Dear Doctor:

Patient brochures are not effective unless they are read by patients. They do little good standing in a rack on the waiting room wall. I suggest another method. The doctor should personally hand a specific brochure to a patient.

As an example, if a patient mentions her son's frequent ear infections, give her a little talk on the problem, then give her the brochure on otitis media. Tell her to take it home to read, and have her spouse read it also. You might then say, "I may ask you a question or two about it on your next visit." That's how you can be sure the patient will read the chiropractic message.

This method works very well -- and makes the brochures work for you and your practice.

Now, all patient brochures are not alike. Mine are written to explain specific problems. The explanations may sound simplistic to you but you need to remember they are meant for your patients. Written in plain English, they offer an honest, forthright and traditional chiropractic explanation.

Note that each brochure is different, not just a rehash of the same old pinched nerve explanation. The study of these brochures will bring into your own consciousness and vocabulary the "ready answer" when patients ask you questions about various "diseases."

For those who desire more information on doctor- patient relationships and communication, may I humbly suggest you read my book, "Are You The Doctor, Doctor?" It offers a wealth of information on how to develop within yourself the ethics and personage necessary for successful doctoring.

Don't forget, patients want their doctors to provide them with good explanations to their health questions. These brochures do just that, using traditional chiropractic explanations that are easy for patients to understand.

Try this method, I'm sure you will be pleased with the results.

Sincerely,