The Evidence Based Chiropractor Blog

Hundreds of chiropractic marketing and research articles to help you grow.

Jeff Langmaid 6/19/24 Jeff Langmaid 6/19/24

How Do Doctor Referrals Work: The Basics You Need to Know

Understanding the Process: How Do Doctor Referrals Work?

When it comes to building referral relationships between chiropractors and medical doctors, understanding the process is crucial. The referral system can seem complex, but it's founded on a simple principle: interprofessional collaboration to enhance patient care.

Medical doctors refer patients to specialists when they identify a need beyond their expertise. In a fundamental sense, it's an expression of trust in the specialist's ability to provide high-quality, focused care. For chiropractors, being the recipient of such trust necessitates understanding the process and being prepared to deliver exceptional service.

So, how does the doctor referral process work? It begins with the doctor recognizing that a patient could benefit from chiropractic care. This could be due to a range of issues, from chronic back pain to recovery from injury. The doctor writes a referral letter, which typically outlines the patient's medical history, current condition, and the reason for the referral. One of the key aspects of building referral relationships is helping other doctors understand who and when they should refer to your practice. Most have no idea what you do as a chiropractor!

As a chiropractor, the moment you receive a referral, it's your opportunity to shine. You have a chance to demonstrate your expertise and build a relationship with the patient and the referring doctor. Consistently exceptional care can lead to a steady stream of referrals, growing your practice and reputation in the medical community.

Here's a surprising fact: A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that over 80% of medical doctors reported referring their patients to chiropractors. This indicates a significant opportunity for chiropractors to foster relationships and build a thriving, referral-based practice.

It's time to embrace the potential of doctor referrals and position your practice for growth. Remember, every referral you receive represents a vote of confidence in your skills and service - make it count!

Navigating Doctor Referrals

In the labyrinthine world of healthcare, one of the most crucial connections a chiropractor can establish is a solid referral relationships with other healthcare professionals. Establishing these relationships might seem daunting, but it's far from impossible. Let's demystify the process together!

Firstly, let's tackle why these relationships matter. A strong referral network is a lifeline for any healthcare provider, especially for chiropractors. It amplifies your reach, strengthens your credibility, and, most importantly, provides your patients with holistic healthcare solutions.

But how can you foster these relationships? Communication. Effective communication is key, and not just in relaying patient information. Showcasing your expertise and willingness to collaborate can help establish trust and respect, crucial cornerstones in any professional relationship.

Our MD Referral Process involves three distinct pillars:

Case Notes: showing you are actively co-managing and getting great results
Monthly Marketing Research Updates: to consistently stay top of mind
MD Meetings: to accelerate the process of building trust and rapport

One surprising fact to note: A recent study showed that patients referred by a doctor are four times more likely to follow through with treatment. That's a significant multiplier for your practice!

However, building these referral relationships is a journey, not a sprint. With patience, persistence, and a genuine desire to contribute to improving patient care, you can navigate the sometimes perplexing maze of doctor referrals, building a network that benefits you, your practice, and, most importantly, your patients.

Demystifying Healthcare: How Do Doctor Referrals Work?

Doctor referrals are often seen as an enigmatic process shrouded in jargon and bureaucratic red tape. However, these referrals are essential to healthcare, and understanding their inner workings can provide numerous benefits, particularly for chiropractors seeking to build strong referral relationships with medical doctors.

Here's a surprising fact: A study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information revealed that over 35% of patients required a referral for specialist care. That means an extensive network of potential partnership opportunities is just waiting to be tapped into.

Medical referrals can pave the way for collaborative care, ensuring patients receive holistic treatments that align with their needs. This is where chiropractors come into the picture. By thoroughly understanding the referral system, chiropractors can engage more effectively with medical doctors, promoting their services as a beneficial adjunct to traditional treatments.

In essence, doctor referrals are a form of professional endorsement. Medical doctors will only refer their patients to specialists they trust. Thus, establishing a strong rapport with them can significantly boost your practice. Moreover, referrals can be a testament to your quality of care, reinforcing your reputation in the healthcare community. Our 3-step process (outlined above) is how you can build trust fastest.

Doctor Referrals Explained: Building a Referral Network for Chiropractors

As a chiropractor, developing strong referral relationships with medical doctors can play a transformative role in the growth and success of your practice. However, the process of cultivating these relationships may feel daunting.

Referrals from MDs bring a certain level of credibility and trust. Patients referred by their primary care doctors are more likely to be receptive to chiropractic treatment, improving patient outcomes and satisfaction.

Remember, start by focusing on patient-centered care and open communication. Keep the referring doctors informed about their patients' chiropractic treatments and progress. This builds trust and educates them about the value of chiropractic care.

According to a recent study, up to 80% of the population suffers from back pain at some point in their lives, and many of them are actively seeking alternative treatments. This presents a massive opportunity for chiropractors to step in and offer their specialized care.

Remember, building referral relationships is not a one-off event but a continuous process that requires persistence and consistency. So, start reaching out and follow up diligently. Before you know it, you'll have a flourishing network that benefits your practice and significantly improves patient care in your community.

Click to Learn More About The MD Referral Program

Want to get better results faster using a proven referral-building system?

Don't miss out on our proven MD Referral Program, specifically designed to help chiropractors like you build successful referral relationships with medical doctors. The proven program includes everything you need to start generating referrals for your practice.

"I've only been a member two days, and I got my first referral from a medical doctor." - Dr. Bryan Call

"I am currently averaging 30 referrals a month from local providers. Thank you for your help in making this happen!" - Dr. Boyle

Jeff Langmaid 5/19/24 Jeff Langmaid 5/19/24

Best Practices: What's Working Right Now to Attract More MD Referrals

Unleashing the Power of Communication

Open communication is one of the most effective ways to build robust referral relationships with medical doctors (MDs). This strategy involves understanding your MD counterparts, their concerns, needs, and how your chiropractic practice can support and complement their work. Establishing regular dialogues can build trust and understanding, leading to the growth of a mutually beneficial professional network.

You might be surprised that a recent study revealed that over 70% of MD referrals are based on established relationships and effective communication! The other thing to remember is that "MD Referrals" don't only need to be MD's! The real question is who (other healthcare providers) in your community have your ideal patients in their practice. Whether it's a sports doctor, pediatrician, midwife, or doula- they are all potential referral sources for your practice depending on your interest and focus.

The Art of Patient-Focused Collaboration

Another vital aspect of attracting MD referrals is demonstrating your commitment to patient-focused collaboration. This means working jointly with MDs to provide holistic care for patients. Chiropractors can foster a collaborative environment that puts patient health at the forefront by sharing patient progress updates and involving MDs in the treatment planning process. This approach improves patient outcomes and enhances the professional relationship between chiropractors and MDs. The key here is sending Case Notes for your patient evaluations and re-evaluations. Case Notes help keep the other doctor updated on the patient's progress.

In many cases, other doctors have NO IDEA you are even co-managing. So how the ___ can they refer patients if they don't know you exist, that you already co-manage, or that you get great results? It's just common sense- but it's almost always overlooked.

Mastery of Clinical Excellence

MDs want to be assured that their referrals are going to competent and skilled professionals. You can attract more MD referrals by constantly improving your clinical skills, keeping abreast of the latest research, and integrating evidence-based practices into your treatment approach. This shows your dedication to maintaining high professional and clinical standards. While clinical skills are excellent to highlight to other healthcare providers, it's important to remember not to get too technical.

Just like the primary care doctor doesn't care about the size screw that a surgeon uses in a procedure, they don't care about the specifics of your technique and approach. What they do care about is that you have the skills needed to help their patients (which helps them by extension). So be sure to keep it simple. You don't need to impress them with your knowledge, but rather show you are a solid provider doing the right thing in a way that actually makes sense to THEM!

Leveraging Educational Opportunities

Finally, never underestimate the power of education in strengthening referral relationships. Regularly hosting informative sessions for MDs can help highlight the value of chiropractic care in overall health management. These could be case presentations, workshops, or webinars focused on various aspects of chiropractic care, its benefits, and its role in patient recovery and wellness. This approach establishes you as a thought leader in your field, enhancing your credibility and increasing your referral potential.

MD Meetings are the biggest accelerant for building referral relationships. They allow you to build trust and rapport rapidly, but they are difficult to schedule. The most important aspects of meetings are persistence in scheduling and asking the right questions once you've set the meeting. If you need a little extra help, download our MD Meeting guide today.

In conclusion, attracting MD referrals doesn't have to be an arduous task. Chiropractors can build strong referral relationships with MDs by focusing on effective communication, patient-centered collaboration, clinical excellence, and leveraging educational opportunities.

Click to Learn More About The MD Referral Program

Want to get better results faster using a proven referral-building system?

"I've only been a member two days, and I got my first referral from a medical doctor." - Dr. Bryan Call

"I am currently averaging 30 referrals a month from local providers. Thank you for your help in making this happen!" - Dr. Boyle

Jeff Langmaid 8/14/19 Jeff Langmaid 8/14/19

Getting Chiropractic Referrals from MD's with Research

“I am currently averaging 30 referrals a month from local providers. Thank you for your help in making this happen!” - Dr. C. Boyle

How to Market Your Chiropractic Practice to Generate Sustainable MD Referrals

Getting referrals from medical doctors with research is one of the most significant untapped chiropractic marketing strategies and opportunities.

What would your practice look like if you added on another 10, 20, or 30 new referred patients each month (without spending a dime on Facebook or Google Advertising)?

In this article I’ll show you the exact strategy to build referral relationships- and I’ll walk you through the proven process- step-by-step.

Let’s get started!

Building Your MD Referral Target List

The first step in getting referrals from other healthcare providers is to build your Target List. Your Target List will contain all of the doctors you are actively reaching out to and will help keep you organized.

If you're a chiropractor focused on pediatrics, you may want to focus your target list on OB-GYN's, midwives, doula's, and pediatricians. If you are more interested in taking care of the Crossfit community, you may choose to target gym owners, personal trainers, and sports medicine physicians.

Once you have created your Target List, then you begin your marketing and outreach.

The Three Steps of Getting MD Referrals

Sending Case Notes
Monthly Research Briefs
MD Meetings

With years of experience and thousands of referrals, we have discovered that a three-legged approach is the most effective when building referral relationships.

The first leg is to begin sending Case Notes to showcase the co-management and results you get with your patients. The second one is sending Research Brief's monthly which we're going to focus on here. The third is setting up and executing MD Meetings, where you have the opportunity to learn more about their practice and how you can help them and their clients achieve better health and wellness.

So Why Is Marketing Your Practice with Research So Important?

Research is your marketing. It's the only controllable aspect of your marketing, and it provides the consistency needed to get results.

By sending monthly Research Brief, you can guarantee top of mind awareness and positive branding, by positioning your practice. Consistency is the primary factor that drives the success of any marketing program. Monthly Research Briefs give you the chance to have consistency with your message.

Become a doc that is consistent and stays top of mind by sharing the latest research is a unique way to position your self in your local healthcare community. It doesn't require you to resort to cheesy tactics but instead allows you to market your practice in a way that you can be proud of.

Also, by "dripping" research each month, you can create far more impact than you could in a single meeting. As an example, if you meet with a doc, I would not recommend trying to tell them everything they never wanted to know about chiropractic. It's overwhelming and counterproductive.

Your monthly Research Updates drip the information to them every month. These monthly Research Briefs are the perfect tool to disperse an avalanche of pro-chiropractic information over a period of time. That process is way more impactful and effective at building referral relationships.

Research isn't the only way to do it, which is why we have Case Notes showcasing co-management and the great results you get in your practice as well meetings which build trust and rapport.

But remember, 95% of the "sale" in the follow-up. If you rely on only Case Notes and Meetings, you will be missing out on the consistency of your message. With Case Notes, you can't control who walks through your front door; so they ebb and flow with volume and are uncontrollable. Meetings are great, but clearly, you can't personally visit each doctor office on your target list each week.

Your Monthly Research Briefs Provide a Monthly Marketing Touchpoint, and a Controllable Marketing Asset.

Researchers have produced an abundance of papers supporting chiropractic care as one of the most safe and effective treatment options available, yet we hover at less than 15% utilization because very few of us build a sustainable practice with consistent referrals coming in from other healthcare providers.

It's our job (you and me) to get this information out to the public on our social channels and to the other healthcare providers in our community.

If you'd like more information about how you can systematize and automate that process to get results faster, then become a member of The Evidence Based Chiropractor today.

Ready to grow your referral base? Listen in to The EBC Podcast for weekly research updates and marketing strategies. If you’re ready to grow FASTER- become a member of The Evidence Based Chiropractor today.

Jeff Langmaid 12/15/14 Jeff Langmaid 12/15/14

The Importance of Refining Your Product and Service- by The Evidence Based Chiropractor

Recently, I was listening to Jason Fried (co-founder of 37Signals/Basecamp) talk about pulling back the lens on product development. While not every chiropractor is developing products; we are certainly all in the service industry. In a practical sense, I think this can be applied to every Chiropractors blog. For instance, why did you choose this brand of a new chiropractic table? What goes into your decision to upgrade the copy/design on your website? I believe that the answers to these questions are important, not only to your patients, but also to other chiropractors struggling with the same questions.

In light on this I want to touch on the evolution of our MD Research Briefs. We did not choose the design out of the sky, but rather it has been a journey. The original design is a distance cousin of our current design. Originally, I had a multipage letter/newsletter hybrid as you can see below.

The design was a bit cumbersome and lacked the elegance I had hoped to achieve. Additionally, one of the biggest challenges in reaching MD's is time. They are completely swamped in practice and probably don't have the time to read multiple pages of text (even if the layout is world class).

This started the process of our transition to the current format; a single page PDF with a customized header/footer, clear indication of the highlighted study, short and direct analysis, beautiful graphics, and some direct quotes. We have found that this design really fires on all cylinders.

In 2015, we will continue to explore new design ideas which can improve our message. Simplicity, elegance, and efficiency are the hallmarks of good design. And truthfully, the bottom line is that good design solves problems. The problem we encounter is the inequity of referrals from other health care professionals. I believe we can solve this problem with hard work, persistence, a clear message, and perhaps a little bit of good design.

-The Evidence Based Chiropractor has assisted hundreds of chiropractors around the globe build interdisciplinary referral relationships.

Have you viewed our FREE Guides? Download The MD Meeting and the 5 Secrets to MD Referrals today.

Jeff Langmaid 12/12/14 Jeff Langmaid 12/12/14

Chiropractic Care and the NFL in USA Today

Recently, USA Today featured an article on chiropractic care in NFL. The piece highlights how and why the worlds greatest athletes are seeking alternative care for the treatment of their health concerns. Essentially, the athletes need to heal as quickly as possible and perform with the highest function (performance). I posted a link to this article on my Facebook page and it immediately exploded across the internet.

The most important take away for me was that MD's and DC's are working together, in a very high stakes arena, for the benefit of the patient/athlete. Additionally, the article states that some athletes are seeking out the use of chiropractors as they hear about the results from their colleagues. While not all of us will have the opportunity to work on NFL players; we all can work towards better communication and cooperation with other physicians in our communities for the benefit of our patients.

-The Evidence Based Chiropractor has assisted hundreds of chiropractors around the globe build interdisciplinary referral relationships.

Have you viewed our FREE Guides? Download The MD Meeting and the 5 Secrets to MD Referrals today.