| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Sweet_Tea |
Posted - Sep 02 2011 : 06:19:24 AM
I've had a long past few months. I have opened up a private chiropractic office, on Aug 29th. And I have learned a lot of lessons about business that they never taught us in all of my ($311,000+) expensive education.
They let us out of school telling us our unicorns will poop rainbows when we are doctors... that definitely is not the case.
I had a wide awakening when I found out just how much money I spent there becoming a doctor. I remember asking the registrar lady how much it will cost for the education and she said about 175 thousand for the actual credits, plus living expenses... she left out the fact that you have parking fees and lab fees every quarter, and living expenses. Oh and that they raise tuition every quarter about 5%. This was all a big slap in the face.. My loan payment is $2788.76. I called up these people and I said.. How ever am I supposed to pay that? the guy said "i'll just put it in forbearance, and no payment is due" I asked about the finance charges and interest, Oh and rest assured it still adds up. I was so disappointed in myself after racking up that much money and not having anything tangible to look at, except my diploma. Which i had to pay 149 dollars for the frame that went with it. Seriously.
And to think if i was going to get a loan for that much money, I would need to put down about 75k, sign over my first born and have a beacon score of about 700+ and be employed making over 120 grand a year. Oh well.
Here I am, First week open, and the lord blessed me with 5 patients so far this week. marketing was also left out of my curriculum. But, this is not bad from what the x-ray guys were telling me yesterday.
Insurance companies are out to get you. I think they secretly all have fun having you submit 35 pages worth of an application and call you and say, we have 5 more pages for you to send back.
Oh my favorite was Wednesday, this lady calls "we need you to fax over a signed word document stating your work history from December 2011 until August 2011". I'm thinking are you for real?
So I wrote her a word document and stated "December 16,2010 - (Graduated) UNEMPLOYED until August 28th, 2011 - Opened up a private practice trying to treat patients with insurance policies"
Maybe they will like that. and the more I get talking to these companies the more I think they are just screwing everyone that is insured by them. ugh.
Anyways... I'm happy I had 5 patients. and next Thursday I'm closing for the rest of the week, to go to the Eastern championships for cowboy mounted shooting, hoping to win some big money.. Then that Monday when I get back, I'm going to Market my Clinic... and Try to make myself successful and get this debt gone.
we sold our whole herd of cattle to pay for me to buy the tables, x-ray machine and miscellaneous equipment I need to operate.
It's just scary, because there is no guarantees and especially with the economy and if we get obamacare I'm royally screwed.
I told my husband I wanted to just stay home being a rancher. I enjoyed my everyday life at our place being a farmers wife... but he said it was a waste of a good education if I didn't do something with it. And he's right. Now that I've seen a few patients, I remember why I wanted to become a Chiropractor and took that Hippocratic oath.
I just feel like I aged about 10 years in the past 2 months.
Thanks for listening.. 
Farmgirl Sister #2974
~ http://notsosweettea.blogspot.com/
"The air of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears"
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| 21 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Sweet_Tea |
Posted - Sep 06 2011 : 08:05:35 AM
Julie,
I have filled out a bunch of credentialing papers.. and I'm just waiting on them all to respond..
I need to hire a good office manager.. but, not yet.. I can't afford it just yet..
I am almost in with medicare.. I've sent back about 15 faxes with added information.. but, I haven't had the first medicare patient to walk in.. :) I actually started on medicare back in Late July... They have sent me back papers and fill this out.. and wait you have to fill this out as well... It's a nightmare...
I appreciate your help :)
Farmgirl Sister #2974
~ http://notsosweettea.blogspot.com/
"The air of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears"
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| paradiseplantation |
Posted - Sep 06 2011 : 08:01:36 AM
Tara - I feel your pain about the insurance applications. I work for two counselors (one LPC and one LCSW) in their private practice, and just about want to cry everytime the recredentialing applications start rolling in. However, I strongly suggest you just fill out the paperwork, send them what they need, and move forward. They can and will deny your app for any reason, and don't really have to give you a straight answer on why. I know it's tough right now, but you may want to see if you can swing hiring a good office manager -- preferably either one with lots of experience or one who is as sharp as barbed wire and willing to work hard and learn the ropes. Since our fields are different, I don't know how much help I can be, but if you have a question or need some help, just drop me an email. Is Medicare an option for you? If so, you may want to go ahead and ask for an application -- it's one of the worst, and you really want to get started on it as soon as possible. They take their deadlines very serious. let me know if I can help!
from the hearts of paradise...
1Thess. 4:11 |
| Sweet_Tea |
Posted - Sep 06 2011 : 06:26:07 AM
Wow! what great ideas you all had.. thank you very much..
We are about to have a local fair.. and we are doing a shooting demo at the arena, that would be a good time to plug my business in front of all those people.
the VA was a great idea.. I know exactly where the VA office is, we have American legion here as well.
Thank you all so much for all the ideas.. :) i'm going to have to get busy.
Cyn: your story is amazing.. you were blessed with that job!
Thank you everyone, I feel much better this week.. that is for sure!
Farmgirl Sister #2974
~ http://notsosweettea.blogspot.com/
"The air of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears"
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| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - Sep 05 2011 : 4:11:20 PM
Oh Tara, I am so sorry. I've learned, that if you open up a business, no matter if it's a docs office, or a horse farm, you will not make a profit for 5 years. 5 YEARS! That whole time you're not going to make a thing, and will be lucky to stay open-not even including how hard the economy is on new businesses right now. I am so impressed that you had 5 customers though!!! Just think-if those 5 tell 5, etc. etc. :) I hope it takes off!
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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| JessieLovesToCraft |
Posted - Sep 05 2011 : 11:25:44 AM
Hi Tara, I pray that everything works out for you. I am sure that your office will be a success in time, congrats on making it this far though, as hard is it may have been, you have made it this far, and there are plenty of people who may have dreamed of being where you are now but could not do what you have done. Celebrate and stay optimistic :) everything will work out over time!
Farmgirl Sister #3404
Jessie
A wise girl knows her limits, but a real girl realizes she doesn't have any! |
| cynfullypurple |
Posted - Sep 05 2011 : 07:28:30 AM
Hi Tara,
BOY, do I understand where you're coming from. After not only taking out student loans to get my undergrad, I also had to take them out for my masters at Syracuse University, i.e. not cheap!! I agree with you as well as to what they DON'T really teach you about what it's really like in the real world. These people who teach these classes live in an academic world and many have had very few real life experiences themselves. They are soooo out of touch with reality, because they don't work in it!
After I got my masters I finally found a job just before school was to start in a middle school library (I got my masters in Library Science with certification as a School Media Specialist). Long story short, with the economy tanking in the fall of 08 my job was put in jeopardy, which as it turns out I did loose it. Fortunately I was able to collect unemployment until this past April, but trying to find a job in my field has been brutal!!! I've been in situations where there were 70 people applying for the 1 library job!!! I finally had to take a job in retail for a about 5 weeks to try and get by, but I left because it was just to hard on me physically and the place was so badly managed. I would work 8 1/2 -9 or 10 hour days and rarely got my lunch let alone breaks, so I said no more.
The ironic thing is (NOT) God had a plan that I could not see. An older gentleman that I had known many years ago, came into the store and we reconnected. I told him how I was a librarian now, but unable to find work in my field for over 2 years. A few weeks into this job he stopped by one day just to give me this little small town paper. He said "there's 2 librarian jobs in it, check them out." The one was for a position as a Library Director, I had all the qualifications so I said, what the heck and applied. I went for 2 interviews and on Friday I got the call that I was their top candidate and that they want to bring me on board, just a formality to check my references, they vote on the 12th and I will have a new job FINALLY in my field It has been a long hard road, but God has brought me through it! The only downside is that the salary is extremely low when you consider how much I spent to get my education, but I will take it because it's a job, it puts me back in my field and it puts me in the position of director, so that if and when I decide to move on in a few years, I will now be able to look for director positions that will pay better.
All this to say I completely understand your frustration, but hang in there!!! God will reward you
PS: The other thing that makes me crazy is that when I saw how much I would have to pay back overall with the interest, it's more that what I paid for my education 2 times over!!! Why aren't we getting any breaks on our student loans like all these other yahoos who got house loans that they couldn't afford to pay back, but the banks and government are bending over backwards to help them by lowering interest and what have you!!! Makes me sick
Cyn~
Farmgirl #2817
"The time is when a library is a school, and the librarian is in the highest sense a teacher, and the visitor is a reader among the books as a workman among his tools." ~Melvil Dewey
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| HealingTouch |
Posted - Sep 04 2011 : 09:39:19 AM
I feel sorry for you. I have been a nurse for 40 plus years and have seen it all. My insurance doesn't cover chiropractic care. Chiropractic care is what helps my back tremendously. My doc is in his eighties and is still practicing. What needs to happen is to lobby to have the insurance companies cover this care. Physical therapy has always made me worse but my chiropractor always corrected me. It is a shame that it costs so much to get an education and then to start a practice. Many satellite health systems are around here where the corporation employs and pays all it's doctors as well as paying their insurances. Some pay back student loans as well. Do you have any opportunity for that? Most of them are orthopedic centers. The hospitals are employing doctors and buying out their practices as well. Insurance costs and all the paperwork are the reasons they go that direction. I wish you well dear heart!
Be Blessed,
Darlene
Sister 1922
God first, everything else after!
When Satan's knocking at your door, just say "Jesus will you get that for me?"
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| WoodstreamDreambyNicole |
Posted - Sep 03 2011 : 3:43:06 PM
I read your post, but not the responses, so if this is a repeat - I appologize. I commend you for sticking it out and wow, you will have a lot of money to repay, but think of all of the good you will be doing!
You may want to have a fee schedule for those who don't currently have insurance. My endocrinologist doesn't take insurance. I see him every 6 months for $90 out of pocket - I claim it on our taxes because I cannot be bothered to deal with the insurance company to reimburse me for the portion they would pay of the $180 per year. He's a fantastic doctor and I would prefer going to him over someone who takes my insurance because of the referrals and other endless paperwork.
Congratulations & know you're doing good - even if the road at first is a little rough to ride upon!
Nicole
Shop
www.woodstreamdream.etsy.com
Custom Creations
www.woodstreamdream.blogspot.com |
| Cindy Lou |
Posted - Sep 02 2011 : 11:15:43 PM
Tara,
One new local Chiropractor had a booth at the county fair and my husband registered for his prize, a free chiropractic session. I don't know how many people "won", as we did, but it got me there to meet him.
The chiropractor I went to several times last year sends out birthday cards with a coupon for a free adjustment to get people back.
You can't give away too much of your service but if you have free time between paying customers it might be an option.
Congratulations on finishing your education!
Best wishes for getting established soon.
Susan
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
Mary Oliver |
| Acelady02 |
Posted - Sep 02 2011 : 10:29:11 PM
Tara, I posted your website on my facebook page. Don't know if it will help any but sure willing to give it a try. If I hear of anyone over in that area looking for a chiropractor I sure will recommend you. Sure wish you were closer to me..I haven't been to a chiropractor in a couple years...I love them...so glad to know one kind of close..lol..if I get over that way anytime soon, would you mind if I stop in to say hi?
(((((Hugs All)))))Penny
Farmgirl Sister #3343
God gives Miracles to those who Believe, Courage to those with Faith, Hope to those who Dream, Love to those who Accept, & Forgiveness to those who Ask... |
| FarmDream |
Posted - Sep 02 2011 : 3:24:38 PM
You're a doctor and don't have piles of money in the closet? What a letdown. I know exactly what you mean about the schools painting a fairy tale picture and then the reality is not even close. All the things they said I'd be able to do in my job is forbidden in the real world. Even sites like Salary.com don't paint an accurate picture. It's hard to know what to expect when the schools are lying and the salary websites are lying. It's a tough world but I'm gonna bet that you will come out on top. If I was up there I'd be one of your patients. Just hang in there and things will look better.
~FarmDream is Farmgirl Sister #3069
Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow
http://naturaljulie.etsy.com
http://julie-rants.blogspot.com |
| nut4fabric |
Posted - Sep 02 2011 : 2:10:35 PM
Tara I work for a Chiropractor and we get alot of referrels from the local Massage Therapists so that might be a good place to have some business cards. We also refer to the Massage therapists so it goes both ways and can be good for their bussinesses too. Another good source is the local high school athletic department, especially with football season going on. Some of the insurance companies are just to much of a pain to deal with so you have to be picky about which ones you will take. Juat remember that it takes time.
Kathy |
| ddmashayekhi |
Posted - Sep 02 2011 : 1:28:21 PM
You may want to try local park districts and health clubs too for advertising. Perhaps they will let you post fliers on their bulletin boards.
Best of luck on your new business adventure. Keep us posted on how you are doing.
Dawn in IL |
| batznthebelfry |
Posted - Sep 02 2011 : 1:21:21 PM
Won't it be wonderful to have this new adventure in your life without all the added headaches?...but they say to get anything you must give...& girl have you been givin!.....its such a shame that the $ you have already used wasn't for the true business in a sense....yes you had to have the education but the cost was so high you will have to work until your gray headed to even out....but on the plus side, you are going to do what you dreamed of doing, you are helping people that really need it & unlike regular doctors we don't love...we LOVE our chiropractors!
I am glad to hear you had an article in the paper, thats always a plus in any town or city...I definitely think the idea with the VA, VFW halls & senior centers is an excellent idea.....also if you have game leagues in your town...ie baseball ect try to post flyers in those areas....I know alot of sports people get injuries that need your type of help....Also town & school meetings is a good place to let it be known you are there...even just talking to the people after a town meeting or school meeting will probably get you some work....plus they will remember you because you are a face & not an ad in a paper ect....I think in the future you will find you ill be able to get everything you want done...maybe not be overly wealthy but have steady work & be happy you took the step...good luck honey....Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
| SusanScarlet |
Posted - Sep 02 2011 : 10:25:31 AM
Perhaps you could advertise at any VA events and also VA organizations (VFW. etc.) Also, most towns have a senior center of some type. |
| Melina |
Posted - Sep 02 2011 : 08:24:44 AM
I know an employee is the last thing you want, but a good, experienced MATURE office manager who is well-versed in insurance procedures is a must. I'd send you my daughter, one of the best, if she wasn't happy here in Colorado. She spends probably 40% of her time dealing with insurance companies and knows her way around them. Maybe you could find someone who could come in a few hours a week to process paperwork and free you to market your practice and do the actual patient work. Maybe even someone who is willing to trade office work for medical care from you.
This is why I decided not to be a vet, but a vet tech. Lots less money, but also lots less responsibility and headaches
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
| Sweet_Tea |
Posted - Sep 02 2011 : 08:03:23 AM
I have a web page.. www.newberrychiropractic.com
and I did make a little facebook page...
I got an article written for the newspaper.. and I made up a flier to fax to the trucking companies around here about DOT physicals being available with drug and alcohol testing...
That's a great idea about the health fair days.. thank you :)
Farmgirl Sister #2974
~ http://notsosweettea.blogspot.com/
"The air of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears"
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| Farmer Judy |
Posted - Sep 02 2011 : 07:53:30 AM
Tara, Yellow pages, facebook, webpage, flyers at major companies and shopping centers. That should not cost too much but will get your name out there. Yellow pages will put your information up for free, it would be extra to get priority listings etc. Facebook is free and you can advertise locally. Webpage will be a small cost and flyers will cost you paper, ink and copying, don't do too many since you may want to update your flyer sooner than later. Send me your information (email to my address) and I can put something together for a starter webpage. You will be fine, this is equal to buyers remorse. Take a deep breath and plan ahead. We have a company that comes to our work on "health fair days", they have a table and tell us about what we can acheive if we come to them, you may want to call some of the bigger companies, your town and county and find out more about this type of thing. Email me if you want some other pointers or directions or just to throw dodo on the wall and see what sticks. I am great with other peoples problems and solutions but horible with my own.
Good luck!
God bless,
Judy
Born a city girl but a farm girl at heart!
http://farmtimes.blogspot.com/ |
| Sweet_Tea |
Posted - Sep 02 2011 : 07:51:32 AM
Penny, I would appreciate that.. add me on facebook :)
Tara Layne
Farmgirl Sister #2974
~ http://notsosweettea.blogspot.com/
"The air of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears"
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| Acelady02 |
Posted - Sep 02 2011 : 07:26:08 AM
Tara, I am so sorry to hear that things are so stressful...I don't know if it will help any but I'm from SC, grew up in Blythewood, SC...I have friends in Chapin area...anyway I will be happy to post about your practice on my FB page if you like. Just let me know...it is free advertising...lol...Good luck
(((((Hugs All)))))Penny
Farmgirl Sister #3343
God gives Miracles to those who Believe, Courage to those with Faith, Hope to those who Dream, Love to those who Accept, & Forgiveness to those who Ask... |
| farmmilkmama |
Posted - Sep 02 2011 : 06:50:14 AM
Anything having to do with money is cruddy, especially right now! Amazing what they will allow for a college expense (loan) but that same loan for a house or anything else would be darn near impossible to get! I can't believe how much education costs...and all the stuff they conveniently "left out". You're trying to do a good thing here, Tara, and I will be crossing my fingers for you that more patients are sent your way and the insurance companies shape up their act with you. Good luck!
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com
www.thehmmmschoolingmom.blogspot.com |
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