COVER STORY SURVEY TRENDS REPORT Highlights from the 2017 Canadian Chiropractor survey M BY MARI-LEN DE GUZMAN ore chiropractors are reporting a slightly better income than the previ-ous year, according to results of the 2017 annual Canadian Chiropractor Practice Trends survey. Nearly 60 per cent of survey re-spondents saw their income increase in 2016, compared to about 51 per cent who reported higher income the year before. The number of those who reported a drop in their income remained the same at around 15 per cent. Some 446 chiropractors participated in this year’s Ca-nadian Chiropractor Practice Trends study – an annual survey of Canadian chiropractors to gain insights on trends and issues affecting the profession. More than 35 per cent of respondents reported more than $200,000 in gross revenue in 2016. However, when taxes and other expenses are factored in, the majority (36 per cent) reported a net income ranging from $50,000 to $90,000. The highest earners – those who reported a net annual income of $200,000 and above – make up less than nine per cent of respondents. Most of the respondents (56 per cent) are between the ages of 40 and 59. Majority in this age group (31.6 per cent) earned between $50,000 and $99,000 in 2016. Most of those who reported more than $200,000 in net income (nearly 70 per cent of them) also belong in this age group, according to the survey. Majority of the women (47.5 per cent) earned between $25,000 and $75,000 in net income. Among male practi-tioners, on the other hand, 35 per cent earned between $50,000 and $100,000 in 2016. MARI-LEN DE GUZMAN is the editor of Canadian Chiropractor magazine. Email her at [email protected]. Chiropractors are reporting slightly better income in 2016 than the previous year. Aside from patient billing, chiropractors report receiving other sources of income. Product sales remain the top source of supplemental income at 36 per cent, followed by income from clinic/office space rental. Nearly 40 per cent, however, say they have no other sources of supplemental in-come outside of clinical practice. Although 51 per cent of chiropractors do not plan on mak-ing any significant purchase or upgrade in their practices, some are looking into purchasing office furniture (19 per cent), practice management software and/or electronic health record systems (17.5 per cent), new chiropractic table (17 per cent), and laser therapy equipment (10 per cent). Some have also indicated they are looking at spending on marketing and/ or practice management consulting services (18 per cent). Forty-three per cent plan on spending up to $10,000 on purchases and upgrades this year, while 40 per cent do not plan on making any big purchase for the practice this year. PRACTICE PROFILE Sixty-eight per cent of respondents (303) are male, of which 36 per cent are aged 40 to 49. Of the 143 female respondents, 43 per cent are in this same age group. Nearly half (48 per cent) of all respondents are from Ontario, 26 per cent are from British Columbia and 11.5 per cent are from Alberta. www.canadianchiropractor.ca 16 Canadian Chiropractor September 2017
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