Happy 2011

Happy 2011,

I am sitting here thinking about closing the "chapter" on 2010 and opening the next one for 2011. What a year it has been.
It has been a renewal for health and a continuation of focusing on providing the best care for our patients. It has also been somewhat frustrating as well.
Those of you that know us at Midwest Multicare know (or at least hope that you know) that we expect success 100 % of the time. Although statistically it is impossible to forecast the outcome of care, we do our best to be the practice/care that our patients are looking for. There have been a few cases that have "stumped" us. I hesitate to use this verbiage because I don't want a person to think that we have stopped looking for an answer.... simply, we have not. We just need to keep searching. Because some cases have not been straight forward is the crux of my frustration. We truly want to rewrite the expectations that patients have with their providers. If we raise the bar of expectations, the patients win.
With that, I want to let you know that we are continually evaluating, revamping, rewriting, etc. Midwest Multicare. We have some exciting changes coming in 2011, but I will not let the cat out of the bag until the changes are set in stone. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.
I want to wish each of you a fantastic 2011. I hope that 2010 was great, but that 2011 will be greater.
If you are a patient here, my heartfelt "thank you" for allowing us to be a part of your health care team and have a "most excellent" 2011. If you are not a patient with us, I hope that you have a healthy and satisfying 2011 as well.
See you next year,
Dr. Hunt

Random Thoughts and Observations

You know, I just read the briefs of a new report in "Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, Aug 2010" that states that the overall incidents of complications of spine surgery are significantly UNDERESTIMATED. Holy cow!!!! And we wonder why there is a loss of faith in today's healthcare system.......
The statistics that I have seen is that spinal surgery has a 50% success rate, 25% success on the second attempt, and 10% on the third......... And these guys are telling patients not to even "try" Chiropractic. I remember as a younger version of me that we NEVER challenged the authority of the local Medical practitioner, so why would we challenge this? The difficult thing that I have is that most Medical docs that I have met are very honorable and hard working people. I cannot believe that they know the stats and purposely falsify the outcome expectations.
I am wondering why stats like this are not widely known and accurately described? If the reason is that fewer people would willingly undergo the $100,000 plus surgery, then money is the driving force. If it is money, then greed is the motivator, and it is wrong. And these docs are attempting to dissuade the use of Chiropractic as a possibility because it is money out of their pocket. I had a patient with three blown discs and dragging his foot back to work in a month with no restrictions. His cost was $1500 that the insurance company tried to fight..... and they authorized the $80,000 back surgery....... This was money out of their pocket.....
I am always hopeful that 95% of doctors are trying to do the right thing....... medical, chiropractic, etc. and that only leaves the 5% make us look bad. And I pray that I am in the 95% side.
I know there are no guarantees in what we do, but we owe it to our patients to give honest answers and to do our best. Underestimating statistics does nothing but further fracture an already broken system.......
I hope that you all have an awesome day and that you know that we at Midwest Multicare will do the best that we can for you...........
Doc

Well, I finally had a taste of mortality. You know, I have spent most of my professional life talking about prevention, prevention, prevention.
I had to have a surgery this month because I did not heed my own words. I am much better now, but now realize how hopeless it can feel to feel lousy.
I did not realize that once a person's body gets to a certain level of challenge, that the mind does not know how to break the cycle. I felt that I could control the outcome, but alas, I could not. It made me realize that the body will fight but there is a time and place that it simply quits.
It has made me acknowledge that we all fight demons, sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. Overall, it has made me much more compassionate.
Don't get me wrong, I love what I do and I love my patients, it is just that I am understanding more and more their views and opinions.
To all, have a great day.
Just my thots!!!
Doc

its a funny world

You know, I am thinking about the way we were raised. We were taught/told that if there is no pain, there is no problem. If you have pain, suck it up or take a pill. It is funny how a simple change in perception creates a completely different world.
This change in perception requires the following: pain is a symptom and is not normal.
When we see pain as a symptom, we have to ask why the pain is there. If we can figure out the "why" and treat THAT, the pain will go away.
Also, by the time pain shows up, the problem has been there for a long time. Think of a cavity in your tooth. It will be unnoticed until it gets to a certain size, then the pain begins. Same thing with pain. Problem is, by the time the pain shows up, the problem has gotten worse.
This is why PREVENTION is the key. Whether it be with diet and exercise, yoga, stress management, chiropractic, or whatever, preventing the problem has a much rosier outlook. Funny how we wait until it is almost too late to take care of a problem. That is what is funny........

My friends, in this time of flu, flu, flu, there are a few ways to minimize the risk.
1. wash your hands with soap and water
2. cough into your sleeve
3. get plenty of rest
4. get adjusted from your chiropractor
5. take approximately 2000 IU of Vitamin D. Vitamin D is a great anti-viral, which is what a flu is usually.

Take care.