Dr. Ken Dick (seated, centre) during a book signing event in Ottawa hobbies or playing with their children or grandchildren. I dangled a carrot instead of yielding a whip. CC: What are your thoughts on the finan-cial barriers to practice growth? KD: This is probably the biggest source of interference for many. I have a strong opinion against giving away free ser-vices for many reasons. Free exams and adjustments result in loss of integrity, loss of respect and cause one to appear desperate – damaging all the principles that I feel are integral to practice suc-cess. It has been my observation that many new graduates have an intention of only offering free consultations until they get busy. Unfortunately, it is diffi-cult to break out of this mindset and the foundation of practice is once again built on sand instead of brick. I am fine with giving away free ice packs, pillows, back supports or books, but one’s pro-fessional time and services should be considered precious and valuable by doctors, staff and patients. CC: How would you summarize your approach to healing? 18 Canadian Chiropractor April 2018 KD: In simplest terms it can be sum-marized by “connection and predic-tion.” I had to find a way to connect with each patient and I would use a different approach for the engineer, the teenager, the single parent or the gov-ernment worker. Nothing turns pa-tients off more than a script. The quickest way to connect was to use palpation to tell patients how they felt and then predicting their response to an adjustment. That requires extreme concentration and focus but can create powerful patient conviction. That is the doctoring challenge. CC: You have recently published your first book, Healing Satori. Tell us about it. KD: I decided to write a book about what I have learned in 35 years of ad-justing spines. It includes conversations that I have had frequently and repeat-edly with patients about the most im-portant healing principles that they have control over. There can be much divisiveness in our profession but I tried to focus on the principles that all chiropractors can agree on. I wrote the book to give back to our wonderful profession with no intention of making a profit. I only wish that I had this book to distribute earlier in my practice. I always felt that if I had 15 minutes with an interested person I could explain chiropractic in such a logical way that everyone would be-come a new patient. My clinical work is so much easier now in that patients that have read the book understand the nervous system and the chiropractor’s role in anyone’s health care strategy. Patients get the “big idea” and want to share it with their friends and family. I can no longer keep up with patient demand and am fortunate to have two excellent chiropractors to assist in our clinic. I can’t imagine a simpler more professional way to inspire new patient referrals than by circulating a book amongst one’s network. (To obtain a copy of Healing Satori: A lifetime of pursuits towards understanding health, you may contact Dr. Ken W. Dick at [email protected].) Find more chiropractic profile stories online at canadianchiropractor.ca www.canadianchiropractor.ca
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