May 2009

Are you ready to do the right thing?

by Dr. Joe Borio

A great scene in the movie, "The Patriot", is when Mel Gibson is reflecting back on the moments of time he regrets. His sister in law tells him there is nothing he has done that he should feel ashamed of. Mel Gibson responds, "I have done nothing and for that I am ashamed." You see, our life is a collection of moments. It only takes a moment to change the course of one's life. I never want you to be the guy sitting on the stairs filled with regret, ashamed you should have done more.

When I look at the article, "Death by Medicine," and see the 800,000 deaths per year as a result of the conventional medical model, or I read the American Chiropractor article on Neurotin and the death and harm caused by this drug, or the deaths from asthma, or arthritis, and autoimmune diseases, it's a constant reminder that we need to find the strength within to do the right thing.

You as a chiropractor are probably the patient's last hope to truly be well and healthy. Your recommendations and advice are the only chance this sick, diseased and dying patient sitting in front of the x-ray view box has to a better quality life. Your chiropractic message needs to be filled with hope and healing. With innate and truth. Not a bag filled with potions and chemicals, tests and needles and a lifetime prescription of medications.

I enjoy listening to leaders and educators, like Drs. Christopher Kent, Dennis Nikitow or James Chestnut, who articulate the philosophy of chiropractic in the words of science giving us all the certainty to do the right thing. I love to listen to great philosophy teachers like Drs. Ian Grossman, Rob Schiffman, Reggie Gold, and Guy Reikman who can inspire you just by their presence and strength of purpose.

I know for many of us it's difficult to give the best recommendations because of fear. Fear of being looked at as different, or unscientific. The fear for far too many of us is the fear of losing a patient causing further financial stress.

You just want patients to do what you know is right but your recommendations often fall short of what you know they need. It's even more frustrating when a patient doesn't even follow that. The patient just follows the insurance coverage or pops in when it's convenient. You get exhausted and burned out. Tired and stressed and on the drive home or while lying in bed you wonder if being a chiropractor was the right thing to do.

First, you should be proud of who you are and the choice you made. Second, know the best thing to do for you and the patient and for the profession and the life of your office is to start adjusting everybody! What does it take to serve hundreds a day? How can you make your time as a chiropractor more valuable to others? When you get up tomorrow, go to the office and start practicing chiropractic.

Tell patients on their very first visit what a subluxation or misalignment is and how it affects their nervous system. That damage to the nervous system will cause sickness and disease and it's your job today to locate and identify any areas of the spine that are subluxated. When you adjust patients, tell them how their breathing and stress response are improved. How the immune function will be increased helping to fight off infection or cancer. When you review the x-rays have the spouse and children there to be checked. Tell them the best time to get adjusted is at birth and the second best time to get adjusted is now. I heard Ian Grossman once say, "from the womb to the tomb."

Set up health plans that are affordable for families and check family members as a thank you for their trust in you. Do frequent check-ups and always review the patient's x-rays with the patient. Ask patients when looking at their x-rays to tell you where they're out of alignment and what organs are being affected. Consistently remind them of wellness care and always speak in terms of future care.

I would urge all of you to sit patients down and tell the story of Harvey Lillard. Tell them that the definition of physician is teacher, and the word chiropractic is Greek and means, "to perform by hand." Tell them that according to research articles printed in The Journal of Geriatrics and Spine Journal, as their neck curve is lost or reverses they are dying faster and often will experience no symptoms and you as a chiropractor are the only health care professional who can help. Tell them about the dangers of Tylenol and Advil and antibiotics. Tell them drugs only treat the symptoms of a disease developing in their body far more serious and that you have the tools to help restore their health.

If not you, who?

Chiropractic is the second-largest health profession in the country and yet, we are too often filled with uncertainty and fear. Why? What are you afraid of? Trust me, it's all in your head! I made the decision a long time ago not to be the guy sitting on the stairs ashamed of doing nothing. Do you want to join me? Are you ready to do the right thing?

(Dr. Joe Borio is president of Chiropassion Consulting. For more information about the topics raised in this article and to learn about the company's services, call 866-441-7928, or e-mail drborio@cnymail.com . Visit the Chiropassion website at www.chiropassionconsulting.com .)