Class 113 - Just a reminder that your plans are due 3 weeks from today, in hard copy on my desk (not in the mail) nlt 4 pm CST. If you need any assistance, please feel free to contact me.
This week's discussion is in regard to finding a good fit with an associateship. What are you looking for and how will you know what is a good fit for you? What are you doing to find an associateship. Be specific, be creative. Also, list two questions you have asked or plan to ask the Doctor during the interview process. Team challenge - you can't list the same questions as someone has already posted. Last who has been successful?
Have a great week. "Odd Team" Blogs are due Monday Sep 12th. Alexis
Finding a good fit for an associate I feel would first consist of finding someone with your same philosophy, it would be problematic for a Gonstead specific chiro to work with an Activator doctor. Also, to find a doctor that shares the same work ethic as you, if you want to be at the clinic 40+ hrs a week, don't join into a 3hr/day clinic thats MWF.
ReplyDeletetwo questions:
1. What are you looking for in an associate?
2. When do you want to hire someone?
Mike Petrie - Group 11
ReplyDeleteSome of the things I would look for if I was searching for a doctor to associate with are: the doctor's short and long term goals; the doctor business philosophy, is the practice getting ran ethically and abiding by the state's standards of practice; the doctor's patient and employee personality, has he had employee or patient grievances filed against him and why, or will his personality with patients and employees match mine; finally, the doctor's stance on chiropractic philosophy and background science knowledge, is the doctor knowledgeable about the most recent literature regarding chiropractic, physiology, or physical therapy.
Two questions I might want to ask a doctor are:
1) What are your short and long term goals for your practice?
2) How do you maintain your patient records, and are you currently considering switching to an electronic system, if not currently being implemented.
Group 3-
ReplyDeleteSome things you should be looking for when searching for an associateship is a doctor and a practice that follows you own philosophy and beliefs, a doctor that believes in your potential and is looking for someone to help with every aspect of the practice. It is also important to make sure your personality and the doctors work together. It would be a really good idea if you could spend a few days with the doctor, doing a shadowing type of thing so you can get feel of the flow of the office, how the doctor handles situations, and if you can work with the other employees in the office.
Ways you can find an associateship:
- Look on the palmer website for doctors looking for an associate doctor.
- Talk to doctors in the area you want to be in and see if they know of doctors looking for an associate.
- Look in the chiropractic magazines for your area (example- Michigan Association of Chiropractors)- there are doctors that post ads for associates in these type of magazines.
Two questions:
1. What is your overall goal when looking for an associate?
2. What type of tasks are you looking for your associate to do?
Group 1:
ReplyDeleteWhen looking for a practice to be an associate at, I would look at what type of patients the practice normally sees. Then, if you have something that you could offer the clinic that is different from what they normally see, you could be someone in the office that pulls in more patients from them because you “specialize” in different types of patients. For example, if an office doesn’t see may athletes and you have experience with working with athletes, you would potentially be an excellent addition to the staff because you could pull in a whole different market of patients. That would, in turn, bring in a lot more revenue for the clinic.
Also, make sure that the office is in an area that you enjoy living in because an employer may be more willing to look at you if he knows that you are going to stay for a while, especially if he is looking to add someone else in the office.
You also need to make sure that you will get along with all of the people in the office. If not, you will be causing more stress to yourself and all of the other people in the office.
What I have been doing to find an associateship is I sent out a cover letter and my curriculum vitae to all the chiropractic clinics in the area that I’m living in. In my cover letter, I explained that I would be graduating soon and I’m looking for employment possibilities. I wrote about the techniques that I’m most comfortable with as well as a little bit about myself. I have gotten a few interviews as a result as my mailings so I’m hoping that something will come from them.
2 Questions:
1. Is the doctor open to having the associate practice different adjusting techniques than the doctor may use?
2. Will there be marketing that advertises a new associate as part of the office and who will be the one paying for it?
Group 17
ReplyDeleteI think one of the biggest things that is important when looking for an associateship is making sure that you and your Doctor are on the same page with regards to what yours and the doctors responsibilites are during the associateship.
I think one of the common mistakes that happens is the two parties invovled don't have the same expectations for the job. Just by communicating what you are looking for from your associateship to the Dr. you wil be working under.
Two good questions:
What technique(s) do you use to treat your patients?
How much freedom will have to make decisions about patient care?
Grant Packard Group 7
ReplyDeleteTo start you must know where you would like to live. Every successful chiropractor told me to pick an area you would like to live and practice in that community. To find a good associateship position may be a process. Finding a doctor with similar practice philosophy and expectations can be a challenge. First contact and job shadow successful chiros in your community; those who are advertising a position and those who are not. Creating a relationship with chiros in your community will lead to more options.
What are your specific expectations in a new graduate and associate?
Every detail about financial agreement?
As far as an associateship goes, I would be looking for someone who has similar chiropractic and business philosophies as I have. So, my two questions (as well as many others) would be:
ReplyDelete1. What is your chiropractic philosophy?
2. What is your business philosophy?
To find as associateship, try looking on the Palmer website and the e-mail listings we’ve been getting in our e-mails, checking with state associations, checking with doctors in the area you are interested in going, or if there’s a particular technique you are interested in pursuing going to a seminar and asking around.
Group 13:
ReplyDeleteWhen looking for an associateship it is important to be in an office you feel comfortable seeing patients in. Not only does this involve the quality of equipment in the office, but the up keep of the property and type of care patients are receiving. Looking for online adds, calling offices in the area you plan on practicing in, and networking with doctors that have already been contacted. Also, finding chiropractic meetings in the area that you plan on practicing in, such as philosophy meetings, and state accreditation conventions.
Questions
1. Have you worked with associates in the past, if so what were the outcomes?
2. How will you're practice benefit from my presence, and how will my career benefit from this associateship.
Group 23:
ReplyDeleteIn finding an associateship that fits with you; it is important to find an office in a location you want to be. It is also important to find a place where you fit in. You should make sure your personality is compatible with the others Drs. in the office at least in a professional atmosphere. You would need to make sure that your contract would be fair and that there is room for you in the office. It is important that you feel comfortable in the atmosphere you will be working in and that you can see yourself working in the environment. These are a few things that I feel are important in finding an associateship position.
1. Is there a potential to become a partner?
2. Is there a no compete clause and what does that entail?
Group 21:
ReplyDeleteSome things we would be looking for when searching for an associateship are patient growth, doctor personality, office atmosphere, location, and philosophy.
We think that if you are going to be joining an office it should have a steady patient growth. If the office has shown little growth over the last couple of years, is there enough patients for you to be seeing? Is the clinic looking to increase its patient size is a very important piece of information in knowing whether or not you will be able to make it long term.
If you and the doctor have different personalities you want to make sure that you will be able to tolerate each other. You may not always be seeing the other doctor but you will be working together and making decisions together so it is best to know before hand if your two personalities will match.
We feel the atmosphere of the office is very important in determining if you will get along with the other workers. Is it a laid back office, is it a very strict office or somewhere between? All questions you need to know what you expect before joining a clinic.
We also think the location of the office is very important. Is it near a high traffic area? Is it in a small or large city? Can the city support another chiropractor?
And lastly as everyone else has stated, the philosophy of the doctor already in practice and your philosophy must be similar. You can not see each others patients if you do not have the same techniques that the other doctor uses. You will need to see each others patients during vacations, emergencies and any other circumstance that may come up. You also want to be promoting chiropractic in the same manner as the other doctor so every one is on the same page.
1. Is the location and practice big enough to handle a new associate?
2. Will you treat me as an equal or will you treat me as if I'm just the new guy?
Group 27
ReplyDeleteLocation of the practice is one of the most important factor when we look for an associateship. Because you and your family have to live your own life besides seeing patients in clinic and you have to be in that town for a long time, it has to be a place where you want to live and it should be acceptable and affordable for your family.
Also, you need to find out the partner's chiropractic philosophy and business plan that drives them to achieve their specific goal.You cannot fit into the practice that is run by philosophy and business plan that is different than yours.
Questions
1. What does chiropractic mean to you and how do you apply that to your patients?
2. What is your strength and weakness as a chiropractor?
I think someone looking for to associate should look to see if the Dr's personality is a fit for you. Also you should look at the Dr's ethics in his/her's practice.I have recently looked at a practice where the Dr commits insurance fraud on a daily basis. It was a nightmare.
ReplyDeleteQuestions
1. What are you looking for in an associate?
2. Have you had an associate in the past?
Jacob Pudenz
ReplyDeleteWhen looking to find a place to associate you need to consider is location, hours and philosphy. You would want a location that fits your needs and also if you have a family. When it comes to the hours you work, you may want to make sure that he/she can make a schedule that is workable for eachother so both Doc's can be happy. Philosphy makes up a huge part when it comes to associating. I feel that you will want to make sure that the docs see eye to eye on the techiques you use in the clinic.
1. What do you expect out of a new associate coming into your business?
2. Have you ever had an associate before and what did gain from the experience?
Group 14
ReplyDeleteAn associateship needs to show a few qualities to be a good fit for any chiropractor, especially a recent graduate. Most of these qualities revolve around the employer that you are seeking employment with. Compatibility with the hiring doctor is a must so I agree with everyone above stating that we need to make sure the personalities and philosophies blend together.
We need to be sure that the practice isn't waning before we sign any contracts. A business needs to be showing positive growth before we are employed or at least be able to show the potential for more growth. Unfortunately, there are many instances where an associate is brought in to a clinic with the single goal of boosting a practice to where it once was.
Another quality feature is finding a setting that allows you to grow as a doctor. It is a great thing to be able to walk into a clinic and practice the expected techniques. However, people tend to grow and even change their methods with some years under them. The associate relationship should be open to new techniques and ideas to promote growth and prevent a stale environment in the clinic.
The search for an associateship has involved both networking and the internet for myself. Ask chiropractors that you know whether they know of anyone looking searching for employees. It's amazing how many doctors that I knew were immediately able to throw me a few names/phone numbers. Internet sites for all of the big chiropractic schools also have employment pages that are helpful.
Two questions:
1) Is this the first time you have had an associate in this office? If not, what did the person before me go on to do?
2) How and when will my performance be evaluated with this associateship?
Group 11
ReplyDeletethe right associateship begins with knowing exactly what you want and how much compensation you need in order to pay your bills and save for your future. if you do not know these things problems will surly follow.
We have use every chiropractic college website for they all have listings, the chiropractic associations, google searches, and chiroplanet.
Questions
how are the bonuses calculated?
where do you see me in your practice in 5 yrs?
Group 19
ReplyDeleteI'd have to agree with many of the other comments on the blog and the advice I've heard from numerous other chiropractors... GO to a place you want to live! You have to be happy in the area you are in, otherwise your performance will be affected by it and your patients and employers will see it.
When you find that area you want to be in set up meeting times with any and every doc in the surrounding area and shadow them or just have a quick lunch/coffee. You would be suprised by the number of offers you receive just from that. They may not even offer an associateship but maybe someone would have open office space and would work with you as a new grad and help you out as an independent contractor. Just as an example, Roz and I have had separate occasions where a doc we shadowed offered us office space for little to nothing as we worked and grew our practice.
A source we utilized quite a bit was the chiropractic associations classified sections. We've also been receiving the new Palmer Business Center emails about available positions. They've done a fantastic job with organizing that classified page.
Questions we've asked are
-What is your compensation package?
-How can I help your practice achieve it's goals?