UPFRONT | Spotlight What sets you apart in your profession? I created a unique assessment system for musculoskeletal care (EXSTORE). It’s unique because practitioners can assess through a series of questions and manual mus-cle tests, what the problem is, and how to go about treating it, but they do it within about 90 seconds. And that’s unique because, after that, you’re able to spend more time on treat-ment and better focus on the problem and cause subsequently get better re-sults. Where do you see the pro-fession in 10 years? The profession comes from schools, and for the profes-sion to evolve, the schools must also evolve. It’s good that people in the field act as mentors, and we can help shape the future, but ulti-mately it happens scholas-tically. So, if schools do things to better help the profession with respect to practice building and giving them more assistance, I think that the profession has a huge opportunity for success. When do you feel the most accomplished in your prac-tice? Personally, when I encounter a case, a patient that’s come to me that’s had a problem for a very long time – many years – and they’ve been to different health care practitioners of all kinds. And I’m able to see something that other people couldn’t or didn’t take the time to do so through the assessment and treatment. Why contribute to Chiro-practic + Naturopathic Doc-tor? Having someone there supporting and giving advice is good karma. And I think through writing we help oth-ers, but it also helps me per-sonally to stay current and to stay relevant within the pro-fession. Some chiropractors become isolated, so though writing and sharing, it helps everyone stay current. How do you engage with your patients? Initially what I would always do is shake hands. The reason I do it is because chiropractic is a manual profession, right? I thought it broke the tension. So now, no handshakes. But what I still do when I enter the room is I tell the patient that it’s great to meet them, and say, “I promise, we’re going to take really good care of you here.” That’s some-thing I think many people might not see, or they may not expect to hear. able to ensure that in the most patient-centered way possible, we can have the right tool for the right per-son. Where do you see the pro-fession in 10 years? I see the profession as more integrat-ed. I think the strain on the medical system that’s been highlighted through COVID puts a spotlight on the op-portunities that exist for community-based clinics. I foresee a much higher level of utilization because people simply know that we can’t rely on the capacity of the public health system. When do you feel the most accomplished in your work? I feel the most accomplished when I see the chiropractors, physios and RMTs, and everyone else join our organ-ization. I feel the most ac-complished when I watch them be successful. Why contribute to Chiro-practic + Naturopathic Doc-tor? I feel it’s an opportunity to improve the credibility for our organization. I believe thought leadership is not something that you create yourself. I think it’s some-thing that you create through peer and editorial review. How do you engage with your patients? I get to know them. I make it about treat-ment as a whole person. Rather than just being too technical and jumping in and jumping out. I treat them as an individual in a very pa-tient-centered manner. The patient knows it’s all about them and not just about making or driving revenue. Illustration: Brian Fray DR. ERIK KLEIN, DC (Turn to page 20 for Dr. Klein’s opinion piece on Instagram and the profession.) Who are you? Dr. Erik Klein, CEO of Town Health Solutions, prac-ticing chiropractor. I’m lo-cated in Saint John, New Brunswick, practicing for 17 years. What sets you apart in your profession? I’m looking to break down silos, taking away the lone wolf elements of what chiropractic has tra-ditionally been. By having true integration, and being Be sure to subscribe to our once-weekly e-newsletters at cndoctor.ca/subscribe so you won’t miss any new features from our frequent contributors! 6 Chiropractic and Naturopathic Doctor January/February 2022 www.Cndoctor.ca
Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor January/February 2022: Page 6
