Marketing to MD's: Is it worth it? - by The Evidence Based Chiropractor

Marketing a Chiropractic practice can be an interesting adventure.  Every day it seems as though a new marketing "breakthrough" has occurred which promises success beyond our wildest dreams.  Unfortunately, as many chiropractors can attest, these schemes are usually short lived at best, and stretch the boundaries of legality at worst.  

Building interdisciplinary referral relationships is perhaps one of the most fiscally responsible forms of outreach which also has the ability to produce seriously long term results.  Once a local physician begins referring to your office (as long as you provide quality care), they should continue to refer for many years to come with little additional marketing expense.  

For physicians new to interdisciplinary outreach, lets take a look at a sample ROI using The Evidence Based Chiropractor membership model-

Yearly Costs-

$357.00 - Membership to The Evidence Based Chiropractor

$294.00 - Postage to reach out to 50 Physicians Per Month for the Year

$150.00- Miscellaneous expense (envelopes, paper, ink)

$180.00- One Hour of Staff Time Per Month at $15.00 per hour

$981.00 Per Year All Included

Most Chiropractors have a case or patient value set at somewhere between $750-$1500 each. Using our current numbers, you would need to receive 1 MD Referral PER YEAR to break even using our system.  Even just a single MD Referral each month would potentially generate between $8,019-$17,019 in additional income.  

Perhaps more than numbers on a spreadsheet, providing chiropractic care for patients who would not have normally entered your office is the best reward of all. 

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-The Evidence Based Chiropractor is the fastest growing chiropractic marketing group in the profession.  We are dedicated to increasing chiropractic utilization by showcasing research.  Marketing to medical doctors through research is proven, cost effective, and can dramatically improve your incoming referrals.  Join us.  Lets grow chiropractic together.

MD Marketing for Introverted Chiropractors - by The Evidence Based Chiropractor

For many Chiropractors, especially those who have recently graduated, reaching out to Medical Doctors can seem like a daunting task.  It can feel intimidating and overwhelming.  But, by having a systematic approach and proper preparation, even the most introverted chiropractorscan succeed in building referral relationships.  

Proper Preparation- The first thing to do is become familiar and comfortable with the landmark research regarding chiropractic care.  Our members have access to the Top Chiropractic Research PDF in our Members section.  Simply becoming familiar with a paper or two for each spinal region (headache/cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine) will provide you a good foundation of knowledge.

Systematic Approach-  Members of The Evidence Based Chiropractor have a full, easy to implement system for their outreach.  However, if you are not a member, then I would suggest creating a plan for outreach.  In short, this would include creating a target list, verifying the list, making a "first touch", following up for a meeting, and subsequently reaching out with research and case notes.  

When you have a systematic approach and prepare properly, the anxiety of reaching out fades away.  There are no other practitioners more qualified to provide conservative care for the spine than Chiropractors.  Continued research fully supports the safety and efficacy of the Chiropractic adjustment.  The onus is on each of us to reach out and build referral relationships with other physicians in our community.

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-The Evidence Based Chiropractor is the fastest growing chiropractic marketing group in the profession.  We are dedicated to increasing chiropractic utilization by showcasing research.  Marketing to medical doctors through research is proven, cost effective, and can dramatically improve your incoming referrals.  Join us.  Lets grow chiropractic together.

Landmark Chiropractic Research- The UK BEAM Study- by The Evidence Based Chiropractor

The UK BEAM Study, published in 2004, examined a variety of treatments for back pain in a primary care setting.  They looked at active exercise (physical therapy), best care (medication and advice), and spinal manipulation.  They results were astounding.  In part, they concluded that, "At three and 12 months, participants randomized to the spinal manipulation package reported significant improvements in Roland disability scores and several secondary outcomes- pain, back beliefs, and general physical health.”

This piece of research should be a cornerstone of your interdisciplinary outreach!  

Interested in more research? Download the Top 10 Chiropractic Research Articles HERE.

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-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

Cervical Steroid Injection Helps Only 1/3rd of Patients- by The Evidence Based Chiropractor

A recent study presented at the International Spine Invention Society Annual Meeting showed that only 1/3rd of patients who received cervical steroid injections actually benefitted from the procedure.  Specifically, they looked at patients suffering from cervical disc herniations.  The patients had previous MRI confirmed nerve root compromise. 

They found that 1 month after a transforaminal injection, only 35.4% reported a reduction in their radicular pain.  Last year, researchers found that every steroid injection in the lumbar spine increased the risk of fracture by 21.%.  Although we don't yet know the risk of fracture in the cervical spine, it appears to be quite a chance to take if the treatment (the injections) are useless in two-thirds of patients.  

Chiropractic care has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment option for patients with cervical radiculopathy.  As a matter of fact, a recent study showed direct reduction in nerve root pressure when a flexion/distraction type chiropractic technique was used in the cervical spine. 

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-The Evidence Based Chiropractor is the fastest growing chiropractic marketing group in the profession.  The service, founded and run by Dr. Jeff Langmaid, is dedicated to increasing chiropractic utilization by showcasing research.  Marketing to medical doctors through research is proven, cost effective, and can dramatically improve your incoming referrals.  Join us.  Lets grow chiropractic together.

MD Meeting Keynote Presentation- by The Evidence Based Chiropractor

Are you looking for an elegant, thoughtfully designed, research packed presentation for meeting with local physicians?

If so, our new MD Presentation is for you.

Whether you are speaking to a large group of Primary Physicians or you have a one-on-one meeting, be prepared with this MD Presentation.

Elegantly-designed, research-based, and complete with presenter notes. This presentation touches on the current state of spine care, spinal anatomy, challenges with the current treatment options, chiropractic research, and how to move forward with a referral relationship.  

At a robust 52 slides, this presentation can be pared down for when you have limited time or used in full when time is not an issue.  Loaded with highlights of current research, this is a compelling tool to have at you disposal as you meet with Medical Doctors in your community.  

Download your copy HERE.

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-The Evidence Based Chiropractor is the fastest growing chiropractic marketing group in the profession.  The service, founded and run by Dr. Jeff Langmaid, is dedicated to increasing chiropractic utilization by showcasing research.  Marketing to medical doctors through research is proven, cost effective, and can dramatically improve your incoming referrals.  Join us.  Lets grow chiropractic together.