Nadia Harris, Author at iMatrix

How Chiropractors Can Receive Economic Relief During COVID-19

Nadia Harris — Fri, 01 May 2020 06:00:38 +0000

Chiropractic practices aren’t necessarily the first things that come to mind when you think of “small businesses.” But, while chiropractors are tasked with giving essential care to their patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, they’re also facing many of the same economic challenges that businesses around the world are.

It’s a reality that practice management consultant Dr. Mark Sanna, of Breakthrough Coaching, and certified professional compliance officer Kristi Hudson, of ChiroHealthUSA, know all too well. Here, Sanna and Hudson give helpful tips on how to navigate relief for chiropractic practices under the federal CARES Act as well as through previously existing loans under the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

“We’re certainly helping chiropractors navigate their way through this rapidly changing paycheck protection program that has come through the Small Business Administration,” says Sanna. “We had all kinds of misinformation and there’s still misinformation out there. Holding their hands and making sure that they get the funds that they are eligible for has been a very important role for us.”
“The paycheck protection program is a great way for doctors to be able to bring staff back on when their practice resumes regular business. That’s super important. That’s a really important first step for many docs to take,” he says.

Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans

“They [chiropractic practices] qualify for the SBA (U.S. Small Business Administration) 7(a) and 7(b) loans,” says Hudson. “I know that the 7(a) funding went really really quickly. There’s a lot of talk within the federal government that there may be additional funding to help them. So we definitely encourage every chiropractor as a small business owner to go ahead and apply for those funds.”
“Those docs who have existing SBA loans in place received a benefit as well, and that is that the government is actually paying principal and interest for the next six months of those loans,” says Sanna. “You don’t have to apply for it. If you have an existing SBA loan, those next six months are being paid for by the government.”

Economic Disaster Injury Loan (EIDL)

“Then there’s also the EIDL, which is the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, and that’s also through the SBA,” says Sanna. “That provides doctors with up to $10,000 grant that they can use for other expenses outside of the paycheck protection program. That’s more of a traditional type of loan that might have a 14 to 30-year term and 3.75% interest. It may require some collateral as opposed to the PPP which doesn’t require collateralization. It’s more of a traditional loan.”

Other Resources

“I think a lot of times chiropractors are selflessly devoted to their patients and they don’t often think of themselves as businesses,” says Hudson. “Utilize resources from your state Small Business Administration. Reach out to your state [chiropractic] association. They are on calls with providers about how to help them during this really trying time in their practice.”
“There are also tax incentives for folks who don’t participate in the PPP or EIDL loans,” says Sanna. “So it’s a time to really understand what’s available to you and make sure that you’re supporting your practice and your practice teams with the monies that are being made available.”
Do you want to know if your practice is eligible for receiving economic relief during the COVID-19 crisis? Download our Payroll Protection Program Loans checklist to see if your business is eligible.

Are you interested in learning more?

To get more information on how to prepare your chiropractic practice for post-COVID-19, download this guide, Navigating Chiropractic Practice Management After COVID-19, to learn the best ways on how to ready your business.

The post How Chiropractors Can Receive Economic Relief During COVID-19 appeared first on iMatrix.

COVID-19: Q&A with Dr. Sanna of Breakthrough Coaching

Nadia Harris — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 15:36:30 +0000

Dr. Mark Sanna is a practice management consultant who works with chiropractic practices across the country to help them deliver the highest quality patient care possible. For him and professionals like him, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted both the vulnerabilities and unique strengths of chiropractic care.
Here, Dr. Sanna discusses the best advice he’s given chiropractors during the pandemic, the importance of telehealth communication right now, and what practices can do to prepare for an inevitable post-pandemic rush.
Q: As someone who chiropractors look to for advice, has the nature of your advice had to change substantially during the pandemic?
Dr. Mark Sanna: There’s been a lot of changes happening at a very quick pace that’s impacting how chiropractors can deliver healthcare during the pandemic. So as a consultant, we have to be on the front line in getting the information, digesting the information, and vetting the information properly to make sure that our clients are getting the correct advice.
But also, I want to ensure that our clients maintain a positive mindset during this time. With so much misinformation out there, with so much fear, it’s really important for the chiropractor and the chiropractic team to be a safe place — a place where patients can come and have a sense of calm. That’s something that people will really remember. They’re going to remember that you were there for them and how you made them feel.
Making sure that they stay positive during times that could frighten all of us, frankly, is really important.
Q: In what ways have you seen chiropractors using telehealth? How would you suggest that they use it?
MS: It’s impossible to give a chiropractic adjustment through Zoom, right? But understand that there are patients who do have pain that can be helped through stretching, through exercise, through self-care that can be directed by the chiropractor on a video call.
On video, patients can see a chiropractor, have them walk through their options, and then make an educated decision about whether they need to go into the practice or can manage at home.
Telehealth is something that is absolutely expanding in chiropractic practices and probably will be part of chiropractic practices going forward. It’s a super valuable tool right now while many patients are still sheltering at home and in some cases, for the elderly especially, patients aren’t able to come into chiropractic practices for care for safety reasons.
So teaching them [chiropractors] the rules of how to properly do telehealth and making sure that they follow HIPAA standards and that they know how to code appropriately for that has been an important thing.
Q: What are some steps chiropractors can take to ensure that their patients and staff feel safe within the office?
MS: Most chiropractors keep very very strict hygiene standards anyway in their practices. At this point in time, you want to be absolutely conspicuous about that hygiene. In other words, wiping down the chiropractic tables between patients and letting patients see that you’re doing that. Do not have a reception room filled with patients who aren’t sufficiently socially distanced.
Space patient appointments appropriately, so that patients are able to come in and receive care with minimal exposure to other patients.
Social distancing is not something that would happen in typical, busy chiropractic practices during normal times. These are things we want to do to let patients know we’re taking the extra effort to monitor the health of our staff, to monitor the health of our patients.
Monitoring temperatures of patients is also vitally important. Posting signage that if patients have symptoms, they should contact their physician and they should not come into the practice. Most chiropractors are now wearing gloves and masks so that they’re protecting their families and themselves as well.
All of these safety precautions have allowed chiropractors to be able to keep practicing and delivering the essential service of chiropractic care.
Q: Have the chiropractors you advise tried any innovations or approaches to garner new revenue streams during the pandemic?
MS: You know, right now is not really the time to be revenue focused or practice growth-focused. Now is the time to be practice maintenance focused, staying in touch with your current patient base. Now is not the time to do an additional advertising campaign or doing specials to come in and generate additional revenue.
Right now the idea is not so much to be expanding revenue. It’s more of a time to be thinking about protecting your practice capital, decreasing your overhead, making sure that you’re filling in any gaps with the funding that the federal government is making available, and preparing your practice for when we come out of this. This is an excellent time to prepare your marketing for the fall, or for when we come out of this.
How can chiropractors prepare their practices and their patients for life after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic?
MS: When this pandemic is over, there is going to be a very large demand for chiropractic services. So, prepare for that by walking through your practice and measuring things out. See what the distances are. How will you be able to increase patient volumes while still maintaining safe social distances and excellent hygiene in the practice? Those are the things to be doing now. Now’s a great time to do record maintenance or HIPAA audits.
I recommend very much the use of video conferencing for chiropractors not only to have the telehealth component but just to connect with their patients. Having the ability to do a health lecture or health seminar to patients, that’s a wonderful thing right now.
for chiropractors not only to have the telehealth component but just to connect with their patients. Having the ability to do a health lecture or health seminar to patients, that’s a wonderful thing right now.
We’re really emphasizing the use of technology right now. Do a Facebook live for your patients so that people know, hey we’re here. We’re thinking about you. It goes a long way.
Q: What’s one thing you would say to any chiropractor who is struggling or confused right now?
MS: I am so incredibly proud of the chiropractors and the chiropractic team members who have, despite the considerable risk to their own health and safety, treated patients every day throughout this pandemic. They are brave. They are inspiring. And I know that their patients are going to remember when this pandemic is gone that they were in the office for them when they needed them. And that’s going to be a connection that’ll last way beyond this period right now.
So, from the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you to those docs who have been in there treating patients and going home exhausted. Chiropractic has shown its true colors during this time, and what a wonderful profession it is that we have.

About Dr. Mark Sanna, DC, ACRB Level II, FICC:

Many people go through life and never experience their true calling. Dr. Mark Sanna is one of the few to find his absolute life’s work. Dr. Sanna is the president of Breakthrough Coaching an international health care practice management consulting firm that teaches an outcome-based, functionally-oriented system of procedures that focuses on preparing healthcare professionals to become the providers driving healthcare reform.
He is a Fellow of the International College of Chiropractors, a Foundation for Chiropractic Progress board member, and the Finance Committee chairman for the Chiropractic Summit. He recently published his latest book, Break Through the Insanity. The fourth book in his Breakthrough Series.
Are you interested in learning more?
To get more information on how to prepare your chiropractic practice for post-COVID-19, download this guide, Navigating Chiropractic Practice Management After COVID-19, to learn the best ways on how to ready your business.

The post COVID-19: Q&A with Dr. Sanna of Breakthrough Coaching appeared first on iMatrix.

COVID-19 Insights: Q&A with ChiroHealthUSA

Nadia Harris — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 15:36:12 +0000

Kristi Hudson, Director of Business Relations for ChiroHealthUSA and host of one of the largest chiropractic webinar series in the country, says the COVID-19 pandemic has presented chiropractors with unforeseen challenges as well as opportunities to get innovative in their approach to patient care.
Here, Hudson discusses the resources available to chiropractors, what practices can do to let their patients know what precautions are being taken to keep them safe, and what the future of patient care will look like once a majority of stay at home orders have lifted.
Q: As someone who interacts with chiropractors often, has the nature of your communication changed a lot during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Kristi Hudson: Absolutely. Before the pandemic, a lot of our conversations revolved around the business aspects of their practices. That has completely shifted to us equipping providers, whether they are in-network with us or not, with compliance and clinical resources they need to be able to operate right now during the pandemic.
Q: For the most part, chiropractors have been deemed essential workers during state-mandated social distancing. Have the chiropractors that you’ve spoken to mostly remained open?
KH: A lot of them are open. Some of them have been forced to close just due to specifics within the rules and regulations within their states. Others are only open for emergency services. Some of our chiropractic offices are busier than they’ve ever been before, while others are working shorter hours to minimize their contact.
Q: What are some of the emergency services that chiropractors are still providing?
KH: It really differs depending on the type of practice, but anyone who’s under acute care. If you’re treating a patient for low back pain, or maybe somebody slipped and fell. Those patients are still continuing to be treated.
For patients like myself who just like to go to the chiropractor every couple of weeks to maintain great health and alignment, we’re not able to be seen because that’s not an emergent issue.
Q: Have you given any recommendations on policies chiropractors can put in place to ensure their offices are safe during this time?
KH: Yes. Several of the webinars that we’ve presented have gone over the CDC guidelines in not only making sure that the doctor and the staff are safe, but that the patients are safe as well. We’re showing them how to modify their waiting rooms so that patients are at a safe distance. We even do what we like to call a “no-touch” practice, which seems counterintuitive to chiropractic care since it’s a very hands-on profession.
If you have your patients check in from the car, you open the door for them and lead them to the treatment room without them touching anything from their car until they lay down on the table. They’re treated by their doctor, they get up and sometimes go to therapy, and then they leave the practice. You can give them the option to either pay through their phones, or having auto-debit set up for that visit so that they’re not touching pens, iPads, or paperwork — that all of that is being handled by the staff.
And then giving yourself time to clean and sanitize the rooms afterward, following the CDC guidelines, and giving enough time for the supplies we use for disinfecting to work before bringing the next patient in. So it does slow down the process of how we see chiropractic patients in the practice, but it is very doable.
Q: In-person, minimizing touch is one thing. But have you seen chiropractors using telemedicine in ways that can be helpful to their patients right now?
KH: We definitely have seen a trend of more chiropractors utilizing telemedicine, but it has actually erupted with COVID-19 to meet the demand — having initial consults with someone before they actually have to come into the office. So more and more chiropractors are utilizing it now and continuing to use it in the future.
Q: Have you seen chiropractors facing specific challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, what have you seen?
KH: Chiropractors are small businesses. Oftentimes it’s just them and one other staff member, or maybe two. So it’s a very small business and any kind of disruption where you have stay in place orders and patient numbers have gone down, it’s definitely disrupted their revenue stream. It’s been really really difficult for them.
This is not something that anyone in this profession, or anyone in health care at all, could have foreseen. So I think that the financial aspect of it has been a struggle.
Even those who have continued to stay open, they’re having to see less patients because of the guidelines. Moving patients slower through the practice, spacing them out more so you never have more than 10 people in the building at one time. If you figure that 2 or 3 of those people are doctors and staff, that limits you to 7 or less patients coming in and still being careful about how everybody interacts. That has been a financial burden as well.
Q: What suggestions do you have about keeping patients engaged or staying prepared to receive patients once stay at home orders begin to lift?
KH: I think that patient communication has always been important in practice. The importance of that has most definitely been highlighted. So we have hosted a few webinars on maintaining communication with your patients. Just because they’re not coming in doesn’t mean that stops.
Maybe try a Facebook Live video. Let your patients know the steps you’re taking in practice to make sure that they’re safe. Let them see how clean your office is. Seeing is believing. And people love to engage. In fact, more people are using social media in the last couple of weeks and that’s saying a lot.
Try drip email campaigns or text campaigns to let them know you’ve modified your hours, or “This is what we’re doing if you need assistance. Here’s how you reach us.” Even if you’re closed, let them know: “We’ve had to close. This is the reason why. Here are some things you can be doing if you experience lower back pain. Here are different things you can be doing to stay healthy during this very stressful time in your life.”
We educate people on their health and wellness. Why do you have to stop that because your office is closed? That communication should never stop.
Q: What parts of the way chiropractors are practicing right now do you think will be here to stay long after the pandemic?
KH: I think that the extra steps we’re taking to clean and sanitize our offices most definitely will stay. I think we’ll see more practices taking a no-touch approach to having their patients come in and out of their practices. We’ll start to see chiropractors using more technology than ever before, maybe having clinic apps so patients can check in, check out, pay their bill online, do teleconsults with their doctors.
It’ll make things more convenient and efficient for the patients who are coming to our offices.

Are you interested in learning more?

About Kristi Hudson:

Kristi Hudson is a Certified Professional Compliance Officer and host of one of the largest chiropractic webinar series in the country. She is the Director of Business Relations at ChiroHealthUSA, Administrator of the Foxworth Family Chiropractic Scholarship, a speaker, mom, and writer.

The post COVID-19 Insights: Q&A with ChiroHealthUSA appeared first on iMatrix.