Do all of the above, and buy an F-scan! Then you can really know 1) why you are trouble shooting, 2) what you are trouble shooting, 3) and when you are done trouble shooting!

Respectfully;
Bruce Williams

 

Which is exactly what Bruce is dong at this years Boot camp...

 

Tips to Build a Successful Orthosis Practice

Tips to Build a Successful Orthosis Practice

1. Learn as much as you can about anatomy, biomechanics, examination techniques, gait examination, foot orthosis casting, foot orthosis prescribing, foot orthosis manufacture, foot orthosis modification and foot orthosis troubleshooting while you are in podiatry school and in post-graduate courses.

2. Learn as much as you can about the above by reading books, reading journal articles, visiting orthosis laboratories and speaking to or visiting more knowledgeable podiatrists.

3. Ask questions to podiatrists who have more knowledge and experience than you do.

4. Don't settle on only healing one symptom in your patients. Try to heal all their symptoms with foot orthoses.

5. Pay very close attention to detail.

6. Become an expert on shoe design, shoe biomechanics, and shoe fit.

7. Know how to grind, glue, cut and fabricate standard orthosis modifications quickly and efficiently.

8. Be willing to take the time to do trial and error orthosis modifications to see how the patient's symptoms respond and how the patient's gait changes.

9. Know about every mechanically based injury that can occur in the lower extremity of athletes and non-athletes.

10. Know how to examine a foot, ankle, leg, knee, thigh and hip in athletes and non-athletes.

......and last but not least......

11. Listen to the patient's complaints, empathize with their pain and disability, show compassion, and be positive and cheerful every day that you are treating patients.

 

One of my favourite cliches is:

There is a big difference between 10 years of experience and 1 year of experience, repeated 10 times. The cornerstone of a successful practice is to learn from mistakes rather than repeat them.

I also recall reading some research ~20 years ago - that found the biggest difference between a "successful" person and a "failed" person was that the "succesful" person had 3.4 times as many failures as the "failed" person .... they learnt from there mistakes. They had 10 yrs of expereince rather than repeat the first yr 10 times...

 

Be right most of the time.......but be prepared to admit when you have no idea
Regards Phill

 

"Be right most of the time.......but be prepared to admit when you have no idea"

I would add - and be able to direct the patient to someone who might.
Regards

 

I'm doing something right then!

:D

 

All the above and follow up, follow up, follow up....and remember do not try to be all things to all people.

 

1. Understand your patients and not only treat them, but educate them to see the importance and value of what you do. The practice of effective health care is as much about communication as it is practical treatment
2. Acknowledge that you are both a health practitioner and a small business owner. Each requires its own skills and knowledge.
3. The future of your business depends on:
a) The next five minutes with the patient in front of you and
b) Having a clear picture of the next couple of years in a business plan
4. Know that you cannot know everything and get appropriate help where required, or when someone can do it better.
5. Work as hard ON your practice as you do IN it
6. Become an expert manager of change. No change, no future.

 

Thanks for these pearls of wisdom. I found it very enlightening especially as dealing with more and more biomechanics these days; oh and a new business owner. I always strive to do the best by my patients and try to learn from each of them to be a better clinician. :)