Frustrated With Health Care

Just when I think I’ve gotten it all out of my system and I’m ready to start talking about some positive, constructive stuff another article comes across my desk that I feel compelled to discuss.  This is yet another article that adds to my frustration, and yet, supports my moving forward plans.

The newest article was in this past weekend’s Parade; “Don’t Let the Economy Endanger Your Health”.  This hard-hitting story reports some sobering facts about how people are reacting to the economy relative to their health.  In fact, based upon conversations I’ve had with many other doctors these figures come as no surprise. 

Startling results of a survey from the American Heart Association reveal that 57% of those surveyed report that the economy has affected their ability to take care of their health.  The impact is obviously greater amount those with lower incomes, although 33% of those earning $75,000 or more say that they also feel the squeeze.  People are forgoing lifesaving care; 10% have reportedly stopped or reduced their medication for chronic diseases such as high cholesterol and asthma.  13% have elected to not get a flu shot, while 18% have avoided getting needed exams like mammograms. 

However, in reality the state of our economy may not be completely to blame for this; health care has just gotten to be so freakin’ expensive.  In 1970, Americans spent approximately 7% of their budget on health care.  At 17% for 2008, this represents a 2.4 trillion dollar outlay, which exceeded our spending on housing or food.  The truth is that the U.S. leads the world in advanced specialty care; as such, we spend more money on health care than any other nation in the world, and what do we have to show for it?  In spite of our huge price tag, the World Health Organization reports that the U.S. is ranked 31st in over all health as compared to all other industrialized nations; a very sad commentary!

So, what does the author, George Anders, recommend us to do?  He suggests that prevention must be our priority and that we should find creative efforts to encourage wellness; sound familiar?  To me, this sounds like it is right out of a chiropractor’s mouth, after all, isn’t this what chiropractic is?  All we need to do is demonstrate that our care is wellness orientated and that we are a great health care option; that’s all it should take, right?  Well, actually, I believe that because of the economy another part of this puzzle is to demonstrate affordability and possibly re-think our fees in these tight economic times.

Like most chiropractors my desire has always been to help as many people as possible.  In fact, in my career there have been times where it was not uncommon for me to see upwards of 90-100 patients a day in my practice.  Today, I’m lucky if I see 30-40 a day; clearly a significant drop.  So what happen?  Did these patient’s condition get better?  Do they all-of-a-sudden no longer require my services?  Obviously not!  The solution?  We just have to find newer more modern ways to communicate with our patients to bring them back in.  Lightening bolts in the Yellow Pages doesn’t work.

No matter what you call it, network marketing, home-based business, MLM or multi-level marketing, they’re all the same.  You have a business and a product that you believe in, are passionate about, and want to tell others all about it.

If you haven’t had any experience with network marketing before you might be interested to know that people from every walk of life are into it; lawyers, doctors, businessmen and women, students, teachers, housewives . . . the list can go on and on.  Suffice it to say that the network marketing bug knows no boundaries and the fact of the matter is that in our current economy more and more people are in to it today than ever before.  Let’s face it, the thought of being your own boss and owning your own business is appealing to many, and with the extremely low start up costs with network marketing its appeal is that much greater.  Think about it, compared to a brick and mortar business a network marketing business has no office and no employees.  This alone saves you up to $100,000 and more per year, and the income potential is just as real.

So, how does a new network marketer get their business off the ground?  Historically, new network marketers are required to make a list of 100 or 200 people they know to call; just to tell them about their opportunity.  This means that no one is sacred; your mother, father, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, neighbors, business associates, pastor, hairdresser, mailman; the list can go on and on.  There have been stories where network marketers would call in a plumber for something insignificant just to pitch them on their opportunity.  ANYONE within arms length is not safe with a network marketer who is worth their salt.  And, admittedly, I have been guilty of many of these tactics; no, I never called a plumber, but I have given my card to a waitress.  Like I said, no one is sacred.  Unfortunately, many network marketers become members of the NFL, “No Friends Left”.  There’s got to be a better way to build your network to create your residual income.

“Stay tuned” to my next post where I will go into another ”Solution” to my frustrations with health care.

Peter A. Holst, D.C.

While this is not a post about frustration in practice, showing appreciation is a solution to the frustration of patient drop out and low referrals.  Showing appreciation in practice, as with ANY business, is a sound business philosophy that serves to bolster relations, thus promoting patient/customer loyalty and stimulating referrals.

So, how do you show appreciation?  With a smile and a handshake?  With a sincere “thank you”?  Do you provide free information and go the extra mile when talking about lifestyle stress?  No doubt, these are all great ways to show appreciation for the trust and confidence your patients have in you. 

In addition to doing all of the above, from the very beginning in practice I have also utilized the postal service to show appreciation.  We started with the obligatory “Welcome to Our Practice” letter and the “Thank you for Your Referral” letter.  We also send the occasional “We Miss You” letter, but what we have found to be the most important is the letter of appreciation.  We call these “Love Notes”.  Quite literally we pick out 8-12 patients each week and send them a “Thank you for your Trust and Confidence” note; just a couple of lines is all it takes to let patients know that you appreciate them.  We’ve done this for years.

Of course in recent years we have taken it to the 21st Century by using email, but email has become so impersonal; we have found that it doesn’t take the place of a handwritten note delivered in the mail.

In October of last year I was introduced to SendOutCards, an online, efficient, economical, extraordinary way to send appreciation through the mail.  Here’s what you do:

1. Go online and select from over 14,000 greeting cards in over 40 different categories.

2. Personalize your card in your own handwriting; you can even put your own pictures in the card.

3. You then click “SEND”; SendOutCards then prints your card, stuffs it in an envelop, puts a first-class stamp on it, and places it in the mail; all for as little as $1.04, which includes postage!

You can send one card or 1000, all at the same time.  Create a card that you use over and over again for your new patients.  Create a card that you send to every patient in your database for the Holidays.  You can even send a gift with your card; like gourmet food, a book, or a gift card.

SendOutCards has been the best new thing we’ve added to the practice that allows us to economically send “Love Notes” with a very efficient procedure that runs seamless in the office.

Try sending a card or two on me . . . Go to www.RelationsBuilder.com and click on the banner that says, “Click to Send a Free Card”.  Be sure your speakers are turned on and follow along as the CEO, Cody Bateman, walks you through sending a card.  Oh, and be sure you have the name and address of the person you’d like to connect with.

Do not hesitate to call me if you have any questions or problems with the process, (845)820-1265.

www.FrustratedwithHealthcare.com; Where Frustration Leads to Solutions.

Thanks for your time looking at our blog.

Peter