I’ve always thought it remarkably unjust that some of our most educated and caring professionals, who have dedicated their lives to the well being of others, were so frequently not being rewarded adequately. In particular for those who were running their own practices, there’s been a tendency to under charge, even to the extent of bulk billing, barely making a wage, let alone covering operating costs, making a profit to grow on, and achieving a return on their investment of time, energy, and other resources.
Another thing I’ve found strange, if not outright shocking, is the prevailing belief that chronic pain is not curable, that the client can really only be helped to manage their pain and learn to live with it, and that chronic pain clients are stressful to work with. All of that, every single bit of it, could not be more wrong.
According to the latest Deloitte report on chronic pain, released in January 2019, chronic pain costs the Australian economy well over $133 billion every year. A large part of this is on treatments that fail (if you struggle to believe this just ask the health and other insurers because they have the data). Billions of dollars are being spent on ineffective strategies instead of being directed to you and your colleagues.
When you have a treatment program which quickly and easily eliminates (or dramatically reduces) chronic pain, the insurance companies will beat a path to your door. You’ll have no need to do those dreaded dog and pony shows for doctors because those doctors will be seeking you out instead.
Now in case you’re thinking that you don’t want too many of these clients, read on ….
For a start it can be simply the most fun working with this group when you genuinely can switch off that pain signalling. The look on the client’s face after arriving with pain at 8 out 10 and leaving with zero, is priceless.
The other point is that chronic pain almost always presents with a very interesting range of co-morbidities and other issues. Literally no matter what your favoured specialisation, chronic pain clients will bring that to you.
And chronic pain clients who no longer suffer from pain are your very best referrers.
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