Almost 3 Years Old!

Whew, it's been a while since my last blog. Been too busy working on POCA stuff to think about writing.

I noticed that people tend to taper off from blogging once they are about 2+ years into their clinics. Everything isn't so new and different anymore, so we don't have as much to talk about.

But I really think it's a key time to blog, people want to know what happens to a clinic after the first year or two?

Location:

I am still here in my little town in Minnesota of 27,000. I am still in my little clinic with 7 chairs and one table. It's a little 500 sq ft store front downtown.

Volunteers:

I have about 3 volunteers that manage my clinic.

Numbers:

I see on average about 110+ patients a week. I schedule 6 an hour. I take walk-ins all the time.

Hours:

I work M/W/F 9-5 with a lunch break from 12-2 and T/Th 1-6pm.

Marketing:  

I haven't done a free day or promo in a little while. When it gets slow I send out ~50 postcards to existing people I haven't seen in a while. I am signed up to do free acupuncture at the film festival this weekend and on Earth day in April.

Major developments:

-Getting stuck on a nursing home on call. Calling every Tuesday to see if I have go in for like one person. Tried to set up CA there, but it didn't work with the bureauracy. Everyday it makes me love CA more.

– Switching from paper files to Practice Fusion. It took me about one whole month to get used to. But I really love not filing and losing files. I chart chairside while I see the patient or right after.

– Hiring a punk and Firing a punk. That was a lot of crying and tons and tons of work. My systems are a lot better now. We just weren't good fits for each other. I am very very very glad that it did come up early and we decided to go separate ways early on. It could have dragged on and that'd only made it worse.

-My MVP volunteer receptionist developed an envelop system where people write on the envelop if they are paying for more than one treatment/herbs/etc.etc. It'll work really well with another punk.

– Being more content. I think my New Year's Resolution for last year was to deal better with my numbers going up and down and not panic about having enough to eat if I have one slow day. I kind of see it as running the marathon now. I love CA. I don't love it everyday. I enjoy being busy. But I don't need myself to see 150 a week every week. I'd like to find someone. But if I don't it's not the end of the world. The systems are so good that I can treat 100+ without burning myself out. And I am working more on POCA stuff.

My Dreams:

-I guess I would like to do a survey of all the BIG clinics and find out some key aspects in their systems that enables “smooth” functioning with employees. I am not there yet, so I would like to learn more.

Would love to hear about how everyone's doing! And if and how you've changed the way you think about your clinic as you've got a few years? 

Happy Chinese New Year Everyone! Wishing all your clinics a happy birthday to another year and lots lots of super CA energy 😀

Author: Jade Fang

Opened Jade Community Acupuncture in July of 2009. Loving the CA experience. Love being a part of the community. It's my first time being in business by myself, so writing about the roller coaster ride it is being a first time businesswoman. Have some marketing experience, love to help people with their marketing. Really appreciate the community of support with CAN! Everyone's helped me so much!