August 2008

Seven steps to building a wellness practice

by Dr. Dennis Nikitow

In today's health care system, people are trying to adapt a wellness model of health care for themselves and their families. Health care delivery systems are advertising wellness as a healthier lifestyle. The only problem is, no one's defined what it is so people have different definitions of wellness as it applies solely to them. Some approach it nutritionally and seek help to eat better. Some approach it physically and think exercise will give them wellness. Still others try support groups, stress reduction classes, or spiritual study.

Many chiropractors want to establish a wellness practice, but aren't sure how or where to begin. They think they need to become nutritionists, exercise trainers, or psychological and spiritual counselors. Then when their practices don't grow and their retention drops, they wonder why. Yet, this is the same problem DCs have always had. They dilute the principle of chiropractic so people don't understand how to use it.

In order to establish a wellness practice as a chiropractor, you need to understand how chiropractic principles and philosophy play a part in health care so that patients see your uniqueness to their health, and add you to their wellness team. It doesn't mean adding different components to dilute chiropractic and confuse them.

Positioning

There are seven steps to positioning your practice for wellness.

1. Have a definition of wellness your patient feels comfortable with. I define it this way: "Wellness is maintaining certain actions to prevent illness and injury." This is simple, and makes sense to people, because this what they're trying to achieve.

2. Then, explain how "maintaining certain actions" applies to patients' health and wellness. I show them my M-P-C poster that explains this fundamental. If something requires maintenance and is neglected, a problem will develop. Problems are always silent. Eventually, the problem will get so bad, a crisis will occur. Symptoms occur in the crisis stage, not the problem stage. Therefore, people need to maintain certain actions to prevent the crisis of unwanted illness and injuries.

3. Now, establish what needs to be maintained for optimum health and wellness by explaining the four essentials of health. The body needs food, water, oxygen and nerve impulse for life. If one of these stop you die. If their quantity or quality is reduced, health and wellness suffers. Here is where you can incorporate how to maintain proper nutrition and exercise.

4. The last essential, nerve impulse, ties chiropractic philosophy and principles into wellness. When the brain impulse stops you die. If you sever a nerve, the function dies to that part of the body. Therefore, a subluxation causes nerve interference resulting in dis-ease, damage and dysfunction to that part of the body. I use the four essentials of health pamphlet to anchor this message.

5. Next, show medical research to support the philosophy and principles. I use our "Medical Research on Subluxation" posters and pamphlets, which dispel any doubt that spinal subluxations need to be corrected or they can affect overall health and wellness to every organ and tissue of the body.

6. I put up testimonials of patients showing before and after x-rays for all types of health conditions from asthma to endometriosis. This proves to patients that spinal alignment has everything to do with health and wellness and chiropractic is not just for back pain.

7. Finally, I summarize these points and give patients a directive that they need a chiropractor on their health care team for optimum wellness.

We have to position wellness programs as needing chiropractic to be complete, rather than changing chiropractic to be something it's not. Stick to the philosophy and principles of chiropractic and use the steps that I have outlined here to build your wellness practice with certainty.

(To learn about the Certainty System, Certainty Practice Products and Dr. Dennis Nikitow's upcoming seminar schedule, call 800-544-3884. Outside the US, 303-721-6202.)