January 2008

Repeat performance

by Dr. Ogi Ressel

Warm hellos and Happy New Year to everyone!

Okay, you've settled into 2008 (yes, it's finally here!) and you've promised yourself tons of new patients ‑‑ lots of children and their parents, and lots of patient visits ‑‑ as well as financial abundance, more free time and some "toys" and baubles. Absolutely! You certainly deserve it! YES!

You've promised yourself that this year won't be the same as the last. Or the one before that. Or the one before that. Or the one before that. You're finished with wishing, hoping, dreaming, scheming and schlepping around. Right? Of course. After all, this is your life and you're going to live it your way.

There. That feels really good. You've made a stand. The Universe will provide! What's not to like about this new attitude of yours? There's just one minor glitch. Your 2008 is not starting out the way you envisioned.

Let's see why.

New patients aren't calling, patients aren't referring, patients are quitting care, there are lots of missed appointments ‑‑ again. There are the same old insurance hassles, you feel your amazing CA just isn't there for you this year, the bank account still has the same negative balance and the Christmas bills haven't even shown up yet.

Definitely not the way you pictured the start of the New Year.

Enough of brutal reality. You need to understand one thing. You're still dealing with the same old "stuff" in your office, the same old procedures, the same old staff (careful), the same old furniture, the same old clinical forms (you know, the ones patients can barely read because they've been self‑copied so many times), the same old missed appointments, the same old patients leaving your office, same old pictures on the wall, the same old perception your community has of you and what you do, and of course, the same old doctor.

Well, what are you to do?

Actually, realizing this is where you are is already half the battle. And, as I've mentioned before, in order for you to really kick butt you need to be different and do different things. Same old, same old, doesn't apply. In short, you need a total makeover. So does your office. And your staff! And your philosophy!

You need to realize ‑‑ and this is a HUGE problem with tons of doctors ‑‑ that what you've been doing isn't working. Period.

Maybe you're just getting started in practice and are working with a set of values acquired by osmosis from college, or you've been at it for the past 15‑30 years. Yet, times change and so do the perceptions and wants of your community. What they want and what you provide aren't in synch... ergo, you are outdated. And as a result, you're relegated to seeing the acute patient.

But this isn't what you want. You want a wellness practice with tons of kids and their parents. I totally agree. And, trust me, that's what your community wants as well. They want a doctor versed in wellness, NOT in treating LBP, or neck strains, or orthotics, or knee sprains, etc. Nor do they want a marketing wizard. They want to see a doctor who's absolutely the very best at being a doctor.

"That's what I want, too, I want a wellness practice," you say. Awesome! Let me help you. But there's a price for this "new" you. You'll need to... let go of some of the ideas that you're holding onto and that are holding you back... park your ego and admit that where you are is not where you want to be... welcome change... and embrace your own spirit that will carry you forth. Is it difficult? Absolutely not. It's exhilarating and exciting!

That's it. Simple. This is a good place to start. Then... I suggest you enroll in a seminar program that will teach you to become the best doctor your community has ever seen. Ever.

Well, what are you waiting for? Do it! Forget the hoping and the scheming and the schlepping around! It's now just 11 months until we have another conversation just like this one and you definitely do not want a repeat of your past performance.

(Dr. Ogi Ressel, author, researcher, and an x‑ray and pediatric specialist, teaches The Practice Evolution Program, the "fastest‑growing coaching program on the planet." Visit online at www.practiceevolution.com  and take the Practice Health Mini‑Checkup. Dr. Ressel may be contacted by e‑mail at drogi@practiceevolution.com  or by calling 800‑353‑3082. Interested in receiving his weekly THOTS "on seeing tons of children and families in your practice?" Send him an e‑mail and asked to be added to the list.)