If we define wellness as a straight spine and relate all health care problems to an out-of-place vertebra, we are misinforming the public. If we sell them this idea we are no different then the MD or DO who pushes medication for every problem. When the patient doesn't get better and continues to live an unhealthy life, they become reliant on YOU for their needs, just like they are reliant on the DO who pushes his/her patients drugs for every whim. Not saying all MD's or DO's prescribe this liberally. I am sure you get the drift.
There seems to be a big problem in chiropractic which has to do with whether we should behave as the traditional definition of a doctor, by treating health conditions "conservatively" or whether we fill the gaps medicine has historically failed to close in it's many years of health care monopolization. Some may argue conservative Tx's are what is missing in our health care system but I am here to say there is much more to the picture. It is frustrating to me to see students who want to fulfill a doctor's role by buying into profit driven, highly marketed technique systems that help them define what they are doing for their patients. Granted, we are not seeing patients in the clinic yet, but our initial training in this program allows us to decide whether to buy into a set methodology or create our own based off of personal experience. Our experience thus far (mine excluded and others too) is limited, in that, it is based in the knowledge obtained from WSCC.
Should we define health according to another person's definition? NO! Should we attend seminars known to be highly controversial at this vulnerable stage of our development? My answer is, yes! Yes, you should check these folks out, but only if you have an open mind free of insecurities. These people seek out insecure, naive students who began this journey without any experience in the health care market prior to DC matriculation.
Health is not just an absence of pain or disease. Health isn't as simple as some may make it out to be such as the AK fellows. It isn't a lack of one nutrient as opposed to another. It isn't reliance on another person for relief or a weekly adjustment. And is sure as hell isn't about taking advantage of other's health problems by selling them a product, like many of the technique systems advocate!
When I first started as a personal trainer 10 years ago, I had no experience or even a certification I could rely on. I had to try and sell my services to people who just started at the gym and make them believe they needed me even though I had no real credentials. I quickly learned my time was running out at the rate I was selling PT packages. To better myself and gain a foothold on this market, I obtained a nationally ranked certification for personal trainers through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Once I had the knowledge from this certification, I was able to use it to sell my product. I felt more confident in myself because my product, the NASM protocol, was legit. I relied on this knowledge base for several years and eventually used it to open my own personal training studio in 2004.
Now, the difference between a chiropractic technique system and the NASM protocol is; 1) common sense 2) scientific reasoning and 3) lack of reliance on subjective data. The goal has to be higher than relieving pain with our future patients. Granted, we must get them out of pain but it is our duty to help them PREVENT illness through fitness, proper nutrition and good mental health.
If we want to help people we have to keep our own selfish interests away from the equation. Balance the margin with the mission, if you will. The problem for new DC's is that they will be faced with a huge student loan burden (less than my lofty sum, for sure) and when patients get better quick, how are the bills supposed to get paid? Keeping the patient for as long as possible to pay bills is a pathetic existence in my opinion. If you are going to keep your patients in your system, do them a favor and help them find a new level of health beyond a straight spine or lack of symptoms.
I have thought about this extensively because I worry that when I get done I will be faced with a similar situation. My only suggestion is to focus on wellness versus acute care. This way, you retain your patients through services such as nutritional analysis, fitness training and health coaching. Which from what I understand is all billable as long as it fits the Health People 2010 initiative.
It seems like those who buy into the technique systems are doing it to define their role. Many times it is from those who haven't lived a life of wellness. Shouldn't we be role models to our patients? Don't you think you would retain a lot more business if the person who's buying your services wants to reach a level of wellness you yourself have obtained? I'd say this is the key to success in the field of alternative health. If we hand out supplements or adjustments like the competition hands out pills, we are no different then they are and from doing so, we provide an environment full of codependency.
A rule good personal trainers live by is to progress clients without reliance. Meaning, build programs that allow the person to grow and also take responsibility of their health. There is a way you can help people find optimal health without reliance on a doctor's treatments and also make a financial profit. That being said, we still must be competent in the health sciences to understand our patients' needs. Hence, the reason for the extensive education we are currently undergoing.
Thanks for reading
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