care Providers in the public’s eye. Medical doctors have a stronghold on the allopathic, therapeutic approach and are struggling to take a hold of the wellness paradigm as well. The good thing is that the public is not buying it!
So, as we enter into the turbulent world of national healthcare reform, we would like to suggest a shift in thinking on the part of the chiropractor. It is time for us to have a vision that goes beyond our current third-party payer system of symptom relief. Who will emerge as the wellness leader?
If we desire to be known as “Primary Wellness Care Providers”, we first must move beyond the idea of getting an adjustment a month as wellness. We all know that wellness encompasses so much more than a monthly adjustment. It is not correct to say that you can get adjusted once a month and then sit on the couch all day and eat potato chips and pretend to be well.
Next, we must assert our education and academic standing in order to provide clarity to our patients about the essential ingredients to living a healthy wellness lifestyle. We have the education to be able to diagnose and identify most healthcare issue and to recommend the appropriate interventions whether they are traditional medically based approaches or complimentary and alternative interventions.
This approach has been attempted by many chiropractors with some degree of success. However, we must also understand that making recommendations does not necessarily mean that we must also be the providers of their alternative interventions. We can learn a lot from the vertical healthcare model used by the allopathic providers. The General Practitioner serves as the Primary Healthcare Provider. This means that they diagnose the patient’s condition and make recommendations as to any additional care that may be indicated. They make the appropriate referral, but do not necessarily have to administer the care in order to maintain their level of respect and esteem in the patient’s eye.
So, how do we manage to position ourselves in the ever-growing wellness arena? At Kaizen Wellness we have developed a tool that will be instrumental in positioning the chiropractor at the forefront of the wellness revolution in the form of an interactive online wellness platform. This technology has been utilized successfully in the corporate world to deliver wellness concepts to employees and is now ready for use with chiropractic patients.
Some in our field have called this new technology the “Online Wellness Operating Platform” for the chiropractor. The system will allow you to manage all of your patient’s wellness needs through an online interface that virtually runs itself! The benefits to practice are many… you will see increased referrals, increased compliance and increased collections. These are the three essential metrics to creating a profitable chiropractic business. Therefore, the system will not only deliver better results for your patients’ health, but will also pay for itself as your practice grows.
Learn More?
Want to learn more about how we can help you become a “Primary Wellness Care Provider”? Join us this Thursday, for a live webinar at 9:00 EDT. To learn more and to register,
