How much time do you like to spend at a doctor or dentist’s office? How about the Department of Motor Vehicles? How long do you think your patients want to spend in your office?
Trust me when I tell you they don’t want to be in your office any longer than is absolutely necessary. The consultation and ROF in my opinion are the two most important procedures when starting with a new patient. It is where good or poor habits are begun, as well as it is where a foundation of trust or mis-trust is established.
Throughout the years there have been many methods of ROF that have been advocated and taught. There are video programs, scripted programs etc. In this economy it is vital that your ROF have the following steps. Today, people are working 3 and 4 jobs. Yes 3 and 4 jobs just to make ends meet. This means the luxury days of having “time” to do a 45 minute ROF are yesterdays procedures that will not work as well in this economy.
Your ROF should do the following:
1. Answer the question what is wrong with the patient?
2. Answer the question can you help the patient?
3. Answer the question how long will it take?
4. Answer the question how much will it cost?
There are many styles of presentation. It is your choice how in depth you want to go over the exam findings. One thing for sure is you must learn to re-frame your patients away from pain and symptoms; or, when the pain goes away so will they.
It is vital that you ask for and receive a commitment from your patient that they will follow-thru with their treatment plan.