I have personal and professional mantras on repeat in my head all the time. Some are even incorporated into my meditations. Are you challenged with perfectionism? Me too.  Producing a podcast has taught me this: PROGRESS OVER PERFECTION. Since I have started podcasting nothing meets my perfect standards. Podcasts are raw and conversational. Grammar, punctuation and proper sentence structure doesn’t exist. I say f***. My interviewees cuss, their dogs bark and their kids play bowling alley outside their office while we record. As I have grown, my website is getting confusing and my branding colors are getting lost. It’s not perfect, but I think it’s helpful. I hope it’s helpful….. No. I’m sure it’s helpful!

Since I started my Acupuncture practice I have worked out of 3 different offices in 3 years. I started broad and am now re-defining my niche. I once had a pretty nice beginner website and now I am operating with just a landing page while I get my shit together, which takes time. Everything takes time. And I have two businesses, so it takes even more time. 

Before the pandemic I was able to pay myself a little bit. My practice was growing. Slowly, but it was growing. Enter freakish Pandemic which forced me to close. I came home and started a podcast. So far my only return on investment with the podcast is self satisfaction. What I do matters. The same is happening with the post apocalyptic re-launch of my practice. Invest more time, invest more money, work, work, work, and eventually the tide will turn. This is the way.

It’s hard. Sometimes it’s lonely. Sometimes I feel like a Badass Superhero. Sometimes I feel like a total imposter. But I actually know what I am doing and I have a plan. That is something. That feels good! It’s all a process. I promise you this. If you don’t give up, you will get there. Start at the beginning and work your way to the end. That is all. That is success!

A special thanks to Sarah LaVaque for this episode. She conducted a great interview. I couldn’t have done it better myself!

TODAY’S GUESTS

SARAH LAVAQUE LMT, CHINESE MEDICAL STUDENT

Sarah LaVaque, BCTMB, is a board-certified massage therapist and TCM graduate student at Northwestern Health Sciences University. She currently practices massage therapy at a chiropractic clinic in Woodbury, MN. She has practiced therapeutic massage for 16 years and specializes in deep tissue massage, sports massage, and myofascial release. 

STACEY WHITCOMB AEMP, LAC., PODCAST HOST, SHE/HER

Acupuncturist, Podcaster, Coach and Creator of  Magical Networks. Stacey is the host of the AcuSprout Podcast, new Acupuncturist, old Massage Therapist and business owner and Coach to new Entrepreneurial Chinese Medicine Practitioners. Stacey is a true believer in creating the practice and life of your greatest desires. 

After a long and successful massage career of working with competitive level athletes, Stacey loaded up the Tiny House On Wheels and headed to Portland of course, to pursue her Masters in Chinese Medicine at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. (Yes, they are working on the “O” thing….) Upon graduation and launching a practice in a town where she didn’t know anyone she quickly realized two things. One, the landscape of business had changed drastically in the last 25 years and she had some catching up to do. And two, there were very few resources available to new practitioners.

Add a dash of Pandemic and viola! A podcast is born! 

You can find her here: AcuSprout

On Instagram here: @acusprout

On Facebook here: AcuSprout

Mentioned in this episode:

HOW TO STAY ON THE UPSIDE OF LEGAL IN A QUICKLY EVOLVING TECH WORLD

I’m a freedom lover. I LOVE to navigate this world my way and rarely does it come close to the societal norm. I think a lot of Practitioners of Chinese Medicine are like this. We tend to be the outliers and renegades. However, I often see the tendency for Acupuncturists to sweep legal professionalism into the gray space. Not doing due diligence with the “seemingly small things”, like HIPAA compliant emails and posting photos on social media. It’s easy to gloss over these details when starting a practice and it’s hard to recall specifically from our education what best practices are. Our ethics and jurisprudence classes are short and relatively boring and mashed in between the high demands of memorizing an entire pharmacopeia. SO….this is my continued graduation gift to you. Let’s till the proverbial soil and plant some very healthy and robust seeds. In order to keep that seed alive and help it grow, we might encounter some tasks that are not fun but necessary for it to thrive. The same goes for your career and practice. Stay informed about the ever-changing climate and world of technology. Just like following the rules of nature, there are rules that you have to follow with your practice so that you can thrive. In this episode we are going to touch on some laws and practices you need to be aware of as new practitioners. Make sure the light shines on the soil. No shady practices here. We are talking mostly about your online presence and what you need to be aware of with regards to social media, HIPAA compliance, BAA agreements, webinars, emails, phones, and newsletters.
YOU'LL LEARN

• What services you might hire an attorney to provide you business.
• PHI defined and exactly what our responsibilities are.
• What is a BAA and why is it necessary.
• Should you really be asking for advice on cases on Facebook??!!!
• Can an Acupuncturist also be a Health Coach? If so, what legal protection would a practitioner need in place when coaching?
• How does HIPAA influence our relationship with patients on social media?
• Does your newsletter need to be HIPAA compliant? What about your phone? Yes and yes. I have a solution for you.

resources

• Need HIPAA compliant email, phone and video that’s super affordable? I use Google Workspace and love it.
• Here are some great articles I found in my research. Worth the read!
• Policy Statement From the American College of Physicians and the Federation of State Medical Boards 
• Social Media and Health Care Professionals: Benefits, Risks, and Best Practices 
• The Rise of the Empowered Physician in the Digital Health Era: Viewpoint 

call to action

• Join me on Instagram @AcuSprout

Mentioned in this episode:

Schedule your 15 minute bookkeepping consultation here!

HOW TO STAY ON THE UPSIDE OF LEGAL IN A QUICKLY EVOLVING TECH WORLD

I’m a freedom lover. I LOVE to navigate this world my way and rarely does it come close to the societal norm. I think a lot of Practitioners of Chinese Medicine are like this. We tend to be the outliers and renegades. However, I often see the tendency for Acupuncturists to sweep legal professionalism into the gray space. Not doing due diligence with the “seemingly small things”, like HIPAA compliant emails and posting photos on social media. It’s easy to gloss over these details when starting a practice and it’s hard to recall specifically from our education what best practices are. Our ethics and jurisprudence classes are short and relatively boring and mashed in between the high demands of memorizing an entire pharmacopeia. SO….this is my continued graduation gift to you. Let’s till the proverbial soil and plant some very healthy and robust seeds. In order to keep that seed alive and help it grow, we might encounter some tasks that are not fun but necessary for it to thrive. The same goes for your career and practice. Stay informed about the ever-changing climate and world of technology. Just like following the rules of nature, there are rules that you have to follow with your practice so that you can thrive. In this episode we are going to touch on some laws and practices you need to be aware of as new practitioners. Make sure the light shines on the soil. No shady practices here. We are talking mostly about your online presence and what you need to be aware of with regards to social media, HIPAA compliance, BAA agreements, webinars, emails, phones, and newsletters.
YOU'LL LEARN

• What services you might hire an attorney to provide you business.
• PHI defined and exactly what our responsibilities are.
• What is a BAA and why is it necessary.
• Should you really be asking for advice on cases on Facebook??!!!
• Can an Acupuncturist also be a Health Coach? If so, what legal protection would a practitioner need in place when coaching?
• How does HIPAA influence our relationship with patients on social media?
• Does your newsletter need to be HIPAA compliant? What about your phone? Yes and yes. I have a solution for you.

resources

• Need HIPAA compliant email, phone and video that’s super affordable? I use Google Workspace and love it.
• Here are some great articles I found in my research. Worth the read!
• Policy Statement From the American College of Physicians and the Federation of State Medical Boards 
• Social Media and Health Care Professionals: Benefits, Risks, and Best Practices 
• The Rise of the Empowered Physician in the Digital Health Era: Viewpoint 

call to action

• Join me on Instagram @AcuSprout

Mentioned in this episode:

Thank you to our Sponsors!

If you would like to support the show please consider our sponsors!

Explore What Jane Has To Offer!!!

CAN YOU GUESS THE FORMULA???!!!

 Are you a game geek? Love a good puzzle? Maybe a little competitive? Do you miss being read to in class? ME TOO!!! In this episode we are going back to the cozy classroom with Phil Settels LAc.,the Director and Designer of the DAOM program at ACCHS, The Academy of  Chinese Culture and Health Sciences. Phil reviews an herbal case he encountered in clinic and breaks it all down for me. Enjoy the show!

TODAY’S GUEST

PHIL SETTELS LAC., 

Phil Settels graduated from ACCHS in 2011. Early on in his engagement with Chinese Medicine, Phil had the opportunity to study with several amazing Shanghan Lun teachers, including Dr. Arnaud Verluys, Dr. Huang Huang and Dr. Suzanne Robidoux. Phil uses Classical Formulas almost exclusively in his own practice and in his teaching.

Phil was brought in to design the curriculum of the ACCHS DAOM program which started in 2017, and he is currently the Dean of Academics. This program was guided by the ideal of what would best serve clinicians while honoring both the roots of the medicine and its development over time, and empowering graduates to be stewards of Chinese Medicine. The program has a dual focus on Classical Chinese Herbalism as well as Orthopedics and Pain Management, with the goal that graduates have increased skill and confidence to treat any patient who walks through their door, whether their condition reflects an internal or a musculoskeletal dysfunction.

LINK TO JOURNAL ARTICLE WE DISCUSSED HERE.

CALL TO ACTION

• Head on over and check out the DAOM program! Be sure to tell them who sent you! 

Mentioned in this episode:

Thank you to our Sponsors!

If you would like to support the show please consider our sponsors!

Explore What Jane Has To Offer!!!

CAN YOU GUESS THE FORMULA???!!!

 Are you a game geek? Love a good puzzle? Maybe a little competitive? Do you miss being read to in class? ME TOO!!! In this episode we are going back to the cozy classroom with Phil Settels LAc.,the Director and Designer of the DAOM program at ACCHS, The Academy of  Chinese Culture and Health Sciences. Phil reviews an herbal case he encountered in clinic and breaks it all down for me. Enjoy the show!

TODAY’S GUEST

PHIL SETTELS LAC., 

Phil Settels graduated from ACCHS in 2011. Early on in his engagement with Chinese Medicine, Phil had the opportunity to study with several amazing Shanghan Lun teachers, including Dr. Arnaud Verluys, Dr. Huang Huang and Dr. Suzanne Robidoux. Phil uses Classical Formulas almost exclusively in his own practice and in his teaching.

Phil was brought in to design the curriculum of the ACCHS DAOM program which started in 2017, and he is currently the Dean of Academics. This program was guided by the ideal of what would best serve clinicians while honoring both the roots of the medicine and its development over time, and empowering graduates to be stewards of Chinese Medicine. The program has a dual focus on Classical Chinese Herbalism as well as Orthopedics and Pain Management, with the goal that graduates have increased skill and confidence to treat any patient who walks through their door, whether their condition reflects an internal or a musculoskeletal dysfunction.

LINK TO JOURNAL ARTICLE WE DISCUSSED HERE.

CALL TO ACTION

• Head on over and check out the DAOM program! Be sure to tell them who sent you! 

Mentioned in this episode:

Schedule your 15 minute bookkeepping consultation here!

YOU’RE NEW……WHAT TO DO? AN EXPLORATION OF POSSIBILITIES.

 New practitioners have SO many choices to make that often feel heavy. We have been a cog in the wheel of the educational machine where we are told exactly what hoops to jump through for 4 years. Suddenly, we sprout into the “real” world and are taxed with the challenge of making a living again. The options of where, how, and with whom are abundant. 

Do you want to be an employee for a couple years? Do you know how much you should be paid? Should you be an independent contractor or an employee? Take insurance? Start our own practice? Or maybe you want to purchase a clinic. There are SO many steps involved in that too!

Listen in as I chat with MaryAnn Geness, DC. about EVERY aspect of business ownership. Dr. Geness has personally experienced every strata of the business world. She has been an employee, an independent contractor, associate, partner and boss. She has purchased a practice, sold a practice and dissolved a practice. She has owned large practices, a medium sized practice and a solo practice. She has pretty much done it all and we are fortunate that she is willing to share her experiences. 

Grab your tea and a cookie and enjoy the show! 

TODAY’S GUEST

MARYANN GENESS DC., OWNER OF SPARK CHIROPRACTIC AND ACUPUNCTURE

DR MARYANN GENESS has been in the healing arts for 25 years, first as a massage therapist and then as a chiropractor for the last fourteen years. She started into chiropractic as an Associate and then ran several large CAM practices, before selling her practice and downsizing to a smaller practice so she could also run a net-zero farm in Southern Oregon. As a practitioner, she uses gentle humor and understanding, allowing patients to feel safe and open to learning without the feelings of guilt that doctors' opinions can sometimes bring. She recognizes the importance of meeting people where they are and helping them get to where they want to go with love and self-respect. The time she spent as a massage therapist informed her techniques as a chiropractor and she spends a lot of time on the muscles and fascia along with the working on the joints.

Spark Chiropractic and Acupuncture

YOU’LL LEARN

• What should a new Acupuncturist know about when considering employment vs. being an independent contractor?
• Is is better to be paid a salary or work for commission?
• What should we know about lease space and triple net?
• What are the extra costs associated with leasing space?
• Should a new Acupuncturist purchase an existing clinic?
• What are the key elements to look for when purchasing a practice?
• How do you find a practice for sale?
• What key things should you take into consideration when purchasing a clinic?
• What size practice is potentially the most lucrative?
• What specific terms or stipulations to put in the purchase agreement.
• How to finance a clinic.
• Why you need to hire an attorney and an appraiser.

CALL TO ACTION

• Join me on Instagram @AcuSprout

Mentioned in this episode:

Schedule your 15 minute bookkeepping consultation here!

YOU’RE NEW……WHAT TO DO? AN EXPLORATION OF POSSIBILITIES.

 New practitioners have SO many choices to make that often feel heavy. We have been a cog in the wheel of the educational machine where we are told exactly what hoops to jump through for 4 years. Suddenly, we sprout into the “real” world and are taxed with the challenge of making a living again. The options of where, how, and with whom are abundant. 

Do you want to be an employee for a couple years? Do you know how much you should be paid? Should you be an independent contractor or an employee? Take insurance? Start our own practice? Or maybe you want to purchase a clinic. There are SO many steps involved in that too!

Listen in as I chat with MaryAnn Geness, DC. about EVERY aspect of business ownership. Dr. Geness has personally experienced every strata of the business world. She has been an employee, an independent contractor, associate, partner and boss. She has purchased a practice, sold a practice and dissolved a practice. She has owned large practices, a medium sized practice and a solo practice. She has pretty much done it all and we are fortunate that she is willing to share her experiences. 

Grab your tea and a cookie and enjoy the show! 

TODAY’S GUEST

MARYANN GENESS DC., OWNER OF SPARK CHIROPRACTIC AND ACUPUNCTURE

DR MARYANN GENESS has been in the healing arts for 25 years, first as a massage therapist and then as a chiropractor for the last fourteen years. She started into chiropractic as an Associate and then ran several large CAM practices, before selling her practice and downsizing to a smaller practice so she could also run a net-zero farm in Southern Oregon. As a practitioner, she uses gentle humor and understanding, allowing patients to feel safe and open to learning without the feelings of guilt that doctors' opinions can sometimes bring. She recognizes the importance of meeting people where they are and helping them get to where they want to go with love and self-respect. The time she spent as a massage therapist informed her techniques as a chiropractor and she spends a lot of time on the muscles and fascia along with the working on the joints.

Spark Chiropractic and Acupuncture

YOU’LL LEARN

• What should a new Acupuncturist know about when considering employment vs. being an independent contractor?
• Is is better to be paid a salary or work for commission?
• What should we know about lease space and triple net?
• What are the extra costs associated with leasing space?
• Should a new Acupuncturist purchase an existing clinic?
• What are the key elements to look for when purchasing a practice?
• How do you find a practice for sale?
• What key things should you take into consideration when purchasing a clinic?
• What size practice is potentially the most lucrative?
• What specific terms or stipulations to put in the purchase agreement.
• How to finance a clinic.
• Why you need to hire an attorney and an appraiser.

CALL TO ACTION

• Join me on Instagram @AcuSprout

Mentioned in this episode:

Thank you to our Sponsors!

If you would like to support the show please consider our sponsors!

Explore What Jane Has To Offer!!!

COULD THIS BE THE PRACTICE OF THE FUTURE?

 I went in search of a practitioner who was practicing medicine in the business model I was envisioning as a result of the Pandemic. A practice with multiple streams of income that housed an educational community and platform to answer questions and share the fundamentals of Chinese Medicine. A way to spotlight the spectrum of natural ways it can help people heal. I was looking for a way to treat patients in my office and remotely, and also a way to connect with an build relationships with people who want to be healthier but maybe aren’t ready for the needles while creating passive streams of income.

Here is what I found. I found a newish graduate who had a baby AND launched a practice a couple months after graduation. A social media expert who might catch up to The Rock sometime soon. A young, intelligent and well spoken woman who NEVER in ANY of our conversations let on that her life changing events were anything but motivational and helpful in her success. And I promise you that you want to stick around to the end to hear what her vision of success is.

TODAY’S GUEST

CAITRIA THIELE LAC., OWNER OF CONNECTED HEALING LLC.

Caitria's connection to the natural medicine realm began early in life, thanks to her parents who exposed her to chiropractic, acupuncture, biofeedback, and osteopathy for various issues throughout childhood. She began acupuncture school at a young age after stumbling upon a school 30 minutes from her hometown, where she felt an instant connection to TCM. Starting her practice just a few months before the birth of her daughter led to some outside-the-box marketing techniques that really paid off. She now practices in her dream clinic in Southern Wisconsin, working primarily with women's health, pediatrics, and mental health.

FIND HER HERE:

FaceBook: Connected Healing

Instagram: @connectedhealingcaitria

Website: ConnectedHealingLLC

YOU’LL LEARN

• Caitria talks about the support systems she had when she started her practice.
• The challenges of having a newborn as a single Mom and launching a practice were real, but they also catalyzed her practice to what it is today.
• Caitria is an Instagram Pro. She talks about what it takes to use social media as her main connection to attracting patients.
• I love her vision of success and you will too.
• We dive into her practice model which includes a membership and masterclasses.
• Her practice evolved because she focused on what came easy and doubled down on that. 

CALL TO ACTION

• Go take a masterclass and then see if integrating this into your practice feels right for you.
• If you like the podcast please let other people know about it. 
• Leave a review on Applepodcasts!

Mentioned in this episode:

Thank you to our Sponsors!

If you would like to support the show please consider our sponsors!

Explore What Jane Has To Offer!!!

COULD THIS BE THE PRACTICE OF THE FUTURE?

 I went in search of a practitioner who was practicing medicine in the business model I was envisioning as a result of the Pandemic. A practice with multiple streams of income that housed an educational community and platform to answer questions and share the fundamentals of Chinese Medicine. A way to spotlight the spectrum of natural ways it can help people heal. I was looking for a way to treat patients in my office and remotely, and also a way to connect with an build relationships with people who want to be healthier but maybe aren’t ready for the needles while creating passive streams of income.

Here is what I found. I found a newish graduate who had a baby AND launched a practice a couple months after graduation. A social media expert who might catch up to The Rock sometime soon. A young, intelligent and well spoken woman who NEVER in ANY of our conversations let on that her life changing events were anything but motivational and helpful in her success. And I promise you that you want to stick around to the end to hear what her vision of success is.

TODAY’S GUEST

CAITRIA THIELE LAC., OWNER OF CONNECTED HEALING LLC.

Caitria's connection to the natural medicine realm began early in life, thanks to her parents who exposed her to chiropractic, acupuncture, biofeedback, and osteopathy for various issues throughout childhood. She began acupuncture school at a young age after stumbling upon a school 30 minutes from her hometown, where she felt an instant connection to TCM. Starting her practice just a few months before the birth of her daughter led to some outside-the-box marketing techniques that really paid off. She now practices in her dream clinic in Southern Wisconsin, working primarily with women's health, pediatrics, and mental health.

FIND HER HERE:

FaceBook: Connected Healing

Instagram: @connectedhealingcaitria

Website: ConnectedHealingLLC

YOU’LL LEARN

• Caitria talks about the support systems she had when she started her practice.
• The challenges of having a newborn as a single Mom and launching a practice were real, but they also catalyzed her practice to what it is today.
• Caitria is an Instagram Pro. She talks about what it takes to use social media as her main connection to attracting patients.
• I love her vision of success and you will too.
• We dive into her practice model which includes a membership and masterclasses.
• Her practice evolved because she focused on what came easy and doubled down on that. 

CALL TO ACTION

• Go take a masterclass and then see if integrating this into your practice feels right for you.
• If you like the podcast please let other people know about it. 
• Leave a review on Applepodcasts!

Mentioned in this episode:

Schedule your 15 minute bookkeepping consultation here!

YOUR STATE ASSOCIATION IS  SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!!

Hey Sprouts! Are you feeling a little lost in all of the legal jazz your state is offering up?  Trying to figure out what hoops to jump through and in what order? Not really sure where to find some help? 

Did you know that your state association might have the answers you need? They may even have a detailed explanation or road map for you to follow. And even if  they don’t, the ASA has mentors to help you!! Don’t know who the ASA is? Listen in to get the 411, then go join your state association. Then volunteer! 

TODAY’S GUEST

Dr. Beth Howlett, DAOM, LAc, is the Vice President of Communications and Academic Services and adjunct faculty at Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM).  In addition to leadership and teaching roles in the field of Chinese Medicine, Dr. Howlett also serves as the Education Working Group Co-Chair for the Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health (ACIH) and the Board Chair for the Oregon Collaborative for Integrative Medicine (OCIM).

YOU’LL LEARN

• How Oregon’s University level healthcare programs are championing collaborative systems that other states and organizations can learn from.
• How we keep students linked to their state associations from graduation to start up.
• This can happen at the school level by providing educational resources to students about what state associations have to offer.
• At the state level, welcome emails or letters to new practitioners may be a helpful entry point.
• Schools could host special events on campus around graduation time to onboard the new practitioners and create personal bonds.
• At the ASA level states could be educated on how to create meaningful packets on how to get your business started.
• States need to provide help where information is based on the specificity of the state.
• Part of the bridge program could be on having a granular herbal medicinary and prescribing.
• The Acupuncture Society of Acupuncturists has a mentorship program! The committee chair is Christine Cronin.
• Listen in as Beth gives her top 4 things Acupuncturists do that could bite you in the ass later. (My words, not hers…)

RESOURCES

• National Practitioner Survey: Attitudes and Practices Around Herb Sourcing: LINK
• Oregon Association of Acupuncturists: (OAA): LINK   Facebook: LINK
• Oregon Collaborative for Integrative Medicine (OCIM): LINK
• OCOM/Kam Wah Chung Medical Collection Database: LINK
• More about Kam Wah Chung: LINK
• American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA): LINK
• American Society of Acupuncturists State Association list: LINK

WHAT TO DO NOW…

• Join your State Association and maybe even volunteer!! You can forge some pretty helpful relationships this way.
• Be sure to participate in the National Practitioner Survey.
• If your website is not ADA compliant, you need to listen to Episode 016.

Mentioned in this episode: