ChiroTouch Blog

by Dr. Marc Gottlieb

As a chiropractor in solo practice for 12 years and a chiropractic coach and mentor, I have practiced and taught many people to incorporate the question of the day in their office. One of the greatest struggles for practicing chiropractors is their table talk. Once you incorporate the question of the day, it changes everything. You become more focused, the conversation in your office becomes streamlined and on purpose, your TEAM is engaged in the topic of health, and your practice members feel that you really care about their well-being and progress as a human being.

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Tags: focus, health, healthcare, teamwork, well-being

by Garrett B. Gunderson

Here's the truth. Docs want people to STAY in treatment, PAY for services, and REFER new clients.  However, people refer others just like themselves, and if you are getting referrals from the ‘wrong’ clients, it can hurt your clinic more than you know.

What do I mean?

I'm talking about those people that make you cringe when you see them on the schedule.  Those "Energy Vampires" that suck the life out of you and leave you in a state where you're not as good a doc for everyone else that you serve.

The best thing you can do to increase production is to "fire" the patients that drain your energy and keep you from being at your best.  This doesn't mean being mean or insensitive; it means referring them elsewhere.

When you do this, you free up time for more of the 'right' people to enter your clinic, and you'll be a better doc for all of the other people you serve on a daily basis.  This leads to more time working with those you love to serve, a better version of you in every area of your life, and a higher number in your bottom line.

For more information on Garrett B. Gunderson, and to gain access to a complimentary Financial Health Assessment online, go to FreedomFastTrack.com/cfw.

Tags: money tip

by Garrett B. Gunderson

Part II of overcoming misconceptions, identifying blind spots, and successfully navigating the current political climate.

In part I of this article, Andrew Howell addressed the misconception that estate planning is only a tool for the ultra-wealthy. Then Mr. Howell addressed the procrastination factor around this issue. I have heard him remark on many occasions that “estate tax is only a tax on those who didn’t prepare properly.”

I recently interviewed Andrew on this topic, and we committed to keep our conversation entertaining, understandable, and informative. Stay tuned to see how you can access that interview and go into even more depth on this topic. For now, here are some of the most important things for you to know.

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Tags: estate planning, finances

by Garrett B. Gunderson

Overcome Misconceptions, Identify Blind Spots & Successfully Navigate the Current Political Climate

Andrew L. Howell, Esquire, with Garrett B. Gunderson

For years, I have encountered people that mistakenly think they don’t need an estate plan—or they have something they call an estate plan, but it is incomplete at best. Most important is consideration for a transfer of values, vision, and contribution through a statement of purpose, incentive-based trusts, or other perpetual strategies to take into consideration with one’s legacy.

In this two-part series, I have asked Andrew Howell, an Estate and Business Planning attorney, to address common misconceptions about estate planning, common blind spots that people have with this planning, and how the current political factors are impacting these decisions. Andrew really has a depth of expertise and the most passion around this work over any other person I have met. Let’s begin with the misconceptions.

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by boomsocial

Working in a chiropractic office that has plenty of energy and enthusiastic employees who enjoy coming to work each day is the ideal situation, but keeping the atmosphere pleasant and your staff motivated can be a difficult task. In any size chiropractic office there are the inevitable ups and downs of day-to-day operations, but if you treat your employees with respect and give them incentives for their performance, your staff will not only look forward to their work each day, they’ll be with you years from now as well. Here are some quick,  easy to implement motivational tools that you can customize for your chiropractic office:

• Acknowledge individual and team contributions regularly. Whether you post something on the bulletin board, print a few sentences in the office newsletter or hang a picture of the Employee of the Month, you’ll see results in the way your staff invests in your practice.After all, everyone appreciates a bit of recognition for their hard work. Consider tying the title to a perk such as a longer lunch hour or the best parking space to make it even more enjoyable.

• Offer your staff periodic, free chiropractic adjustments so that they are comfortable and healthy. As a bonus, they will be able to vouch for the amazing difference chiropractic treatments can have on the health and well-being of an individual.

• Offer perks such as time-sharing or flexible scheduling to accommodate individual schedules and commitments. Flextime at work is one of the most sought after benefits for today’s busy families.

• Create a fun and rewarding incentive program that won’t be a burden. Requiring your staff to meet a quota every month isn’t inspiring, but receiving a gift card for dinner out or a paid day off when they bring in five new patients can inspire your staff to put a little extra into every day in the office.

• Provide them with tools that will make them more efficient while taking some of the burden of paperwork off of their shoulders with automated appointment reminders, online intake forms, and other hands-free processes.

• Offer to pay for part or all of the fees for additional training that individuals can put to good use in your chiropractic office. Helping them get a leg up the ladder is a great way to ensure employee loyalty that also helps your office become the best that it can be.

To learn how ChiroTouch can boost morale by getting rid of paperwork headaches, visit our website for a free ChiroTouch software demo.

Image credit: <a href='http://www.123rf.com/photo_12557898_employee-of-the-month-trophy.html'>koya79 / 123RF Stock Photo</a>

Tags: free ChiroTouch software demo, Motivating Chiropractors and Staff

by boomsocial

Improving the efficiency of your chiropractic office is in the best interest of your practice, your staff and your patients and can increase your profits. It can be difficult, however, to know where to start when you have a full load of patients and multiple people on staff. We’ve put together a few helpful tips that can get the ball rolling.

Improve Patient Traffic Flow With A New Floor Plan

Whether you’re renting your office space or own the building, your original floor plan may no longer work for your current clientele or staff. Evaluate the traffic flow in the reception area, back office area and treatment rooms. Do patients tend to bottle-neck at reception because your staff uses the same space for checking in, collecting payments and scheduling new appointments? Perhaps you can increase this area and include separate, designated areas for each function. Do you frequently have a back-up in the reception room but plenty of storage space that’s going to waste? Consider converting some of the unused storage area into another treatment room.

Automatic Reminders Mean Fewer No-Shows

While reminder calls seem time-consuming, the reality is that they are a great way to minimize no-shows. Every time a patient doesn’t show up, a chiropractor has empty time that could have been filled with another patient. Staff members also have to follow up to see why the patient missed the appointment and the patient file has to be updated, resulting in additional wasted time.  An automated reminder program can help patients stay on track by sending out text and e-mail alerts, leaving your office staff free to attend to the patients currently in the office.

Weekly Troubleshooting Meetings

Start each troubleshooting session with an open question about any problems your staff has had during the week, then brainstorm possible solutions. Asking your employees for input regarding problems that crop up can be a great morale builder as well as a way to gain a fresh perspective. If you prevent small problems early on, they don't have the opportunity to escalate.

EHR Software

EHR software can tame the paper dragon and keep everything from billing to scheduling seamlessly integrated so that you waste less time updating files, and more time concentrating on your patients. Self check-in stations like CTSign-In can allow  patients to manage their own check-ins and keep the office flow running smoothly.

Allow Prep Time Each Morning before Patients Arrive

Don’t overwhelm your employees with an immediate load of patients when they walk through the door. Building fifteen minutes to a half-hour into the morning routine before the first appointment arrives allows everyone get their bearings, plan their day and mentally prepare themselves for incoming patients.

Improved efficiency is usually the by-product of a simplified process and the results can be impressive with just a few changes.

To learn more about simplifying your office management with ChiroTouch’s SOAP notes software and mobile solutions, visit our website.

Image credit: <a href='http://www.123rf.com/photo_9249215_old-fashioned-clock.html'>arisanjaya / 123RF Stock Photo</a>  

Tags: Chiropractic Office Efficiency, chiropractic software

by boomsocial

Even the best chiropractic management software can sometimes leave you confused or unsure due to an unforeseen problem or unexpected circumstances. When you have a question about your ChiroTouch management software, our specially trained service representatives are standing by to assist you.

Fully Trained, Experienced Representatives Know the Industry as Well as the Software

We know that every question you have is an opportunity for us to show you more ways that our chiropractic management software can make managing your office or clinic not only easier, but also more profitable. We also understand how important it is to talk to someone who understands the language of a chiropractor's practice. When you contact our customer service and support team, you won't have to explain what a SOAP note is before someone can answer your questions.

A Single Point of Contact Means Consistent Support

Every one of our customers is assigned a personal account manager or personal liaison who will be available any time you have a question or concern. He or she will become an active partner in ensuring that you are getting the most from your software. Your account manager will take the time to get to know your practice and offer you any support you need as you learn how our system works and explore what it has to offer your practice.

Ask About Our Training Programs

Learning the ropes of a new chiropractic management software package can be daunting, but our customer support staff and outstanding trainers will teach you and your staff the ins and outs of ChiroTouch quickly and efficiently. They will answer your questions and allay your fears so that your entire staff will soon be using our intuitive system with ease and confidence. We also offer a wealth of online training tools, videos and how-to guides so that everyone in your office can get up to speed quickly. And feel free to reinforce your initial training within our client web portal, where detailed documentation and the MyChiroTouch community can give you additional, in-depth knowledge.

Having our fully trained, knowledgeable customer service representatives on call can make all the difference to you and your staff. Take the time to give us a call now so that we can answer your questions, show you around, and welcome you to the ChiroTouch family so that we canbegin making a real difference in your practice today.

Image credit: <a href='http://www.123rf.com/photo_9301067_call-center-operator.html'>kurhan / 123RF Stock Photo</a>

Tags: account manager, Chiropractic management software, MyChiroTouch

by Garrett B. Gunderson

Here's the truth. Docs want people to STAY in treatment, PAY for services, and REFER new clients.  However, people refer others just like themselves, and if you are getting referrals from the ‘wrong’ clients, it can hurt your clinic more than you know.

What do I mean?

I'm talking about those people that make you cringe when you see them on the schedule.  Those "Energy Vampires" that suck the life out of you and leave you in a state where you're not as good a Doc for everyone else that you serve.

Read the rest of this post »

Tags: finances, money

by Dr. Joe Borio

The direct and piercing truth is that all the gadgets, all the marketing, all the office procedures, hand-outs, fancy offices, and management companies you work with will all fail to bring you true success unless you own the principle of chiropractic. If the big idea has not resonated in the deepest part of your thoughts and every fiber of your being, then you’re just going through the motions and working your way through until the weekend, or even worse—retirement. The saddest part of not owning the principle are the lives unchanged or the babies lost to ignorance or fear, as too many chiropractors carry the DC but never tell the story.

I have heard many reasons for not telling the story or sharing the principle over the past 20 plus years from friends, colleagues, presidents of chiropractic colleges and clients, but if we are to rise up from mediocrity, then we need to find a way rather than excuses.

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Tags: chiropractic principles, Joe Borio

by ChiroTouch Marketing

To help you get the best fit for your office, choosing the right chiropractic management software requires moving beyond price tags to a thorough evaluation of what each software package has to offer. The right solution for a multi-location clinic may not work for a small, private practice, and vice versa. Learn what you need to ask and determine what you need to know so that you end up with optimal flexibility without extra effort.

Understanding the Price

If you compare two or more chiropractic management software packages without first determining what is included in the price, you may be shocked by the difference in prices, and then find those costs start piling up after the purchase. Be sure to ask the sales representative what is included in the price he or she is quoting you. If one company includes the cost of click-by-click one-on-one training while another considers this an additional cost, you may not be buying the same value per penny. Be sure you know what you're paying for.

Decide What Extras You Do—and Don't—Need

Depending upon the size of your office, the types of service you offer and myriad other variables, you may not need some of the extras that some chiropractic management software solutions offer. While some programs sound great during the sales pitch, be sure you really need what they're offering. If you have a staff of three or four people in one location, you aren't likely to need any features for managing multiple offices in more than one state, and a scalable solution is preferable.

Look for Training and Support

Will the company provide personalized training and support for your staff if you purchase their software? ChiroTouch offers complete hands-on training, including videos, so that your office staff can quickly learn how to use the system. Some companies offer this level of training at an additional cost. You should also keep in mind that at some point, you'll inevitably run into a small problem or a question that needs answered. The purchase price of ChiroTouch includes one-on-one live training, and offers online and telephone support with your own personal account manager who will be your constant source of advice and suggestions to help you optimize your practice management software.

Investing in the Bare Bones

There are a few features that every good chiropractic management software package should have, including:

• Easily customizable chart notes
• Forms for insurance, outcome assessments, and other practice management documents
• Electronic health records management
• Intuitive scheduling
• Billing and electronic reports

If any of these features are missing, the software solution you're being pitched might not be the best solution for your chiropractic practice. Take the time to talk to a representative of ChiroTouch to see how we can help you get the management system you deserve.

Image credit: <a href='http://www.123rf.com/photo_12595126_word-processing.html'>auremar / 123RF Stock Photo</a>

Tags: Chiropractic management software, Electronic health