Miller\'s Moments

Is the product/procedure backed by research? 

In today’s world of evidence based medicine research is a key component.  If a product or procedure has research standing behind it and there is evidence for its use the likelihood of the procedure being a part of a scope of practice and the chance of third party reimbursement are good. 

If there is minimal research then the product/procedure may still have merit.  Sometimes vality for use is provided by wide spread use.  If many are using it with results even if antidotal  then there may be justification for use. 

Of course we have to realize that insurance carrier reimbursement is sometime scarce even with research is available.  This is often a matter of choice for them as apposed to common sense or good health care. 

Ask salesmen for copies and references of research related to there product/service.  You are always better off with it than without it.

Our first question falls under patient need.

“Is the product or procedure safe?”

This may seem a little obvious to some.  However, there are dozens of new products and service offered to the chiropractic profession each year.  Some of these are FDA approved or qualified under state law but some are not. 

No one wants to hurt a patient and it is a good idea to ask about FDA and other approvals prior to buying new equipment.  You should also double check your state law/scope of practice prior to purchase.  Just because a vendor tells you the product is ok, it does not mean it is.  Check it out.  Vendors of some products don’t always limit displaying and selling to states their products are approved in. 

A final thought for this question concerns the qualifications of the doctor and/or staff running the equipment or performing the procedure.  The products and services are often only as safe as those running them.

Talk to y0u later.

Jeff

Everyone,

I was excited when I was first asked to have a blog on the Chiro Eco website.  Honored in fact.  However, despite being a writer I am a all or nothing writer.  I will write several articles or a book and then not be in the mood to write or have an idea to write about for several weeks even months.  Posting one a week did not sound like much but then I experience a gap and I go weeks without ideas.  I always thought I would have a hard time having a week column in a newspaper because of my writing frequency.  I was right but, here is to making myself a columnist.

I have stressed over this now for months and I have now hit upon a subject I feel will be beneficial to Chiro Eco readers.  It originated with an article I wrote for Chiro Eco I believe in 2003 about avoiding a cluttered office.  This topic resurfaced in late 2008 and became the basis for a four hour lecture titled Revenue Centers; Purpose Purchace and Profit.  I brought out the article to prepare for a lecture at a chiropractic college, reworked the title and got together with Dr. Brian Jensen who works with me at Foot Levelers for his input.  We both use the lecture now and it has gotten a good response when we have used it.  Primarily when talking to chiropractic students.

The lecture covers five categories of questions a doctor should think through before purchasing equipment and services.  The questions are based on logical thinking  and avoid impulse buying.  The questions are timeless and could be used in any era of chiropractic practice.

I will begin by listing the question categories for you and then over the next several weeks I will go through each question individually discussing the pros and cons of the questions for adding equipment or services.

The categories are; Patient Need, Personnel (Doctor and Staff), Expenses, Facilities and Income. 

Talk to you soon

Jeff