All Roads Lead to Disc
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW WITH ERIC KAPLAN, DC, FIAMA & PERRY BARD, DC
"Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is changing lives!"
Drs. Eric Kaplan & Perry Bard
If you're currently referring patients to surgeons or seeing patients suffering after undergoing surgery, Drs. Eric Kaplan and Perry Bard of Concierge Coaches and DISC Centers of America encourage you to try Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression (NSSD) to solve your patient's unresolved back problems before (and even after) surgery.
In an interview with The American Chiropractor (TAC), Dr. Eric Kaplan and Dr. Perry Bard, business partners of over 32 years, share their insights on the world of Spinal Decompression. This dynamic duo shares a love for Chiropractic and respect for one another that has spanned over three decades now and keeps growing stronger every day! Dr. Bard says, "Success leaves clues," which he outlines in his best-selling book, "Dr. Success Spotlight." Drs. Kaplan and Bard have developed Disc Centers of America & Concierge Coaches, now in the eleventh year, as well as the first and largest National Certification Program for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, which currently CE accredited by Parker UniversiCurrently, they have over 150 clinics using their Disc Centers of America brand. Three-time best-selling author, speaker, practice coach and Chiropractor, Dr. Kaplan says, "Together, we are growing Chiropractic, one patient and one disc a time."
Read on to see how Dr. Eric Kaplan (Kaplan) and Dr. Perry Bard (Bard) can help you and your patients, one disc at a time.
TAC: Dr. Bard, how did you end up working with Dr. Kaplan?
Bard: Dr. Kaplan has been in my life for over 33 years. It started in a very common and yet uncommon way for myself, as a young Chiropractor out of school. I graduated Life Chiropractic College in 1986 and applied to work as an Associate doctor by sending my resume out. My intent was to get a job and work for three months and then open my own office. I ended up actually going on seventeen different Chiropractic interviews and could not get offered even just one job. The reason was simple. No one wanted an unlicensed Chiropractor who had to wait six months just to take the state board, let alone have to wait months to see if I passed.
One day out of nowhere, I got a call from Dr. Kaplan’s office offering me a position mostly to observe and to learn. The unique thing about that was what I was about to learn would be the stuff that dreams, and incredibly successful Chiropractic careers are made of.
What I observed was pure gold. I watched a Chiropractor, (Dr. Kaplan) day in and day out physically treat over 200 patients a day, every day seamlessly. He did it like clockwork. Every patient was treated with respect, kindness, caring, commitment and the ultimate in pure patient care. It was like watching a maestro of a symphony at work. Every day I learned something new and here we are thirty-three years later, still learning. I knew right from the beginning that Dr. Kaplan was a gifted doctor, teacher, leader and entrepreneur. Although I left after three years to open my own chain of clinics, I knew that Dr. Kaplan would always be “front and center” in my life and made a decision to never let him go as the true magic of what Dr. Kaplan represented in the world of Chiropractic success and Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression for our profession was about to come.
TAC: What is it about non-surgical spinal decompression that has motivated you to feature this as a technology that chiropractors should use to improve outcomes?
Kaplan: Having a disc injury led me to the world of non-surgical spinal decompression. I learned there are many different tables, various programs, and many different techniques. I studied them all. I’ve probably been inside each, and every machine, met with numerous doctors, and came to learn there was no uniformity. Having my son attend Parker University years ago, we met with Dr. Fabrizio Mancini and Dr. Gilles LaMarche, and together we felt that a program of this type was necessary back in 2012. Fast forward to now, it proved to be true. It is vital for chiropractors to be trained correctly in the study of disc disease. Chiropractors should dominate the Disc market and know that they are backed by science and research. Opioids, epidural injections, and failed back surgery is now of epidemic proportions. Study after study is demonstrating that most back surgeries are not necessary. As medical doctors move into the field of spinal decompression, it’s important that we dominate that industry, because nobody knows the spine in the way that we, as chiropractors, do. This is why Perry and I are revolutionizing the world of decompression by creating educational programs to ensure chiropractors can lead in Non-surgical spinal decompression for disc injuries.
Our goal is to continue to do these educational programs with the universities to provide research showing preand post-MRIs and giving the doctor the power to understand that a spinal disc problem is the most serious problem that they will treat in practice.
In our 12 hour CEU course offered through Parker University since 2012, we teach that the subluxation is only the beginning of spinal pathology, and that a subluxation becomes a bulge, and a bulge becomes a herniation. Our mission statement is “All Roads Lead to Disc.”
TAC: Can any patient benefit from this type of therapy?
Kaplan: Nothing works for everyone. However, study after study shows higher success rates for NSSD than surgery. In a recent article by Michael D. Martin, MD, Christopher M. Boxell, MD, FACS., and David G. Malone, MD, Dr. Martin states, “Lumbar disc degeneration occurs commonly in humans. There are a variety of factors that contribute to this condition. The disc itself is active tissue that contains significant mechanisms for self-repair... The disc tissue is active and can heal itself.” This healing potential of the disc is excellent news. Many research studies show up to an 86% to 92% success rate with Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.
John Leslie, MD, of the Mayo Clinic at the 18th Annual Meeting of American Academy of Pain Management, Tampa, FL, Sept. 5, 2007, presented a study designed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of spinal decompression in the treatment of chronic lower back pain titled “Multi-center, phase II, a non-randomized pilot study utilizing spinal decompression.” Patients enrolled had an average of ten years with chronic back pain. After two weeks of treatments of spinal decompression, the subjects experienced a 50% reduction in pain scores. Straight from the study, “Upon completion of the entire six-week protocol, a success rate of 88.9% was documented.”
There’s more I could mention, so if your readers are interested, I invite them to email me at: [email protected], and I will send you the studies so that you can be armed with the truth.
TAC: How can Non-surgical Spinal Decompression empower Chiropractors who are seeing their share of patients on opioids because of chronic and acute pain?
Bard: This is a great question. We all know how it begins, yet many Chiropractors are not sure where it ends. What starts as a medically managed case often leads to medications such as Vicodin, Percocet, Oxycodone, and more. From there, it may lead to an epidural injection for back pain. Surprisingly, most chiropractors are not aware that an epidural injection is not FDA approved for back pain. The risks elevate from there as the potential for a “wet tap” exists. Simply stated, that means at the injection site, the needle pierced the dura mater, which is the protective layer of the spinal cord, and elevates the likelihood of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. Then it’s on to the world of surgeries, from micro-discectomies to laminectomies to full-blown spinal fusions, which often include metal hardware. For so many patients, there are much better non-invasive options. We are so fortunate right now to have so many Chiropractors utilizing the technology of Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression and thus providing better choices and better results for so many patients nationwide who fortunately are now able to get their lives back. It’s all based upon training, knowledge, and dedication by so many amazing Chiropractors who decided that they wanted to make a real difference. Elevating your data and technology is how you provide certainty and embrace “The Big Idea.” This raises the authority of each chiropractor, who now can objectify the clinical presentation of each patient who receives an MRI study, and in concert with a diagnostic study and a medical radiologists report, they can sit down with their patient and, based upon medical necessity, provide the option of non-surgical spinal decompression. There has never been a better time to be a Chiropractor.
TAC: I know you often talk about the proper “positioning” of Chiropractors amongst consumers (patients) in the present health care arena. Can you explain that further?
Bard: Sure, I’m happy to. The magic of the existing health care arena is that it is common knowledge primarily in the medical world, where you have two types of doctors. First, you have GPs or “General Practitioners.” Secondly, you have the next level. That level is known as “The Specialist.” Well, we know that the most successful Chiropractors have learned not to re-invent the wheel. They discovered that as a “DISC Doctor” or “DISC Specialist,” they have separated themselves from the herd. If you look in the thesaurus under the word “specialist,” you will see terms such as “authority,” “virtuoso,” “credibility,” and more. Chiropractors who are “specialists”, especially when it comes to providing a “specialized technology” concurrent with an “advanced training”, are now able to offer their patients suffering from a degenerative, bulging, or herniated disc, a much better option. This Doctor can now provide their patients with better outcomes based upon all the current research, as well as a better quality of life.
We know that Disc cases are challenging. The playing field continues to evolve and change for the better in the world of Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression. As Chiropractors, we have always prided ourselves on better communication with our patients. Verbiage such as “correct” and “cure” may not be the best choice of words when communicating the severity of a patienfis spinal disc case. In lieu of those words, we prefer the verbiage that may include “control” and/or “contain.” This shift in communication is part of what has allowed so many Chiropractors to reach new heights. Subtle yet vital changes as to how they are now communicating with their patients can have a huge impact. Eric and I have always felt that the “C” in Chiropractic is just as important as the “C’ in communication, and communication is where we as Disc doctors, or may I say “specialists”, now live.
Communication is one of the most potent assets a Chiropractor has, especially concerning the 4 W’s, which has always been WHO they are, WHAT they do, WHERE they can be found, and lastly WHY they may be in the BEST position possible to provide their patients better choices and better outcomes with spinal decompression. All under the Chiropractic “Umbrella of Services.” How incredible is that!!!
TAC: How can Doctors learn more about some of the educational opportunities to learn more about non-surgical spinal decompression?
Bard: Well, as they say, “Timing is Everything,” and the timing for some upcoming educational training has never been better. This past year we began teaching a 2-hour CEU course amongst some of the state Chiropractic associations titled ‘The ABC’s of Spinal Decompression”. Last year we taught this course at every Florida Chiropractic Association (FCA) CEU event, and the feedback was incredible. Our sincere gratitude to Jen Porro, who chairs the FCA convention program and more who not only brought this program in but also created a groundbreaking panel discussion on teaching Chiropractors how to reduce the opioid crisis, reduce medical errors and handle pain management correctly. This was the perfect dynamic for educating doctors on non-surgical spinal decompression in conjunction with MRI studies (thank you to Dr. Alicia Yochum). Chiropractors learned that they could position themselves correctly to attract better cases and thus provide better patient management. Several state Chiropractic associations have also now requested that this ultra-popular two to four-hour CEU course be offered to its members.
Also, we will be teaching the Spinal Decompression Certificate program (12 CEU’s) again this year (date to be announced on our web page), which is the only University program of it’s kind with 100’s and 100’s of Chiropractors trained since 2012. In addition, for Chiropractors who want to learn the “business of spinal decompression,” there is an incredible one-day training that is known as “The Chiro Event Mastermind.” The website is www.TheChiroEvent. com. Some upcoming webinars will be available, too.
Eric and I are so honored to present this content as we have seen the difference it has made in so many Chiropractor’s lives. Still, the real reward is seeing the difference Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression has made in the countless number of patients who have been treated by these great Chiropractors who made the best investment in the world. That investment was that they invested in themselves to further their knowledge, their training, and especially their confidence when it comes to treating so many more patients suffering from a primary spinal disc condition.
TAC: Are there any pioneers that merit acknowledgment for bringing forth the development of this technology?
Kaplan: I wish to start my answer with the great Dr. Allan Dyer, who spent a lifetime and millions of dollars evolving traction into the science of spinal decompression. We mourn his recent passing and I am forever grateful for the time that he spent with me. Also, Norman Shealy, MD, who taught at Harvard University medical school and is probably the most published physician in the world on nonsurgical spinal decompression. I’m grateful to North American Medical, especially Carlos Becerra, and his family, who spent hours upon hours with me teaching me the dynamics of not only their machine but took me inside the workings of almost every machine.
I’m grateful to chiropractors & medical doctors that have led the way in NSSD and our profession, like Dr. Dennis McClure, Dr. Glen Zuck, Dr. Rich Lohr (who now has 12 NSSD tables), Dr. Carey Girgis (9 Tables), Dr. Rick Busch, III, Dr. Gerry Mattia, Dr. Roger Huong, Dr. William Moyal, and Dr. Luke Henry. These are doctors who carried the torch for our profession, doing research and treating hundreds of patients as well as top professional athletes.
Dr. Perry Bard and I appreciate the brotherhood of Chiropractic for those doctors sharing knowledge and experience with my family and me. Most importantly, I want to thank my son and daughter-in-law, Jason Kaplan DC, and Stephanie Kaplan DC, who now have three decompression tables in their first three years in practice. They managed my case and have me playing golf again and living a normal life. My son Jason can take these machines apart and put them back together. I am very proud that he’s also one of the instructors in the national certification program. His insight helps us daily.
Lastly and most importantly, my partner, Dr. Perry Bard. Without Dr. Bard, none of this would’ve been possible. His dedication to the doctors, to the profession of Chiropractic, to Parker University has been instrumental in our success. He has spent hundreds of hours developing what we believe to be the best and only university certification program in the United States for non-surgical spinal decompression. We have trained and certified hundreds of doctors from all over the world. This year will be our 13th time doing this event at Parker University.
We both give thanks to Parker University, National University, and Life University, for their dedication to moving the profession to the highest level. As a successful businessman and leader of a segment of the medical & Chiropractic market, I have and will continue to try and elevate the status of the chiropractic profession.
In our economic times, it is so important to rely on more than a fancy advertising campaign or promises of riches with “this program” or “that technique.” If you get involved with a group or place your reputation on the line, it should be an educated decision, don’t you think? Would you buy stock without researching the portfolio? No. Don’t be misled by salesmen skilled in the art of language. Do your research, demand higher quality, clinical results, and better outcomes. Your profession and your patients will thank you for it.
You may contact Dr. Eric Kaplan & Dr Perry Bard @ 888-990-9660 or visit www. TheChiroEvent. com.
You can also e-mail: info@conciergecoaches. com
