Coaching Your Chiropractic and Healthcare Patients
- Ed Petty
- Jul 29
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 5
Consider adding this to your Report of Findings
“Mrs. Jones, it will take 3 things to get better.”
Many, many years ago, I heard this from an extraordinarily successful chiropractic doctor. He invited me to observe him discuss this in a report of findings with one of his patients.
I sat on the side, next to his knee-chest table, and with the patient’s permission, observed, paid attention.
The first part of the report was typical: a review of the findings, an explanation of the condition, a treatment plan, and a description of the potential consequences of not treating the condition.
Pretty standard, even now.
Then, he told the patient: “Mrs. Jones, it will take 3 things to get better: Time. Repetition. Effort.”
He then went over each point. For example, it is obvious that it takes time to improve anything. It also requires repeated applications, such as painting a house, cleaning out a garage, or watering a garden.
But the last element he emphasized: Effort.
Any improvement takes work, he said, and gave examples. These included activities such as performing home exercises to improve their condition, attending a class on spinal fitness, and simply making it to the office to maintain their schedule.
He was an athletic doctor, and I believe this influenced his approach. He was coaching his patient, much like an athletic coach would motivate a player.
Yes, you are a well-educated, skilled, and caring doctor. But consider your role as a coach as well. You want to get your patient, as a “player,” to improve, and you know what it takes. You want them to win. So – you tell them!
They have a responsibility, just as you do. Seek your patient’s agreement on these three ingredients for a successful course of treatment, and remind them at approximately every 6 visits.
I have seen this work. It also applies to all aspects of our lives whenever we want to improve something.
In fact, I remind the offices we work with that these are the 3 factors needed to improve their business.
Educate your patients. But coach your chiropractic and healthcare patients on what it takes to get better, and that is:
Time
Repetition, and
Effort.
Keep caring, coaching, and stay Goal Driven.
Ed
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