People, our patients, are inundated with stress these days.  They seem to be always in a hurry, and, they have less to spend.

How do you capitalize on this phenomena as a business owner?  You address it and make modifications to your  business.  Find ways to streamline your operations, cut costs, and offer better service at the same time.  Think of yourself as the governor of California.  Californians are facing a huge deficit as tax revenue has fallen and the unemployment rate has sky rocketed.  What would YOU do as governor to cut costs and get back into the black?

Well, take this train of thought and apply it to your business.  Are there one or two too many forms that you’re having your patients fill out?  Can your exam and report of findings be given on the first day, and in 15 minutes?  Can the jobs of your front and  back staff be combined?  Are there ways to have the patient help you do the SOAP notes each visit, saving you time?

Also, are you using today’s technology to leverage your marketing and save you time?  For example, using an email marketing system to automate your marketing; using You Tube to educate patients on exercises and stretches and the importance of keeping their chiropractic visits; using video email to send personalized messages to all of your patients; using FaceBook to stay in your patients’ mind and win that battle for attention, and getting them to refer their friends to you; perhaps using an answering service plus online scheduling system that will allow them to take your calls and schedule appointments while you do other things?  Or perhaps using WebEx to do a new patient webinar?

These are just a couple of things you can do to trim costs and automate your practice.  And that is what this blog is all about.

Economists are saying that 2011 is going to be more of 2010:  high, persistent unemployment rate,  depressed home prices and less consumer spending.  Consider cutting your overhead by using technology and operating leaner, meaner and more focused and pass on the savings to your patients.  Go on ahead and lower your cash rate if it is $50 or more per visit.  Your patients are watching every penny they spend, and if you announce a discount on your services it will be a big incentive for them to return.