In the early 1900”s we were told that the public and medicine would accept us if we were licensed. W e spent the next sixty years doing that. Then they told us the public and the medical community would accept us if we were included in government programs (apparently licensure did not do it). We got into Medicare, Medicaid, accreditation, and other government programs. Apparently it did not work because we were then told that the public and the medical community would accept us if our education was equivalent to an m.d’s. So we spent the late 60”s until the present “upgrading” and medicalizing our chiropractic education until it looks very much like medicine’s. Today the cry is “if we want acceptance we need to do research, to prove the validity of chiropractic”. Education appears not to have been the answer. Can we believe those who have lied to us about licensure, government recognition, and education?
All this time there has been a certain segment of the profession that has not worried about licensure, government recognition, education, or research. They have just gone about the business of educating the public about chiropractic. Some of their methods, techniques and approaches leave a lot to be desired. Even so, they have apparently been accepted and reached a level of success. Perhaps we need to continue and improve upon their efforts.
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I could not agree more!
ReplyDeleteWell said...as usual.
ReplyDeleteI see the possibility of a split coming with national healthcare on the horizon. Perhaps a huge "pruning" of the profession.
ReplyDeleteHi Joe!
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you have a blog. In my opinion we have never presented a clear understanding of our profession to the public, medicine, or anyone else. There has always been more than one definition of Chiropractic, Vertebral Subluxation, Adjustment, etc. Without clear definitions, how can we tell anyone anything about ourselves?
The research would be great, but what parameters of measurement to use? Nobody can agree on that either.
Our education has become decidely medical, so why will that help OSC DCs?
Great topic, I hope more people join in.
Brandon Schultz, DC
I wonder what would happen if we put an ad out that said "Function at your peak potential" "Get closer to God," etc...
ReplyDeleteInstead of LBP and NP advertising? I think that I am going to try it? Has any of you tried it?
Thank You
I wonder what would happen if we put an ad out that said "Function at your peak potential" "Get closer to God," etc...
ReplyDeleteInstead of LBP and NP advertising? I think that I am going to try it? Has any of you tried it?
An ad like that will do nothing but frustrate you. Reason? The public has NO idea what that means, and even if they did the vast majority won't warrant it important enough to take an action step. What needs to be advertised for an OSC practice is an event such as a talk where they will come and hear a fully rounded out picture of what it is you do and do not do. Joe writes in Higher Ground the 3 C's to success: commitment, communication, consistency. Crystal clear communication is critical to avoid any misunderstandings and disappointments. A million dollar idea isn't worth a nickel unless it can be conveyed in a way to have the person take a positive action step. For me, communication begins with a rock solid orientation informing the person(s) what they can fully expect in your office. This is done BEFORE you ever put a hand on them so they are coming in for the right (your) reasons, and again for me, can only be successfully accomplished through a one on one orientation.