In part one, we discussed what occupational medicine (OccMed) is, some of the services offered, and the types of companies needing those services. In this article, we are taking a deeper look at why DCs fit this role. Although not traditionally the doctors thought of for this role, DCs are the perfect type of doctor for OccMed. The field is mostly about testing, not treating. Although workers’ comp injuries can come into play, that is not the bulk of what occupational doctors do. So please take the time to read and understand several principles that could make DCs the most sought-after type of doctor in the country from corporate America’s point of view.
Companies need certain tests done by government mandate. They have to pay cash for them because they are not sickness-related healthcare services. No insurance is typically involved. Just the company paying you to do the services. DCs don’t realize that just about every service except physicals is typically done by laypeople. That’s right — not MDs. Your competition is actually Joe Shmoe, who got a two-hour certification to do drug tests, or Nancy Smancy, who got a two-day training certification on how to do hearing testing, and now they have a business providing those services. These individuals can provide the services to companies and make hundreds of thousands of dollars without a college degree. Multiply that times drug testing, alcohol testing, hearing testing, pulmonary function testing, mask-fit testing, etc., and you have companies paying millions (actually billions) of dollars to those service providers, of which DCs can function. In fact, because DCs are one of the licensed health care providers that can actually do physical exams, it creates the possibility of a “one-stop shop,” which companies love.
Companies do not want to spend time and money sending an employee to one place for a drug test, then another place for a physical, and then another place for another service. It just takes too long. Think about it. You don’t go to Wal-Mart for milk, Piggly Wiggly for butter, and another store for bread. You want to go to one store that has everything you want at a good price. Companies want the same thing. They want to send a person to one place to get the physical, drug test, alcohol test, hearing test, mask-fit test, etc., all at once to save time and money. Sometimes they will even pay more money just to save time. So you don’t have to have the cheapest prices if you do everything at once.
Here’s an example of what can happen. A company hired 20 new guys to work a second shift. They all needed a physical, drug test, hearing test, pulmonary function test, mask-fit test, and a heavy metal evaluation by a blood and urine sample. This battery of tests costs $1,000 for each person, and my staff did everything but the physical, which took me about five minutes per person. At the end of the day, after adjusting my 30 regular patients, I had processed the 20 new guys at $1,000 each and got a check for $20,000. Not bad for one day’s work, along with my routine chiropractic income. This is happening in every town in the U.S. Companies are paying individuals to provide these services, so why not you?
When I started working as a DC, I went to companies and said, “I’m a chiropractor, and I can help you with your work injuries.” They slammed the door in my face. Now, companies call me out of the blue that I have never talked to saying, “We want you to be our company doctor.” Why? What has changed?
I will let you in on the best-kept secret in health care. If you work with companies and give them what they want, they will learn to trust you and give you what you want — more patients, starting with their work injuries. Later, I have been called in to work with the executive’s family (son, wife, etc.) once they know and trust me.
There also is another secret that most doctors don’t know about called a “recordable” injury. Virtually all MDs, DOs, NPs, PAs, and 99% of all DCs make injuries “recordable” to OSHA, which costs the company more money. I can show DCs how not to make injuries recordable, which saves the company a significant amount of money. It makes you worth your weight in gold to them. No other doctor knows or cares how to do this, but DCs can do it the easiest of all.
All DCs should know how to do this and work within corporate America. Live life easier without fear and with more cash.
Dr. James Raker DC, FADP, CME, CWP is CEO of OccMed For DCs, has 30 years private practice including Occupational health of several companies in Texarkana USA area. FH as been doing DOT work for over 25 years, was one of the first doctors in the country to pass the DOT certification and become
a Certified Medical Examiner for the Dept of Transportation of the US government, and has been teaching Occupational Medicine services since 2012. FH as lectured in AR, TX, IL, SC, CA, FL, NJ, and OFI. Providing OccMed services for companies, he has provided 500 drug tests in a single day, and 75 hearing tests in a single day. Fie became a Certified Wellness Instructor by the Foundation for Wellness Professionals on July of 2014. Fie started the OccMed For DCs training program in 2015 at www. OccMedForDCs.com
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