In recent years, all the buzz surrounding chiropractic clinic growth has been through the integration of medical services. We’ve heard it too. “Just hire a nurse practitioner, and you will be rolling in the revenue!” There are some bigger companies out there that you can hire to assist you. I did in 2016. It was overwhelming, even with the blueprint. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Did I make mistakes, even costly ones? Yup! And what I’ve learned is that integrating medical services within your practice is not “one-size-fits-all.” It’s not simply giving you a book and some documentation papers and sending you on your way. That’s where we come in.
First, who are we, and why are we experts in this area? Well, I am Ann Marie Lewis, a nurse anesthetist and APRN in Florida. I was married to a DC for 20 years, and I ran the practice. My business partner,
Melina Magistri, is also a nurse practitioner who is currently in the process of completing her Doctorate in Nursing. She was my third hire within the integrated practice. I thought, “I know how to hire and work with another APRN. I am one!” But I was wrong — twice. Once Melina came on board, things changed. Our growth was exponential because her drive and attitude of ownership were evident in her day-to-day activities as the medical provider in the clinic on a full-time basis. Her desire to be the best at her job drove many new lines of business. We went from a 1,500 sq. ft. office to a 4,000 sq. ft. space in two years. We had DME, HME, PIP, chiropractic, physical rehab, regenerative medicine, medical weight loss, peptides, in-office lab draws, prescription dispensing, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, IV infusions, and a ketamine infusion center during the COVID shutdown. We never closed our doors. How do you find that? Just good luck? Nope. We saw how other clinics struggled with the integration of a nurse practitioner. Many times, we heard, “They were more expensive than I thought,” “I can’t afford someone full-time,” and “I had a nurse practitioner before, but it just didn’t work out.” Melina and I formed our business, Academy for Advanced Practice, to help clinics that struggle with integrating medical services and ensuring that it is profitable. We also help train nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, and even medical doctors in revenue-driving services, such as regenerative medicine, medical weight loss, joint injections, IV infusion, and more. But is your clinic capable of providing these services, or are you even ready to hire a nurse practitioner?
...“We provide a “whiteglove” approach and guide you throughout your medical integration and beyond.”...
Here are some questions to ask yourself before hiring a nurse practitioner.
• Why do I want to integrate medical services? Are you tired of referring out for injections or personal injury exams? Or do you want to integrate more cash-based services?
• What can a nurse practitioner do within their scope of practice within my state?
• Do I need to have a medical director to have a nurse practitioner?
• Can I afford an additional hourly or salaried employee?
• Do I want to work with a nurse practitioner, or do I want a nurse practitioner to work for me?
• Where would my nurse practitioner work within my practice, and what physical space can I dedicate to medical services?
We can help you answer all these questions.
Our extensive practice evaluation can determine if integrating is feasible financially, geographically, and physically within your space. We review your business structure, current services, location and physical layout, local competition, and fee schedules. We help determine which services would be best to implement within your clinic and how that can be made profitable based on your practice goals. Many clinics that integrate don’t know what a nurse practitioner can do within the office, what is within their scope of practice, and, depending on your state, what a nurse practitioner can do with or without direct physician supervision. We help with the hiring, contracting, and training of the nurse practitioner and the medical director, if one is needed. We really are full service in the industry.
Now, I know you’re thinking, “I’ve heard this a million times, but my practice is different,” or, “I can’t even afford a nurse practitioner,” or, “I only want to do EMCs.” We can help you find a nurse practitioner that suits your needs. If you already have a nurse practitioner and want to add additional services, we can train them in those services. We come to you in the comfort of your clinic. We provide customizable, hands-on, one-on-one training for regenerative medicine, joint and trigger point injections, aesthetics, and more.
We are not a practice management company. We don’t require monthly fees or special clubs. We provide a “white-glove” approach and guide you throughout your medical integration and beyond. If you’ve already medically integrated and have a nurse practitioner, then stay tuned for our next installment — “You’ve Hired a Nurse Practitioner, Now What?”
Melina Magistri received both her Bachelor's and Master's degree in Nursing from the University of South Florida, where she graduated with Honors. She is board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and is an active member in multiple associations such as such as the American MedSpa Association and Obesity Medicine Association. She has trained extensively in regenerative medicine for aesthetics and musculoskeletal conditions, hormone replacement therapies, and peptides.
Ann Marie Lewis received her Bachelor's degrees in Nursing at The Pennsylvania State University in 1986, and a Masters of Anesthesia program at Westmoreland-Latrobe Hospitals School of Anesthesia. She has been a board Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist since 1995. She provides aesthetic treatments, IV therapy, medical weight loss, and ketamine infusions to her patients at Anti Aging & Ketamine Center.
Together they founded and manage a national recruiting and training company, Academy for Advanced Practice where they consult with other practices and train medical practitioners in aesthetic, regenerative, and anti aging treatments. For more information visit aaptraining.org or call 941 -363-1078.
