What Does it Take to be a Successful Chiropractic Assistant?
An Interview with Nanette Pututau
The Chiropractic Assistant
A successful chiropractic office can't function without a good chiropractic assistant, or a team of them, if business is good. At Lighthouse Health, the clinic sees upward of 40 patients on a daily basis, requiring eight assistants to keep up with the demand for Dr. Goodman's services. With so many assistants on staff, someone needs to manage the clinic and make sure that every patient is receiving the best possible care. At Lighthouse Health, that person is Nanette Pututau. Nanette is the chiropractic assistant who is in charge of managing the clinic, including all of the other chiropractic assistants, on a daily basis. In this interview, we had a chance to talk to Nanette about what it's like to manage such a busy chiropractic office. Here's the scoop!
TCA: What are some of your responsibilities in the clinic?
I'm responsible for making sure that everything functions smoothly from start to finish. This means managing employees, working with patients who need special financing, keeping inventory of office supplies, and helping everyone stay upbeat and positive! Because I want all of our patients to be 100% satisfied with every visit, I step in and help patients anytime I sense that they need extra-special care. When I'm not managing employees or working with patients, I try to help out around the clinic. I'm trained in almost all of our positions, so I can always step in and do whatever is needed.
I had to start at the bottom, but I worked my way to where I am t
TCA: What is your typical workday like?
Every morning, we start the day with a staff meeting where we go over what we have planned for the day, which patients are coming in, and what we'd like to accomplish. This gives us a chance to address any problems that arose on the previous day and find solutions that work for everyone. It also gives us time to set a "positive focus" for the day by reading a quote or sharing an inspirational story. This helps us set the right tone for the day and brings us back to why we're here—to change our patients' lives.
TCA: What kind of preparation did you have for your position?
I've been working here since I was 16, and I've learned a lot over the years. I had to start at the bottom, but I worked my way to where I am today—the manager of a major chiropractic clinic. In the past 10 years, I've worked in almost
“We don't just prescribe a quick fix to cover up a problem -we actually get to change lives, every single day. ”
every position in the clinic, and I've learned what it takes to manage a successful chiropractic clinic.
TCA: What interests you about the chiropractic profession?
I love working in a chiropractic office because we witness miracles on a daily basis. We don't just prescribe a quickfixto cover up a problem; we actually get to change lives, every single day. Not many people can say that about their job.
TCA: How has working in a chiropractic office affected you personally?
It's impossible to talk about health and nutrition on a daily basis without some of it rubbing off on you! Now,
I know how to take care of myself by staying active and eating well. Personally, I also love getting adjustments because they've helped me achieve my own health goals. Working in this field has also inspired me to become a certified massage therapist.
TCA: What do you love most about your job?
I love that I get to help people and change our patients' lives for the better. I also enjoy working with all of our employees and teaching them about what it means to
work in this field. I try to inspire my staff to inspire our patients on a daily basis.
TCA: Where do you see yourself in five years?
I love my job, and I'm planning to stick with it! I want to be involved in building a bigger, better, more successful business. Each year, I want to continue to set new goals that ensure that our clinic is constantly improving and staying on top of new opportunities. I want to reach out to more members of our community so that more people can see what we're all about!
“Managing a clinic takes a lot of patience—with yourself your patients, and your employees. ”
TCA: What advice would you give to someone who hopes to manage a successful chiropractic clinic someday?
Managing a clinic takes a lot of patience—with yourself, your patients, and your employees. You have to love what you do, and really believe in it. You have to be willing to be the first one to come in every morning and the last one gone. It's a lot of work, but it's completely worth it!
TCA: Any final thoughts?
In our staff meetings, we always share a positive focus for the day. Today, we shared this quote by Maya Angelou: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." If you want to change your patients' lives for the better, treat them with utmost respect and compassion. You'll touch their lives and win their loyalty for years to come.
For more information on Nanette Pututau, and the group Mho has trained her on her CA skills, please contact Nancy Singleton at [email protected] or you can look up information at www.DoctorsCashSeminar.com.
