| By
Michael R. Diamond, MS, DC
The
aging process starts to get our attention at about
age 30 to 35 when the hormonal balance begins to shift,
favoring an increase in body fat and a decrease in
lean body mass. Today, many of the biomarkers of aging
can be measured, monitored and improved through lifestyle
changes and supplementation.
Establishing
an anti-aging practice within your chiropractic practice
starts the same way you should begin any other business
endeavor — with a mission statement. In fact,
establish two mission statements — your own
personal mission statement and an anti-aging mission
statement for your practice.
An
example of a personal mission is: “To improve
myself and to help others.” An anti-aging mission
could be: “To live longer. To live better.”
Once
you have focused on your mission, the next step is
to set goals. For an anti-aging chiropractor, these
may include removing vertebral subluxation complexes,
preventing disease, preventing cancer, slowing brain
aging, balancing hormones, improving memory, improving
longevity, losing fat weight, increasing lean body
mass, improving energy, improving sexual function
and making the patient look and feel good.
Mission
and goals established, where do you go from here?
Here are seven suggested steps:
1
Become an example. Fix yourself first! Are
you out of shape? Do you look healthy or at death’s
door? Lead by example!
Some
ways to set an example: Get a complete physical examination,
including diagnostic tests. Improve your diet. Get
seven to eight hours of restful uninterrupted sleep
per night. Perform stress-reduction techniques, such
as yoga or meditation. Eliminate the bad foods and
eat a well-balanced diet. Take supplements to correct
vitamin/mineral/micronutrient deficiencies and correct
hormonal imbalances. Develop a positive mental attitude.
And exercise regularly — no excuses.
2
Study. For your patients and your referral
sources to consider you an expert, you have to develop
expertise.
Some ways to do this:
•
Attend training programs provided by supplement companies,
colleges and other reputable sources.
•
Subscribe to the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
and read their journals.
•
Research online and keep folders of materials on your
computer’s hard drive for easy reference.
•
Buy the latest ICD code book and browse through the
diagnosis codes. Learn how to pick a working diagnosis
for the lab tests that you will be ordering.
3
Prepare your staff. Just as you are an example
to your patients, so are your staff members. Work
with them to improve their lifestyles.
4
Structure your office. Your office should
reflect you as an anti-aging physician. Some things
you will need to do:
•
Design and print your forms — stationary, intake
forms, HIPAA forms, business cards, etc.
•
Establish accounts with the laboratories you will
use. Get their brochures and become familiar with
their technical information.
•
Determine your fee schedule for a new-patient consultation
and follow-up visits. Identify appropriate CPT codes.
•
Decide on which supplements you will carry. Gather
catalogs on nutritional supplements and compounding
pharmacies. Ask questions about manufacturing standards
and quality control and only deal with the most reputable
companies that stand behind their products.
5
Begin patient recruitment. Becoming a busy
anti-aging chiropractor takes more than hanging your
shingle. Remember that every patient over age 30 is
a potential candidate for your anti-aging medicine
program.
Keeping
your patients young
When
patients begin to come to your anti-aging clinic,
consider these visit-by-visit recommendations:
Visit
1
• Conduct a new patient consultation and
exam;
• Establish goals with the patient;
• Determine lab tests to be performed.
• When you are ready to end the visit,
give the patient a food diet recall form, lab
requisition form or test kits, an exercise survey
and other surveys based upon the questionnaire.
Visit
2
• Review lab test results and give a copy
to the patient;
• Make supplement recommendations;
• Go over the patient’s food-diet
recall;
• Refer the patient to specialists if
necessary or run additional lab tests.
Visit
3
• Review the other surveys with the patient;
• Go over dietary modifications;
• Give hormonal supplement recommendations;
• Give progress chart to patient.
Visit
4
• Teach a total-body stretching program;
• Make core exercise recommendations.
Visit
5
• Make cardio recommendations;
• Establish weight-training recommendations.
After the fifth visit, schedule patients for
monthly follow-up visits that include a weigh-in. |
Assess the potential for your anti-aging clientele
by going through your active bins and flagging every
potential candidate. Then go through your inactive
files to see if they contain patients who would be
potentially interested in anti-aging.
At
the beginning of your day, go through your appointment
book and pick out potential candidates for your program.
Develop a relationship with your community’s
medical doctors and nutritionists. They are excellent
referral sources. But a word of caution: Don’t
approach them until you know your physiology, endocrinology,
supplement protocols and hormone protocols cold!
Do
approach massage therapists, personal trainers and
gyms as soon as you have basic proficiency —
plus 25 patients on your program.
6
Triage every patient. Every patient over
age 30 is a potential candidate, but some of them
will have more urgent needs than others. Triage your
patients:
•
Urgent. The patient has a condition that is currently
causing a decrease in the quality of life or a dangerous
hidden risk factor, such as CAD, diabetes or cancer.
•
Emergent. Patients who fit into this category have
a condition that if left untreated will lead to a
deterioration or loss of health. Some conditions include:
obesity, hormonal imbalances, dysinsulinemia, dyslipidemia,
loss of memory and sexual dysfunction.
•
Nonurgent. Patients who have nonurgent problems can
wait until the urgent and emergent problems are solved.
Remember:
You will find hidden pathology! When you do you must
refer to a specialist. Try not to lose control of
the patient – unless it is cancer. Then, the
oncologist will usually take control of the case.
7
Run a disciplined practice. Manage your practice
to make sure that your patients receive your complete
attention when they are with you — and know
that you support them in their efforts to achieve
and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Here are some practice-management tips:
•
Never give lab results over the phone! Lab results
can be complicated. To make sure your patient understands,
you need to watch body language and make eye contact.
You can’t do that over the phone.
•
Do not answer questions over the phone unless it is
an emergency. This isn’t the best use of your
time — nor is it the best way to treat a patient.
Schedule an appointment.
•
Schedule appropriately for new patient appointments
or follow-up visits. Allow adequate time.
•
Set up e-mail support for patients. You can charge
a monthly fee for this.
•
Get the patient’s spouse involved and on the
program as well. They will support each other and
make better use of your recommendations.
•
Refer all patients over 30 to a dermatologist for
a yearly total body skin exam.
•
Recommend a yearly eye exam by an optometrist.
Anti-aging
medicine in a chiropractic practice does not have
to take a lot of money or time but it does take a
lot of knowledge. Leave no stone unturned and you
will find your answers under the elusive rock of wisdom.
Improve your health and your patient’s health
daily, one step at a time, and you will be astounded
at the results.
Dr.
Michael R. Diamond has practiced in East Patchogue,
N.Y. since 1990. He has his BS in athletic training,
MS in exercise physiology, was a NYS EMT and is currently
certified as a Master Personal Trainer from ISSA and
in natural HRT from Giovane Medical Inc. He is a member
of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and
the Life Extension Foundation. He can be contacted
at 631-758-7111 or by e-mail at zanshin61@aol.com
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