I was reading a marketing column today about the recession and realized that we, as alternative healthcare providers, should potentially be recession proof. It’s true that the economy may not be doing particularly well, but in the scheme of things, it’s not all that bad. It’s sustaining itself, and so should we be.
In the times of a “bad economy,” our patients, their family members, and friends, may not be doing particularly well, and I am not just talking about financially. I am referring to physically and emotionally. That’s why it’s a great time to be a practitioner of Chinese medicine.
Why? Simple. We are in the business of making people feel better! We are trained to address physical and emotional problems, and today there is a high level of emotional stress that translates into physical aches and pains. The overall emotional breakdown with people in the country and around the world, is expressing new and exacerbated ailments that we have a solution for!
So why aren’t people breaking down your door and lining up at your clinic? Good question!
First of all, people’s perception of acupuncture mostly is that it treats pain, they may not be aware that acupuncture can help them be calm and relaxed. Most people are not familiar with the powerful emotional support that acupuncture can offer. That’s why it’s important to shift that paradigm, and I know of no better way to do that than through the powerful benefits of Ear Shen Men, Point Zero and Yin Tang!
That is why I started holding an Happy Hour. I started doing it for a couple of reasons, 1) it’s a great way to quickly show people how quickly acupuncture can reduce stress and anxiety; 2) it’s a great way to break the “I’ve never had acupuncture and am afraid of needles” ice.
On the first day we had it, six people showed up and three of them opted for further treatments. The next time I did it, 10 people showed up and four of them opted for more care.
So, in two days, by just putting our flyers (and not doing much more than that), I got seven new patients. Not bad for a few hours of business canvassing with flyers.
It was sweet and simple. Not only that, but it helped everyone to drop their stress levels down a few notches, and what a wonderful thing to offer people in at this time.
Here’s what I did:
- I created a flyer
- I went to local businesses within walking distance and told them about the event and invited them over
- I asked local businesses if I could place a few flyers near their cash register where they would be easily seen
- I had a local massage therapist stop by to give chair massages
- I had the Acupuncture and Stress PowerPoint playing in the treatment rooms
Through education, marketing and holding an Happy Hour you will be able to help shift the paradigm and provide a calmer, more peaceful world, one patient at a time!
In health, prosperity and practice growth!
Jeffrey
I love this idea and would like to set a happy hour up in my community. I have a couple of questions for you.
Did you have people sign a release form before giving the treatment?
And did you start the treatments on the hour and 20 and 40 after, or just let it be truly drop in?
Did your happy hour go for more than an hour(say from 5 -7PM)?
Thanks so much. I would love an email back if possible.
Nan
Hello Nan,
Yes, I do have people sign a release form and I clearly state that I am not treating any specific symptoms or signs, and that this treatment is strictly to reduce stress and not to diagnose.
It is drop-in, no waiting…when I get full with treating patients and happy hour patients, we have them sit in the waiting room in chairs.
I usually do my happy hour on Thursdays between 2-6.
I hope this helps!
Goo d luck and most of all, have fun!
Thanks so much! I’ll let you know how it goes
I have been thinking about doing something like this for some time just haven’t been able to figure out the logistics. So I would like to clarify this. You are treating your regular patients during this time? Or just the Happy Hour ones? Are you treating the Happy Hour patients on the tables AND your waiting room chairs? I was thinking of taking the table down in my largest room and putting up some folding chairs. But I don’t know if “I” could relax sitting in a chair with other people in the room with needles in their heads. Any additional info you could share on this point would be appreciated.
Best of Wishes,
Bonnie
Hello Bonnie, great questions! Yes, I am treating regular patients while my happy hour is going on. The way I run my acupuncture happy hour is to allow people the luxury of just walking in and/or scheduling a time. If I have a free, private treatment table, I will use it for them, but most of the time they are in chairs, with more than one person nearby. I will use the waiting room if necessary, but we have a few private rooms that I put a few chairs in, dim the lights, put on some good music and let them know that others may join them. They don’t seem to mind, as many of them return for the experience. You could provide them with eye-shades, to block the light, and a bench or stool for them to prop their feet on to make it more comfortable for them.
I hope this helps!
Enjoy, it’s a lot of fun!
Hi Jeffrey,
Yes!!! Thank you it does help.
What kind of documentation are you keeping besides the consent?
Best of Wishes,
Bonnie
Jeffrey, I had a few questions. I am helping my husband and my father-in-law with their practice. We are trying to figure out new ways to get new patients to come to their new practice. They have 2 practices already, but have opened a new one in a new plaza. For this happy hour, did you charge for your services or were they free? Also, how many people have you seen respond to this and continued their treatment? Did you receive more short-term or long-term patients? Thanks.
Hello Sally, yes, we charged $20 per session, and a happy hour session lasted 20 minutes or so. On average, I have had 6 people show up for the happy hour sessions. Some repeat happy hour attendees, some a one-time session and others drop in from time-to-time. I would say for me, an average of half of them will sign up for continued care and further treatments.
Hello Bonnie, as for documentation, In my consent I clearly state that this is not an acupuncture treatment focused upon a specific complaint and set of symptoms. So they are informed that all I am doing is just using 2 points to calm the mind and reduce stress. The documentation I use is their consent form, and on the back of that, I will note that date and time they came in, along with the 2 points used.
Hi Jeffrey,
Thank you! That is very helpful.
Bonnie
do u have clients pay prior to the 20 minute tx, like a CAN set up?
They pay either before or after their treatment.
[...] Acupuncture marketing to grow your practice and get new patients Posted by root 19 minutes ago (http://acupuncturemediaworks.com) But i don 39 t know if i could relax sitting in a chair with other people in the room you could provide them with eye shades to block the light and a bench or comment by amworks april 16 2009 12 26 pm powered by wordpress Discuss | Bury | News | Acupuncture marketing to grow your practice and get new patients [...]
Hi Jeffrey,
I was wondering about the happy hour and consent forms. I understand having the people sign a consent form and stating that you are only using 2-3 points for a de-stress tx and not diagnosing or giving a full treatment. I have malpractice ins. that requires me to have all patients sign this particular arbitration agreement and on the back is a consent to acupuncture, a form I purchase from them and I can not reproduce, if I do, it is void.
So, do you think I need to have patient’s coming in for the Happy Hour sign this?
I love this idea for Happy Hour and I am starting it next week. Thank you.
In health,
Marlene
What 2 points did you do?
do you have people sign a seperate consent form for malpractice insurance?
Fantastic information,This is the first time i heard about this. keep it up this good works.
Thanks,
Micheal
Hi Well Written Post,
I don
Yes, I have them sign a separate form that lets them know that I am not doing ANY diagnosing and treatment of ANY physical symptoms. I make it clear to them that the treatment is specific to calm the body and relax the mind. Check out the link I provided, it’s a sample of a form that I have my people sign. http://www.acupuncturemediaworks.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=206&category_id=26&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1
I hope this helps!
Point Zero and Shen Men in the ear.
Yes, I do think it is appropriate to have your happy hour patients fill out the forms. I make it clear to them that I am not diagnosing or treating any particular physical ailment. See the link for more information regarding the form I use.
http://www.acupuncturemediaworks.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=206&category_id=26&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1
When I started doing the happy hours, I thought it would be difficult for patients to relax. But have found that it is not the case. I do not offer eye shades, but the lights are dim to add a relaxed ambiance and we have soft music playing. I have yet to have any patients complain about the group setting. If they are uncomfortable with it, I have not heard of it.
Acupuncture helps me in my allergies. I have hay fever ever since i was a kid.:’*