Gathering place for osteopaths
Advice for new graduates (please could I have some!)...
Hi all
fingers crossed I will pass my FCC in the not too distant future... So hence I shall be leaving the womb of college and moving out into the wide world with faltering steps...
our college has really only given us a few standard issue presentations on ethics registration and insurance. there has been little focus on the nuts and bolts of life as a new grad...
What advice do you wish you had been given?
thanks a lot for any help!
James
fingers crossed I will pass my FCC in the not too distant future... So hence I shall be leaving the womb of college and moving out into the wide world with faltering steps...
our college has really only given us a few standard issue presentations on ethics registration and insurance. there has been little focus on the nuts and bolts of life as a new grad...
What advice do you wish you had been given?
thanks a lot for any help!
James
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ronan O'Brien on -
I can't offer any specific advice as I've 2 years to go myself, but I thought you might find some useful information on this website. It's targeted towards chiropractors starting a practice but much of the advice is generic and applicable to other self employed health care professionals too.
Also check out the advice in this thread - practice tips.
Good luck with your FCC!
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Permalink Reply by Hume O'Rous on -
Hi James,
I can only recommend what I did after graduation, as I think most osteopaths benefit greatly working with someone who has experience in running a practice well. Try to find a really busy practitioner who needs an assistant/associate and spend a year or two minimally serving an apprenticeship of sorts. Get involved in every aspect of practice management you can, do lots of group talks to interested groups of all kinds. Contact local GP practices and introduce yourself. Find out how you can help them with your skills. You will of course get knocks. Probably a large number of them, but life's for learning....
Colleges probably don't equip undergraduates in practice management skills to a sufficiently high level. There is probably a dearth of suitably qualified lecturers on the subject who can combine the technical, medical and business management skills required to run an excellent practice, you should expect to do it the hard (and probably the best and only way), and do it yourself!
Lastly, go and visit as many different practices as possible whilst you're an under graduate. I visited many osteopaths and recognised the huge variety of practice styles that exist whilst I was in my third and fourth year at college.
Peter Blagrave impressed me most. And Denis Kiely....
Best of British.
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Permalink Reply by Nicholas Usui-Crook on -
Hi James,
I would like to start by noting that what I say, may not, apply to you. But, here is my story. So see if you get anything out of it?
I graduated last December, and started practice in Feb this year. So far it has been a steep learning curve. And mostly what I have learned, is to get myself 'out of the way'. And what I mean by that, is that, University is not, and does not, teach any sort of spiritual growth. Although they teach you great technical and philosophical principles. And, i think, it's (spiritual) an essential path to take if your going to practice osteopathy, well in atleast the sort of osteopathy that I believe in.
Why you may ask, am I going on with such shit? Well, most of the concerns, lack of confidence, wanting desperatly to be better than other practitioners, desire to be rich, well respected with our patients, colleagues, and friends and family, or even thinking that osteopathy has no evidence (as you would have noted from the 'lack' of evidence) as our journals suggest, all this 'stuff' that we bring to the treatment couch gets in the way of being the type of osteopath you/we already are (p.s. as a side note, is it 'us fabulous osteopaths', or the body that's doing the healing anyway?).
So, my advice is to 'focus', well atleast as a new graduate, on your patients, instead of any concerns, or illusions of grandure you might have (well I certainly did, and still do) whilst interacting with your patients. As soon as I graduated I decided to look at all the things that I bring to the table that might get in the way of being there for the patient. And it has taken me a couple of months to even get some of the crap out of the way, but now that I am being with my patient and practicing osteopathy, instead of worrying about how they might think of me, has made all the difference in how the treatment (session) goes, and maybe, how the patient goes???
So there you go James, in summary I think you would already have great diagnostic skills, be a great person, and are dedicated to being the best osteopath you can be with skills that I am sure are ample for your patients. But the only thing I think University does not teach is to continually get what ever concerns you 'may' have 'out of the way' so you can be with your patient and do the job (osteopathy) you have been trained to do!
p.s. working with a practice principal 'may' help with a lot of the things that you may incur along the way. I have chosen this path and am enjoying the companionship, guidance, etc...
And please let us know (post it up) how you go, once you start
Regards,
Nick
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Permalink Reply by melonfarmer on -
thanks nick that is really good info!
I think I will be attempting to set up on my own as my search for associateship seems to have drawn a blank.
I guess the economic climate is not favourable to taking on new grads at the moment.
I will update as I can...
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Permalink Reply by Ronan O'Brien on
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That's great advice Nick, I think we can only be as good a therapist as we have been to ourselves.
I've just uploaded a video about mindfulness and healthcare that might be of interest. A great book on "getting out of your way" is the Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. As an aside, I think meditative practises like mindfulness are very beneficial to improving palpation.
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Permalink Reply by Nicholas Usui-Crook on
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Dear James,
Good on you for going out on your own!
My only advice now is to make a list of everything a practice needs (business plan to clinical skills) and then prioritize the things you are not good at, and then learn them. Because, most people get better and better at things they are already good at, instead of doing the things that are a pain in the ass, or boring as bat shit. I am sure that will help you be a well grounded osteopath and businessman.
ps i think Ronan's suggestion of the 'Power of Now' is a great idea. Could be useful when dealing with starting a new business...
Good Luck
Nick
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Permalink Reply by melonfarmer on
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just passed the fcca!
what next???
gosh its a hard road to follow... It seems to be about another 3-4 k in outlay to get set up...
anyway thanks for all the positive vibes I need it!
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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Edis on -
James
Firstly, many congrats and welcome to the promotion from amateur to professional status.
There are various debates about what path to take in the future - set up alone, work with others etc - and all will have their pros and cons - often new grads combine many different possibilities.
Working for a principal is a great idea in principle, though there are a few things that I can advise, and it's not the old moan about the ratio of fee renumeration (50/50, 60/40 etc) - everyone has their costs to cover and as a new grad you bring enthusiasm, joy and maybe not much else, so everthing else has to be provided for you.
At interview, you may be asked why you want to work in the specific practice that you have applied for and what you will bring to the business, so think long and hard about this before you go - there is no point going for a post for sports if you want to treat kids unless they are looking to diversify etc. Where do your interests lie and what are doing / going to do about developing them for yourself?
Also, consider what they are offering you, as they may ask you what you are looking for - support? Help? a free rein? Check out fee structure, plans to change fee ratios in the future, holiday allocation, whether they will cover GOSC fees or any CPD costs out of your 'rent' - how are they going to develop you?
This brings me to my point - remember that you will probably be self employed and a sub contractor of whatever business you work for. This gives you rights - technically unrestricted coventants to set your own fees, wear what you like, work your own hours to suit and holiday when you want. In reality, there will have to be give and take, but don't let others treat you as an employee without its benefits - paid hols, sick, paternity etc.
To this end, my piece of advice is do NOT sign anything like a contract unless it has been thoroughly checked by a solicitor and accountant first - preferebaly paid for by the principal. A contract in itself is not a bad thing, but often they will try to restrict your practice without it being obvious - stipulating when to take hols, where else you can work etc - and if the Inland Revenue see it they could deem that you are employed. If this happens, you will not be able to claim your expenses and the principal becomes liable for your NI and PAYE. If the legal bods are happy that everyone else will be happy then no problems.
Oh, and register with the IR staight away or get £100 fine for no good reason, and sign up for Class 2 NI contributions to cover your basic health and state pension entitlements - currently it's about £10 per month by DD / SO.
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Permalink Reply by melonfarmer on
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thanks for that info
really useful stuff!
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Permalink Reply by simeon niel-asher on -
10 Keys to successful Osteopathic practice - these are my tips after 17 years of work.
Simeon Niel-Asher 2009
1. Give of yourself fully
a. The therapeutic relationship is based on trust and mutuality, it is a pre-verbal relationship, and patients can instinctively ‘feel’ if you are trying to help them or just time wasting!
b. Greet the patient with eye contact and a cheery disposition however bad you feel
c. Always touch with a sense of professional loving kindness
d. Enjoy yourself, enjoy your hands, enjoy the sensations
e. Discharge the patient when they are better unless it is chronic in which case always make sure they understand what is wrong and what you can do to help them.
2. Explain the patients problem to them in a language they can understand and internalize
a. The best advice is to reproduce their symptoms in the therapeutic setting, this is very affirming for them on many levels
3. Explain their problem in context to them each session and how it is changing and what you propose to do
4. Explain and describe the treatment you are doing as you are doing it
a. Remember that you are the expert and share your knowledge
b. When you are doing painful work always give a re-assuring gentle rub somewhere else (foot, temple) to show that you are aware it is painful
5. Talk the patient through the treatment – describing your techniques
a. Talk through the anatomy – this is our forte
6. Always be positive, affirming and re-assuring
a. Never give the patient a negative outcome, even if you know it is a difficult case – always focus on the positive
7. Believe in yourself as a practitioner
a. Meditate daily and have the idea of helping others at the centre of this meditation
b. Always acknowledge and praise yourself when you succeed but analyse your failures carefully
c. The patient list is IMPORTANT – look at it at the beginning of the day to get a sense/feel of the people coming in to you
d. Accept praise and always ask for a testimonial if poss.
e. Remember that if you don’t promote yourself no-one else will
f. Be brave
8. Try to connect with the patient on a deeper more human level
a. They will remember this and come back to you when they need you
9. Always remember our work is a privilege
a. It is a blessing to be able to help others out of pain
10. You know you have helped achieved success when the patient starts asking if you can treat a friend/relative with ‘such and such’ condition
a. This should happen at least twice per week, especially with the new patients
b. Remember that a happy patient is the BEST form of advertising you have for your business.
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Permalink Reply by Dick Wyatt on -
Post-grad., everyone needs a place to live *and* a place to work.
I was a (very) mature student, and already possessed a house. I live and work here now; hell cheap, and negligible commuting!
If you ain't so fortunate and have to rent, look out for a ground-floor rental with easy parking and access, and *combine those two expenditures*. This is doubly cheap; 'coz in addition to saving on a separate biz premises, local authorities *don't* charge biz. rate on quiet work which doesn't involve more than one room (passages, kitchens, loos etc. don't count).
You can then hang out a moderate sign. Other than that, only Yellow Pages and YP Online show any return, and that fairly negligible; another £200/yr. You'll resent it; with the GOsC mem'ship so high, it's tempting to save - but YP will only register you when the window opens for your area anyway. So get onto 'em and find out. You'll be operating on word-of-mouth 'til then.
Remember that almost all your clients will come by car. Apparently ost. premises on high streets do less well than osts. in industrial areas - and this is probably for ease of parking.
At my site most residents will drive *away*, and I can easily get infirm pts close enough up to about 7pm.
Sleepy now! Post back or mail dickwyatt@tiscali.co.uk.
All the very best with it
Dick
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Permalink Reply by Louise Carruthers on -
Congratulations on getting through!! I was thinking a lot about the FCCA yeaterday as I realized it was the 1 year anniversary since my own. But congratulations!
I think the biggest bit of advice I have to give you is to get out there. Don't be afraid to talk within the profession and certainly within the medical profession. I was fairly fortunate in that I found a job in the geographical location I wanted very quickly after graduation, but still it was the initial getting the CV out and interviews that were the hardest. I don't know if you have already started circulating, or are you thinking of setting up on your own to begin with?
It's difficult to advise someone, not knowing their background. But I have certainly found it useful coming straight into a group practice as a new graduate, to be able to have not only the back up of bouncing ideas off my colleagues and to see how someone else runs their practice from the inside. It also means that I can concentrate more on my osteopathic work, rather than worry about the general admin. For me, as a younger graduate, I think this was the way forward; but many people in my peer group have set up straight from uni and done very well. It's all a case really of weighing up the pro's and con's of your own situation.
One thing I will say though is correspondance is useful. Writing to GP's, consultants and other relevant specialists to your patients. If you never contact them, how are they to know who you are and how you practice? Having a good relationship with local GP's is a major bonus. And if they don't respond initially, that may not just be because they don't recognise you as a professional. Small courtesy's here and there go a long way. And check out your local PCT for free/cheap CPD.
I hope this helps a little and I haven't confused you, writing this in between patients can send the concentration levels wandering every now and then.
Best of luck in finding a job/setting up! Not just to you but everyone else in your boat. Louise
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