Back pain can be… well, a real pain in the back. Just ask the two to three million people who are chronically disabled by it. As disturbing as it sounds, however, such misery doesn’t have to be something these individuals accept as a daily part of their lives. Long-term relief and hope exist in the form of a ten-session series of body joint and segment re-organization techniques called Rolf Structural Integration. To learn more about this short-term, all-natural approach to back pain, visit the program online at http://www.corestructuraltherapy.com.
The American Chiropractic Association estimates that in any given timeframe, 31 million Americans suffer from low-back pain. The National Pain Foundation statistics further indicate that between “50 to 80 percent of people will be disabled by back pain at some point during their lives.” In a quest to obtain relief from their misery, it is estimated that Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back pain.
Given that the vast majority of back pain sufferers first seek out traditional-medicine avenues for relief from their problem, this expense figure is not all that surprising. The nation’s consistently rising healthcare costs spell a simultaneous increase in prescription and hospital coverage. Even chiropractic medicine has gone main stream in recent years, resulting in skyrocketing costs for such treatment.
Although the company recommends that all its clientele to get checked out by a medical professional, Core Structural Therapy also encourages them to consider the alternatives before resorting to dangerous painkillers and/or risky surgeries. The company’s Rolf Structural Integration series (coined by its early followers Rolfing) is one such alternative. The most advanced system taught at this time, it integrates the classical treatment formats designed by Dr. Ida P. Rolf over a half-century ago to eradicate even the most persistent back pain.
Roseann Bongiovanni, a Core Structural Therapy client, is a firm believer in the program: “When I complained about lower back pain, other therapists rubbed my muscles harder and/or longer, but never tried to identify the source of the pain. Joe’s [Ackerman, Structural Integration program developer] techniques made my back feel stronger, more flexible and with much less pain.”
For more information on how to get rid of chronic back pain, contact CoreStructuralTherapy.com’s founder, Joseph Ackerman, at (781) 425-5057. To learn how the Rolf Structural Integration ten-session program can relieve back problems, visit the company online at http://www.corestructuraltherapy.com.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Grow Your Practice With Massage Therapists
by Dr. Ryan Marshall
Dr. Ryan Marshall is a Tulsa chiropractor and a member of the American Chiropractic Association.
One group of professionals you may consider adding to you network are licensed massage therapist or LMT’s. It is a good idea to know a few massage therapists because you will have patients ask you who you recommend from time to time. Your patient will be very thankful if you refer them to a good LMT, especially if they were going to resort to a blind attempt of finding someone credible by using the phone book. If your philosophy is sound, you should not be intimidated by massage therapists and understand that what you do is very different. You should also be able to explain these differences. Unfortunately sometimes the general public may not know the difference between massage therapist and chiropractors. That’s fine; this can be another opportunity to educate your patients.
Your first necessity is to come into contact with a reputable massage therapist. Introduce yourself to as many as possible throughout your town or area of practice. Many will offer you a tour of their facility and sometimes even a free massage. Take them up on the free massage if offered. This will give you a chance to see how good they are at what they do and give you more time to work on your new network relationship by visiting with them. When you are visiting with these LMT’s you are interviewing them at the same time. They are probably interviewing you also. Ask yourself questions like, “is this someone I would trust with my patient”, “could I see myself becoming a client of this person?” They need to have a respectable facility, reasonable fees and a philosophy that is somewhat close to your own. The last thing you want to do is refer a patient to a bad business that does not share your same philosophy. This could jeopardize your relationship with your patient.
I recommend you have about 4 to 5 massage therapist that you have built a rapport with. They need to be spread out in your area of practice for two reasons. First your patients do not want to drive all over town to get to your recommended LMT. Second this gives you a spread out area to receive your referrals from. Once you have your 4 to 5 LMT’s you can trust and refer to, you also have 4 to 5 LMT’s referring to your business. As always it is a good idea to keep in contact with each of them periodically to maintain your network.
When you refer a patient to a LMT, call them and let them know you sent that patient over to their business. Do no be afraid to put light pressure on them to refer you a patient or two when the timing is right.
Occasionally LMT’s will want to barter with you. You may want to do the same. It is your decision. This may be the chance you are looking for to build your network relationship even stronger.
A great way that I have found to start the referral process with LMT’s and build my practice at the same time is to offer a monthly special. For example, in the month of July refer a friend or family member to our office and receive a free 30 minute massage from a licensed massage therapist. Post signs in your office, have your receptionist tell patients and tell them yourself. This inspires patients to refer people to your office and at the same time allows you to start the referral process with your network of LMT’s. Run the special only once every few months. This puts a since of urgency to your patients to receive their free massage. The only down side is you pay for the 30 minute massage. This is a small price to pay to add a new patient to your growing practice, and some massage therapist will give you discounts for your paid referrals. Again, it’s a win, win, win situation for everyone involved.
Dr. Ryan Marshall is a Tulsa chiropractor and a member of the American Chiropractic Association.
Dr. Ryan Marshall is a Tulsa chiropractor and a member of the American Chiropractic Association.
One group of professionals you may consider adding to you network are licensed massage therapist or LMT’s. It is a good idea to know a few massage therapists because you will have patients ask you who you recommend from time to time. Your patient will be very thankful if you refer them to a good LMT, especially if they were going to resort to a blind attempt of finding someone credible by using the phone book. If your philosophy is sound, you should not be intimidated by massage therapists and understand that what you do is very different. You should also be able to explain these differences. Unfortunately sometimes the general public may not know the difference between massage therapist and chiropractors. That’s fine; this can be another opportunity to educate your patients.
Your first necessity is to come into contact with a reputable massage therapist. Introduce yourself to as many as possible throughout your town or area of practice. Many will offer you a tour of their facility and sometimes even a free massage. Take them up on the free massage if offered. This will give you a chance to see how good they are at what they do and give you more time to work on your new network relationship by visiting with them. When you are visiting with these LMT’s you are interviewing them at the same time. They are probably interviewing you also. Ask yourself questions like, “is this someone I would trust with my patient”, “could I see myself becoming a client of this person?” They need to have a respectable facility, reasonable fees and a philosophy that is somewhat close to your own. The last thing you want to do is refer a patient to a bad business that does not share your same philosophy. This could jeopardize your relationship with your patient.
I recommend you have about 4 to 5 massage therapist that you have built a rapport with. They need to be spread out in your area of practice for two reasons. First your patients do not want to drive all over town to get to your recommended LMT. Second this gives you a spread out area to receive your referrals from. Once you have your 4 to 5 LMT’s you can trust and refer to, you also have 4 to 5 LMT’s referring to your business. As always it is a good idea to keep in contact with each of them periodically to maintain your network.
When you refer a patient to a LMT, call them and let them know you sent that patient over to their business. Do no be afraid to put light pressure on them to refer you a patient or two when the timing is right.
Occasionally LMT’s will want to barter with you. You may want to do the same. It is your decision. This may be the chance you are looking for to build your network relationship even stronger.
A great way that I have found to start the referral process with LMT’s and build my practice at the same time is to offer a monthly special. For example, in the month of July refer a friend or family member to our office and receive a free 30 minute massage from a licensed massage therapist. Post signs in your office, have your receptionist tell patients and tell them yourself. This inspires patients to refer people to your office and at the same time allows you to start the referral process with your network of LMT’s. Run the special only once every few months. This puts a since of urgency to your patients to receive their free massage. The only down side is you pay for the 30 minute massage. This is a small price to pay to add a new patient to your growing practice, and some massage therapist will give you discounts for your paid referrals. Again, it’s a win, win, win situation for everyone involved.
Dr. Ryan Marshall is a Tulsa chiropractor and a member of the American Chiropractic Association.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Code and document work properly!
"When doctors do not code their services properly they can be impacted in two ways," Hoag said. "If they don't bill fully for everything they do, they collect less than they should, impairing the success of their practice. If they unintentionally overbill, they risk audits and payback demands that can run into thousands of dollars. In this analysis, we identify for the doctors if they fall into either group and recommend what to do about it. ACOM's Consulting Group is focused on helping Chiropractors make more money ethically and empower them to fight back if charges are challenged."
Noting that up to 50 percent of all chiropractors victimize themselves and their practices by failure to code and document their work properly, the ACOM Chiropractic Consulting Group today announced a three-phase Chiropractic coding and documentation analysis service designed to assure fair payment for services and to avoid problems with billing compliance.
The new service is conducted entirely over the phone in three sessions that take place within an approximate two-week time period, according to Senior Consultant Bharon Hoag. It involves no disruption of practice activities and routine
The service emulates the SOAP format, Hoag said. In the first call, practice basics are reviewed, with the doctor providing his view of practice status and goals and furnishing the analyst with samples of notes and documentation. In the second phone session, the doctor and the analyst review and discuss the analyst's findings, also gathering any further information needed to complete the analysis. Between the second and third sessions, the analyst develops a professional assessment of the data and information developed in the first two calls. In the final call, the analyst reviews the assessment and addresses questions stemming from the assessment and other practice issues, establishing a foundation for a remedial plan.
"This process is straightforward, but it is not easy for the doctor to do independently," Hoag said. "Typically, the doctor is too close to the methodologies that are familiar to him or her. It is the combination of the doctor's intimate knowledge of the practice and the educated objectivity of the analyst that makes this program so effective."
About ACOM's Chiropractic Consulting Group:
The ACOM Chiropractic Consulting Group provides a suite of consulting services for educating, equipping and empowering healthcare providers for success. Now in its 24th year of business, ACOM Solutions, Inc. has multiple divisions in markets across the globe. The Healthcare Business Division develops and markets chiropractic software for clinical documentation/reporting and practice management. ACOM headquarters are in Long Beach, California; with regional offices located in several major U.S. cities. For information on ACOM's Chiropractic Consulting Services, phone 866-286-5315, ext. 305; or visit http://www.acomconsulting.com
Noting that up to 50 percent of all chiropractors victimize themselves and their practices by failure to code and document their work properly, the ACOM Chiropractic Consulting Group today announced a three-phase Chiropractic coding and documentation analysis service designed to assure fair payment for services and to avoid problems with billing compliance.
The new service is conducted entirely over the phone in three sessions that take place within an approximate two-week time period, according to Senior Consultant Bharon Hoag. It involves no disruption of practice activities and routine
The service emulates the SOAP format, Hoag said. In the first call, practice basics are reviewed, with the doctor providing his view of practice status and goals and furnishing the analyst with samples of notes and documentation. In the second phone session, the doctor and the analyst review and discuss the analyst's findings, also gathering any further information needed to complete the analysis. Between the second and third sessions, the analyst develops a professional assessment of the data and information developed in the first two calls. In the final call, the analyst reviews the assessment and addresses questions stemming from the assessment and other practice issues, establishing a foundation for a remedial plan.
"This process is straightforward, but it is not easy for the doctor to do independently," Hoag said. "Typically, the doctor is too close to the methodologies that are familiar to him or her. It is the combination of the doctor's intimate knowledge of the practice and the educated objectivity of the analyst that makes this program so effective."
About ACOM's Chiropractic Consulting Group:
The ACOM Chiropractic Consulting Group provides a suite of consulting services for educating, equipping and empowering healthcare providers for success. Now in its 24th year of business, ACOM Solutions, Inc. has multiple divisions in markets across the globe. The Healthcare Business Division develops and markets chiropractic software for clinical documentation/reporting and practice management. ACOM headquarters are in Long Beach, California; with regional offices located in several major U.S. cities. For information on ACOM's Chiropractic Consulting Services, phone 866-286-5315, ext. 305; or visit http://www.acomconsulting.com
Dr. Amanda Warren
Dr. Amanda Warren, CACCP, recently completed 180 hours of classroom instruction and received her board certification status from the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association and the Academy of Chiropractic Family Practice. The CACCP (Certification from the Academy Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics) certification is a standalone certification as well as a prerequisite for Diplomate status.
Both graduates of Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Amanda Warren and her husband, Dr. Dennis Warren, own and operate Generations Chiropractic Wellness Center, which is located in the Evelyn Hills Shopping Center on College Avenue.
To fulfill the certification requirements, Dr. Amanda Warren traveled frequently to Dallas for a series of 12-hour seminars on specialized topics ranging from Perinatal Care and Neuroimmunology to Chiropractic Pediatrics for the Challenged Child and Diagnostic Imaging and Instrumentation. In addition, she successfully completed a comprehensive essay examination that covered specifics from 15 separate instruction modules.
Drs. Warren are trained and certified in the Webster Technique, a "safe means to restore proper pelvic balance and function for pregnant mothers" according to ICPA. Registered with the ICPA Webster Practice-Based Research Network, Dr. Amanda Warren currently is an active participant in a worldwide research study to document the safety and efficacy of the Webster Technique through a collaborative effort among doctors, patients and ICPA.
"Earning the pediatric certification was lots of hard work, but Denny and I both are committed to continuing education that will help us address the needs of families here in Northwest Arkansas," remarked Dr. Amanda Warren. "This and the arrival of our new digital X-ray machine for the office," she continued, "are major milestones for Generations Chiropractic Wellness Center." As for future plans, she intends on pushing forward to complete the 180 additional hours of clinical competency and clinical application courses necessary for Diplomate status.
Both graduates of Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Amanda Warren and her husband, Dr. Dennis Warren, own and operate Generations Chiropractic Wellness Center, which is located in the Evelyn Hills Shopping Center on College Avenue.
To fulfill the certification requirements, Dr. Amanda Warren traveled frequently to Dallas for a series of 12-hour seminars on specialized topics ranging from Perinatal Care and Neuroimmunology to Chiropractic Pediatrics for the Challenged Child and Diagnostic Imaging and Instrumentation. In addition, she successfully completed a comprehensive essay examination that covered specifics from 15 separate instruction modules.
Drs. Warren are trained and certified in the Webster Technique, a "safe means to restore proper pelvic balance and function for pregnant mothers" according to ICPA. Registered with the ICPA Webster Practice-Based Research Network, Dr. Amanda Warren currently is an active participant in a worldwide research study to document the safety and efficacy of the Webster Technique through a collaborative effort among doctors, patients and ICPA.
"Earning the pediatric certification was lots of hard work, but Denny and I both are committed to continuing education that will help us address the needs of families here in Northwest Arkansas," remarked Dr. Amanda Warren. "This and the arrival of our new digital X-ray machine for the office," she continued, "are major milestones for Generations Chiropractic Wellness Center." As for future plans, she intends on pushing forward to complete the 180 additional hours of clinical competency and clinical application courses necessary for Diplomate status.
New in Town and Needs a Chiropractor?
Dr. Will Tickel, (what a great name for a chiropractor!) Wilmington's Chiropractor, announced today that he is now offering the New Mover’s Treatment Package™ to anyone recently moving to the Wilmington area. Dr. Tickel stated, "Moving to a new city is stressful, and I'm trying to make it easy for new residents to discover the soothing benefits of chiropractic care at my office."
For anyone transferring from another chiropractor’s office, there is no cost for your first visit if you bring in your medical records and x-rays. If you are transferring from another chiropractor’s office and you don’t have your records or x-rays, the cost for your first visit is only $20. Also, if you have never been to a chiropractor before, your first visit is only $20 at Dr. Tickel’s Wilmington office. This is a $243 value.
In any event, your first visit will include the following services:
1) A private health consultation with Dr. Tickel
2) A comprehensive exam
3) Any necessary x-rays
4) A three-page report of your exam findings
5) Your first gentle treatment
Sandy Wainscott, who moved to Wilmington 2 months ago commented, "Choosing a new doctor for my family was stressful because I didn't know anyone here. Dr. Tickel made it painless and fun, and we love him."
If you have recently moved to the Wilmington area, please call Tammy or Mia today at (910) 791-0055 to schedule your first appointment. Still not sure about coming in? If so, please go to: www.TickelChiropractic.com
for more information.
For anyone transferring from another chiropractor’s office, there is no cost for your first visit if you bring in your medical records and x-rays. If you are transferring from another chiropractor’s office and you don’t have your records or x-rays, the cost for your first visit is only $20. Also, if you have never been to a chiropractor before, your first visit is only $20 at Dr. Tickel’s Wilmington office. This is a $243 value.
In any event, your first visit will include the following services:
1) A private health consultation with Dr. Tickel
2) A comprehensive exam
3) Any necessary x-rays
4) A three-page report of your exam findings
5) Your first gentle treatment
Sandy Wainscott, who moved to Wilmington 2 months ago commented, "Choosing a new doctor for my family was stressful because I didn't know anyone here. Dr. Tickel made it painless and fun, and we love him."
If you have recently moved to the Wilmington area, please call Tammy or Mia today at (910) 791-0055 to schedule your first appointment. Still not sure about coming in? If so, please go to: www.TickelChiropractic.com
for more information.
Dr. Lynne Kavulich
Today, many scientists believe the secrets of regeneration and healing lie not within costly medical drugs or expensive medical treatments, but in the body’s own Quantum Energy Biofield (QEB). QEB is a magnetic energy field encompassing our bodies that synchronizes and controls all of your body’s systems.
Quantum Reflex Analysis™ (QRA) uses the QEB as a pattern to define and eliminate stressors that have deactivated the body’s own potent internal healing systems for rejuvenation, endurance, vitality and longevity.
Anti-aging physician specialist and best selling author Dr. Lynne Kavulich, D.C is actively employing these techniques at her American Wellness Care practice located in Hopewell Junction, New York. QRA™ provides a simple, safe and efficient analysis of even the worst cases and is especially helpful for more complicated cases where a weakened or disordered physiology has caused the body to be resistant to traditional medical procedures.
As a compassionate Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Lynne Kavulich has been helping her patients achieve optimal health. Focusing on state-of-the-art nutrition, disease prevention, and anti-aging technologies, Dr. Kavulich, through her website at www.feel-great-at-any-age.com, now helps thousands to look and feel five to ten years younger. You can learn more about Dr. Lynne Kavulich by visiting www.american-wellness-care.com.
American Wellness Care is a multi-disciplinary center providing chiropractic and holistic care techniques with over 25 years of serving New York Hudson Valley residents. To find out more about the latest breakthroughs in pain management, therapeutic laser therapy and anti-aging medicine contact American Wellness Care.
Quantum Reflex Analysis™ (QRA) uses the QEB as a pattern to define and eliminate stressors that have deactivated the body’s own potent internal healing systems for rejuvenation, endurance, vitality and longevity.
Anti-aging physician specialist and best selling author Dr. Lynne Kavulich, D.C is actively employing these techniques at her American Wellness Care practice located in Hopewell Junction, New York. QRA™ provides a simple, safe and efficient analysis of even the worst cases and is especially helpful for more complicated cases where a weakened or disordered physiology has caused the body to be resistant to traditional medical procedures.
As a compassionate Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Lynne Kavulich has been helping her patients achieve optimal health. Focusing on state-of-the-art nutrition, disease prevention, and anti-aging technologies, Dr. Kavulich, through her website at www.feel-great-at-any-age.com, now helps thousands to look and feel five to ten years younger. You can learn more about Dr. Lynne Kavulich by visiting www.american-wellness-care.com.
American Wellness Care is a multi-disciplinary center providing chiropractic and holistic care techniques with over 25 years of serving New York Hudson Valley residents. To find out more about the latest breakthroughs in pain management, therapeutic laser therapy and anti-aging medicine contact American Wellness Care.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Pain in the neck could be bad for blood pressure
How a pain in the neck could be bad for your blood pressure
A chance discovery in the lab has helped University of Leeds scientists to show how the treatment for a stiff neck could do wonders for your blood pressure.
Chiropractors have long known that tackling pain and stiffness by “cracking” the neck through manipulation can also lower blood pressure – but the reasons were never clear.
Now a team led by Professor Jim Deuchars has examined pathways between the neck and the brain to show how the neck muscles could play a crucial role in controlling blood pressure, heart rate and breathing.
Their study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, provides the first evidence for a role for these connections in influencing brain regions which control body functions that we don't need to think about, such as breathing and blood pressure.
The area of the brain where the signals from the neck terminate were first identified by “Godfather of Neuroscience” Ramon Y Cajal, more than 100 years ago, though its function was not understood. What happened after these signals arrived remained a largely-overlooked area of research until new techniques allowed the Leeds team to take the work forward.
Their work began by chance, as Prof Deuchars explained: “Cells in the area that receive neck signals jumped out at us when we labelled sections with particular markers. We wanted to know how these cells were organised and the other brain regions to which they were connected.”
The team, which includes researchers from Japan and Hungary, found a link between these cells and the nucleus tractus solitarius, an area of the brain that is pivotal in control of autonomic functions - body functions under unconscious control. They propose that nervous signals from the neck could play a key role in ensuring that adequate blood supply is maintained to the brain as we change posture, such as from lying down to standing up. Where such signalling fails, we can suffer problems with balance and blood pressure.
The findings offer a clear rationale for manipulative treatments: “Reports from chiropractic journals say that manipulating the neck region helps to reduce blood pressure in some people,” Prof Deuchars explained. “By identifying the pathways we can see why these treatments might work and it could also explain why some people suffering whiplash injuries may experience a change in their blood pressure.”
“The work also contributes to understanding postural hypotension – fainting which can be caused by standing up too fast. The neck muscles could be a part of the system which normally prevents this from happening by sending signals to the brain upon neck movement that posture has changed.”
More research is now needed to see which sensory nerve fibres and precisely which cells are involved in the process. Amongst other things, the team would now like to know what other brain regions the neck muscle termination site connects to. They believe that there are many malfunctions associated with whiplash injuries to the neck that could be better understood by unravelling these connections. They hope that this knowledge could be used to design more effective treatments for such injuries.
A chance discovery in the lab has helped University of Leeds scientists to show how the treatment for a stiff neck could do wonders for your blood pressure.
Chiropractors have long known that tackling pain and stiffness by “cracking” the neck through manipulation can also lower blood pressure – but the reasons were never clear.
Now a team led by Professor Jim Deuchars has examined pathways between the neck and the brain to show how the neck muscles could play a crucial role in controlling blood pressure, heart rate and breathing.
Their study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, provides the first evidence for a role for these connections in influencing brain regions which control body functions that we don't need to think about, such as breathing and blood pressure.
The area of the brain where the signals from the neck terminate were first identified by “Godfather of Neuroscience” Ramon Y Cajal, more than 100 years ago, though its function was not understood. What happened after these signals arrived remained a largely-overlooked area of research until new techniques allowed the Leeds team to take the work forward.
Their work began by chance, as Prof Deuchars explained: “Cells in the area that receive neck signals jumped out at us when we labelled sections with particular markers. We wanted to know how these cells were organised and the other brain regions to which they were connected.”
The team, which includes researchers from Japan and Hungary, found a link between these cells and the nucleus tractus solitarius, an area of the brain that is pivotal in control of autonomic functions - body functions under unconscious control. They propose that nervous signals from the neck could play a key role in ensuring that adequate blood supply is maintained to the brain as we change posture, such as from lying down to standing up. Where such signalling fails, we can suffer problems with balance and blood pressure.
The findings offer a clear rationale for manipulative treatments: “Reports from chiropractic journals say that manipulating the neck region helps to reduce blood pressure in some people,” Prof Deuchars explained. “By identifying the pathways we can see why these treatments might work and it could also explain why some people suffering whiplash injuries may experience a change in their blood pressure.”
“The work also contributes to understanding postural hypotension – fainting which can be caused by standing up too fast. The neck muscles could be a part of the system which normally prevents this from happening by sending signals to the brain upon neck movement that posture has changed.”
More research is now needed to see which sensory nerve fibres and precisely which cells are involved in the process. Amongst other things, the team would now like to know what other brain regions the neck muscle termination site connects to. They believe that there are many malfunctions associated with whiplash injuries to the neck that could be better understood by unravelling these connections. They hope that this knowledge could be used to design more effective treatments for such injuries.
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