article archive
February 2007
Taking the lead as health experts
by Dr. Ron Oberstein
Mainstream America is finally turning
the corner away from conventional medicine and its antiquated
procedures, so isn't it time chiropractors took the lead
as the experts in relation to health? It's always been chiropractic's
contention that a healthy nervous system is paramount to
a healthy body, and as DCs we should never stray from our
foundation. Being a leader in the health care community,
it's not only our job, but our responsibility to either educate
our patients on health and wellness, or point them in the
direction where they can find this information. With America
finally understanding the need for proper spinal care, exercise
and a healthy lifestyle diet, we as a profession are in the
perfect place to take the lead when it comes to health and
wellness awareness.
How do we as chiropractors take the steps
to educating our public about health? After all, look at
the competition. Big box retailers such as Wal‑Mart are now adding organic
foods to their grocery sections and fast food chains are
adding low carb healthy entrees. Walk into any large chain
pharmacy like CVS, Walgreen's, Sav‑On's and Longs,
and you'll find sections for healthy living, nutritional
shelves, and even homeopathic remedies.
Though these chains
aren't carrying high quality natural products, they are filling
a niche that has been created by our profession and others
that preach natural health care. It's evident the big boy
chains know that the way of the future is in natural products
and healthy foods, and they're ensuring their slice of the
pie every day. So, how do we compete against these multi‑million
dollar establishments?
We don't.
The real question is, "How do they compete against
us?" We're the health experts, we have he loyalty and
allegiance within our patient ranks, and we have the knowledge
and foundation when it comes to true health care. The question
is, what are we doing in our offices to share our knowledge?
The main point to understand is that chiropractors as a group
have sown the seeds of a healthy lifestyle and those seeds
are now bearing fruit. Did you know the chiropractic office
and the chiropractic patient are now becoming sought‑after
advertising targets for top national health companies? As
the chiropractic message and the patient audience is targeted,
there are major opportunities to have these companies co‑op
the promotion of their healthy lifestyle products within
your office setting that can translate into additional revenue
for you...while the products and services promoted are in
line with the healthy living philosophy.
Let's face it, our
patients are consumers and what better way to assist them
in their choices than by having the best products and companies
information available to them to promote our healthy message?
Our patients trust us, value our opinions, and look to us
for guidance and answers. I personally don't want the Wal‑Marts
of the world to educate our patients on health and wellness.
I want chiropractors to do the job.
For so many years, the
likes of Andrew Weil, Deepak Chopra, and other literary authors
have been sharing their beliefs and philosophies on health.
Time and again we've heard people (and ourselves) say, "They're
telling the chiropractic story, and they aren't even chiropractors!" Now,
chiropractors have the opportunity to do the educating.
Printed
materials in our office reception areas can compliment the
chiropractic understanding that a healthy nervous system
is essential to a healthy body. Patients can be exposed to
everything from top organic food companies and diet/lifestyle
changes to exercise and wellness programs and products that
promote better health. By directing them to what we all believe
in, they receive added support in making correct choices
to round out the high quality chiropractic care we give.
In
the end, patients benefit and chiropractic truly accomplishes
its mission... creating healthier, happier, highly functioning
people!
(Dr. Ron Oberstein, has been lecturing and coaching
chiropractors for 20 of his 25 years as a DC. In 1994, he
founded The Power Zone, a chiropractic company that teaches
doctors and their team members how to unlock their hidden
potential so they can become the best they can be. Ten years
later, Dr. Oberstein founded the Chiropractors Buying Group,
designed to offer chiropractors the finest products, latest
technology, lowest prices, and greater choices in purchases
for the chiropractic office. As the profession's sole chiropractic
buying group, CBG sets the standard for lowering costs while
providing the best products and services available. To start
saving ‑‑ up
to 67% or more ‑‑ on products used daily in the
chiropractic practice, join 4,000+ CBG members by going to
www.cbgsave.com. Or, call 800‑649‑0899 for FREE
membership.)