“I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Heun as an experienced clinician, mentor and chiropractic consultant who operates with a level of integrity that is a rarity in our profession. His patient-centered approach allows chiropractors to build practices that are highly successful without the use of scare tactics, shady advertising or other questionable procedures that ultimately devalue chiropractic.”
Dr. Tom Necela, Founder, The Strategic Chiropractor
“It is hard to sum up the help Dr Heun has provided for me as mentor and business consultant in just a short paragraph but I’ll give it a shot. I believe his uncompromising ethics and concern for patients and others is what initially attracted me to his services. His knowledge and clinical expertise as well as results beyond expectations have kept me using his services. He has provided me the necessary education and support that allows me to deliver the highest quality, leading edge chiropractic health care to my patients. I consider Dr Heun not only to be my mentor but colleague and good friend as well.”
Dr. Mike Underhill, Beaverton, OR
“Dr. Scott Heun is at the forefront of the Chiropractic Practice Coaching/ Mentoring business. When the market is changing from day to day, having him in your corner is invaluable. Sensei, Coach, Mentor, are some of the words I would use to describe him. The information, innovation, and insight, he brings to every client, seminar, correspondence, I assure you , is the most timely and applicable for each marketplace, Doctor, and office.”
Dr. Glenn Wong, Pinnacle Chiropractic California
“Dr. Heun is a master of his trade. He is a trustworthy, reliable, and detail oriented mentor, and I couldn’t imagine running a successful business without his expertise. Running a successful chiropractic office is about so much more than an adjustment. It’s about creating healthy, long-term relationships with patients and building a successful brand. Dr. Heun gives you the tools to achieve the practice of your dreams.”
Dr. Michelle Palmer, Nebraska
“Dr. Scott Heun is a winner. He has been a winner at all levels of his life. I hired Dr. Heun as a practice consultant the minute I opened my new practice. I received phenomenal support in building my practice and growing as a professional. He stands for everything that is right in the business world and in life. Balance is important in life. He can make business and life work together for you. He did it for me.”
Dr. Brent Kaiser, New Jersey
“Dr. Scott is a true mentor with a priceless knowledge of CBP, office protocols and patient communication. He helped me through a very difficult time of my life and practice and inspired me to strive for the best. This came after using a service that promoted high volume strategies, long term contracts, based on CBP care without using many of the essential aspects of care-I found this other service not was not congruent with my beliefs and offering the best patient care. Dr Scott was a breath of fresh air and is an asset to our profession. Anyone who is practicing CBP structural care would benefit from his experience. I value Dr Scott as a Chiropractor, a Coach and as a friend.”
Dr. Mike Landry, Melbourne Australia
“Dr. Scott Heun has made an incredible mark on my life both personally and as a professional. Dr. Heun has many years worth of experience from which he guides, consults, and advises. By applying the same principles that made Dr. Heun successful in his own practice, such as communicating with patients ethically and honestly, I can already tell that I am on my way to a fulfilling and successful practice of my own. Dr. Heun won’t tell you what you want to necessarily hear, but he will always tell you what you need to hear. I highly recommend Dr. Heun for those professionals who are looking for wise counsel and solid advice. Dr. Heun, thank you for all you’ve done for me!”
Sincerely,
Dr. Leif Olson, CCSP, CBP Fellow, Nebraska
“Dr. Scott Heun has a well earned reputation for clinical excellence in the Chiropractic profession. Indeed, as the son of a highly regarded Chiropractor who brought relief from pain and suffering to thousands in the Napa Valley of California, and as a respected health care provider in his own right, Dr. Heun possesses unique knowledge, experience, and skill that would certainly be an asset to those Chiropractors who wish to reach the pinnacle of success with their health care practice.”
Douglas Cancel, D.C., Performance Sport-Care
“Dr. Heun has been an invaluable resource to me for the past year. His experience, integrity, and compassion has helped my business transition from concept to flourishing practice. More importantly he understands that change and growth are paramount in business and in life and he provides advice and support to help with these transitions. I would highly recommend Dr. Scott Heun for your business and personal development.”
Dr. Meagan Leahy, Kansas
“Dr. Heun is gifted healer, he fixed my numerous aches, pains and injuries. He added many years to my athletic career. He’s very well trained and knowledgeable but he’s also very intuitive-he can often tell what’s wrong just by looking at you. I’d recommend Dr Heun to anyone and everyone” – February 1, 2009?? Top qualities: Great Results , Expert , High Integrity
Mark Vignoles, Owner Service West, Inc
“Dr. Heun should be considered a practitioner in the top 1 % (one) of his field. He is well schooled in all venues of orthopedic care and when he renders an opinion you can trust it to be on the mark. Dr. Heun had a remarkable ability to engage patients in their own life changing roles of recovery and lifestyle changes. He was an incredible power in mentoring his interns and moving them on to their own practices. He was tireless in helping other doctors in building and managing their practice’s. He is truly a rare mentor of his patients and colleagues. I have known Dr. Heun for a least 5 years after his retirement and he still answers the phone when I call .I fell grateful that Dr. Heun and his family were part of our lives and community.
Graciously,
George Hollidge – January 5, 2009
“Scott was the team doctor for the BATS Rugby Club (San Francisco based) in the late 1980s. He literally saved my athletic career and changed my life, and did the same for several other teammates and friends. My issue was badly herniated disc, L5S1. He taught me how to live with this condition, how to go into the gym and retrain my muscles to restore proper neuromuscular balance, while carefully treating the condition. It was a miracle to go from being barely able to jog to being back on the pitch and at an all-star level of play in 6 weeks! And the change has lasted … he treated others with different soft tissue injuries like knees, and shoulders as well. Scott’s ability to understand an injury’s root cause and motivate the injured into proper corrective actions is stunning! When I moved to Southern California, I still flew up to see him! Plus, how do you NOT love this guy!”
“Having a real and sincere discussion about how to genuinely communicate with my patients is so refreshing. The people I serve are real, intelligent, and emotional people who have their own priorities and lives; it’s wonderful to have a mentor who understands & respects who I see every day. Dr. Heun’s birds eye view is one of experience, perspective, and imagination that inspires me.”
Dr. Cecilia Patton?, Fine Spine Chiropractic Office, California
“Dr. Heun is one of the only ethical, honest consultants out there. He encourages his clients to use their own style in an unscripted, real way. He’s enabled me to perfect my report of findings to be relaxed yet direct and efficient.”
Dr. Carolyn Finnegan?, Align Chiropractic Center, California
“Dr. Heun is unlike any other chiropractic mentor or consulting firm that I have experienced. Honesty, integrity, and genuine care for people are the keys to a successful practice and Dr. Heun does a great job putting forth concepts to help chiropractors connect with patients in an honest, meaningful way.”
Dr. Robert Privratsky, ?Brannan Street Chiropractic, California
“I wanted to take a few moments to let you know that I thoroughly enjoyed the seminar yesterday. After attending many different practice management seminars, I have to say that your unique style is like a breath of fresh air. So many of the other groups have lost sight of the issues; communicating with the patient and focusing care around each individual patient.
Dr. Horbach was spot on when he told me that I would get more information from your seminar than I had in all the past practice management seminars combined. After reviewing my notes today, I realized that I did not hand in the evaluation so I wanted to let you know my expectations were more than exceeded. It was a pleasure meeting you and your team.”
Dr. Renee A. Stauffacher, intun ChiroCare, WI
“I had a burning desire to become the best chiropractor I could be and by attending Dr. Heun’s seminars, I have not only learned how to become a better clinician, but have also learned how to effectively relate to my patients so that they feel that they are being listened to as well as knowing that I am truly looking out for their needs and not merely trying to pursue my own agendas.
Dr. Heun has a way of simplifying the complicated. For any D.C. who wants to attain ultimate satisfaction in practice while keeping the “stress” of practice to a minimum, these seminars are invaluable to learning those secrets.”
Dr. Leif Olson, Active ChiroCare, Nebraska
“I have worked with Dr. Heun for the past 7 years. His extensive experience in practice management is invaluable. As a consultant, Dr. Heun’s input has made a huge difference in the growth and efficiency of my practice.”
Dr. Chris Hackett, ?Novato, CAlifornia
“My name is Scott Hardman and I am a student at Life Chiropractic College West. I was a clinic 1 student when I attended the Practice Tutoring seminar, taught by Dr. Heun. The seminar was a great benefit for a student in my position because Dr. Heun focuses on the basics of building or having a successful practice. The seminar opened my eyes to many areas that Chiropractic school is not, for example; as a student in the school clinic I was expected to perform a thorough Report of Findings, but had never been given a solid example. Dr. Heun made it clear how one might explain to a patient so that the patient will want to start care, and even more important, stay through the duration of the care plan to see optimal results. This was just one of the many areas that the seminar touched on, that made an impact on me. It was very evident that Dr. Heun teaches from years of clinical experience. I would recommend the seminar to students and doctors. In retrospect, the time and the money was well worth it as I now look to the future with an enlightenment of possibilities made possible by spending two days at the Practice Tutoring seminar.”
Scott Hardman?, Chiropractic Student Life-West, ?California
Dear Scott,
I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you for the role that you have played in my becoming a Chiropractor.
My story is not unlike that of many others who were first helped by and then decided to pursue a career in Chiropractic. We go back a few years to the good old days of high school football. After suffering a hyper-extension injury, I experienced neck pain with EXTREME radicular, shooting pain in the C8 dermatome (likely due to facetal imbrication). After seeing countless, unsuccessful “specialists” you recommended a visit to your father, the late Dr. Richard Heun. I had witnessed your leadership skills on the playing field and in the classroom. I trusted your judgement and made the decision to investigate this, then an alternative modality, of health care. In literally one visit the symptoms were gone, never to return (what months of traditional medical care was unable to achieve). I realized in that moment that there was something incredible about this thing, Chiropractic. My plans for the future changed on that day. On that day, I became a Chiropractor.
Our lives went their separate ways for a while after high school. I first pursued my prerequisites and met my future wife. I was helping her get through nursing school when you announced your acceptance to Palmer College in Davenport, Iowa. I had hoped to join you but found it too difficult to leave California until my wife finished her education.
Later, I attended Western States Chiropractic College in Portland, Oregon. Upon my graduation I began to work with you and your father in the Napa and Pinole, California offices.
In that time I was blessed to spend precious time with you and your father. Over the years, you both have been the greatest of Mentors to me. I have tried to live up to those high standards of care and professionalism.
I can remember a time when a patient came in to the office crying with pain. I watched you and your father treat this patient in such a way as to ease the emotional distress, comfort the fear and manage the pain in such a caring and professional way which left an indelible mark on me. The patient left with a smile and your father turned to me and said, “Now that is patient management”.
Life has many unseen twists and turns. As it happened, my two-year-old daughter became gravely ill just as I was sitting the California State Board Exams. It was the most difficult time of my life.
I drew such a tremendous support from you and your entire family, especially your wonderful mother, which helped me, and my family to get through it all. I am eternally grateful to you and your family and the support of the Napa Valley Chiropractors who helped my family emotionally and financially in a time of dire need. I felt the love and support of the Chiropractic Community. It was a tremendous feeling to belong to the family of Chiropractic.
Thankfully, the life-threatening disease was overcome and my beautiful daughter is a vibrant, healthy young lady today. In her interest, I decided to relocate to a position offered to me in Washington State so that we could live in the country and support her continued health in a natural environment.
Through the years of growth and change in Chiropractic I have enjoyed the luxury of having you just a phone call away. Today, we are just a few mouse- clicks away! You have continued to be a source of pride in my profession, a source of inspiration for continued education. I have followed your rise to higher levels of skill and performance in Chiropractic.
As you know, I have moved overseas to Germany, and have practiced in Spain as well. We struggle still for recognition in many parts of Europe. I reluctantly, had to take exams in Germany to become what they call a “Heilpraktiker” in order to legally have my own practice here. I currently have offices in Hannover and Gütersloh. My intention is to establish another practice in Spain in the coming years.
As I reflect on some 20 years in practice, I was fortunate to have met you and your father in my early years. Through my experience as a Chiropractor, having witnessed the fantastic life changing effects of Chiropractic on a daily basis, it is an honor and a privilege to serve humanity and strive for the harmonious flow of the Universal Life Force.
Thanks to the guidance and support of you and your father and thanks to the profound and noble profession of Chiropractic I may declare, “I am a happy man”.
God Bless,?John
Dr. John Valenzuela, ?Germany
I originally met Dr. Scott Heun in 1979 when he was a student in my classes at Northern California College of Chiropractic (now Palmer-West). Dr. Scott was a strong supporter of Gonstead Technique at that time, and I was teaching physics and biomechanics, and advocating a different approach to chiropractic education, and patient care, based in applying mathematics and physics to chiropractic science and technique.
We became friends, in part because of our mutual respect for chiropractic. Dr. Scott was a supporter of mine with the school administration and board of directors, despite our technique differences, when they did not understand, or appreciate the value of what we both knew was a more scientific approach to advancing our profession.
We have both fought many battles, in business, and in chiropractic over the years. I have often sought his support, and he mine. This time-tested friendship is rooted in an old fashioned respect, that a man’s word and handshake is all that is needed among honorable men. This ethic is sorely lacking in so many business and personal relationships today.
Dr. Scott comes from a Chiropractic family and is a second- generation chiropractor. I have observed Dr. Scott’s behavior over the past 28 years and have noted a strong family upbringing. His father had the same high morals, ethics, and integrity.
I know Scott as an honorable man, a man of integrity, a great chiropractor and a personal friend. To me, and my code of honor, there is no higher compliment.
I would recommend Dr. Scott in any endeavor in which he enters. He always completes his obligations to the best of his abilities, which are considerable.
Sincerely,
Donald D. Harrison, PhD, DC, Wyoming
As with every CBP student officer taught by Drs. Harrison when I graduated I knew how to change a person’s spine, and how to do it well. What I wasn’t prepared for were the business aspects of running a large volume chiropractic office and practice. I was not prepared to communicate well and maintain patient retention long enough to even see a re-Xray. I was scared to fail and be part of the 50% statistic. I was scared that I would never really be able to help people, and never be able to pay off my debt. I was frustrated to have loose ends and scattered energy fresh out of school. I wondered, “How exactly do I apply my clinical knowledge and achieve success where so many have failed?”
Dr. Heun instructed me on personality style interaction, internal and external promotion, new patient follow up and retention, statistics, reporting, communication with other professionals, professionalism, discipline, priorities, and balance. He delivered my education with a level of integrity unparalleled by any chiropractor I have worked with to date.
Dr. Cecilia Garrison?, California
I learned early on from Dr. Heun that you don’t have to work 40-60 hour work-weeks, you don’t have to memorize scripts for patients, and you don’t have to be controlled by your practice.
I learned from Dr. Heun that having control of your office procedures, having control of your staff and having control of your finances allows you options in your personal life.
I didn’t start out working 40-60 hour work weeks, I didn’t start out getting in to huge debt, and I didn’t start out spending long hours at the office away from my family. With the control I now have, I won’t ever have to.
Thank you Dr. Heun.
Dr. Paul Maison?, California
Not unlike many Chiropractors, my first exposure to Chiropractic was as a patient. One day my doctor asked me to fill in for his assistant while she was battling a terminal disease. Sadly, she was not able to return to the office and I was asked to stay on permanently.
My CA training went little beyond how to hook up patients to muscle stimulators, diathermy, and ultrasound machines. Working the front desk was self-directed and learned by trial and error. I did my best to copy what had been done before. The doctor’s practice was winding down and retirement was looming. The office pace was slow, patient communication was long and, more often than not, non-chiropractic in topic. Treatment consisted of hooking up the patient to various modalities for at least thirty minutes which was followed by the adjustment that could take just as long. Rescheduling was more as-requested by the patient then doctor directed. For good or bad I essentially became a self taught CA.
Having learned as much as I could by what was mine to discover in the office, I wanted to learn more. This prompted me to enroll in the LACC CA Program. This was an awakening for me. As I looked passed the program in terms of an assistant I developed an interest in the profession in a whole different way. I decided to become a Chiropractor myself.
After returning to Northern California my next office experience was with a doctor who was in practice for some years but not nearly ready for retirement. The office was tense and staff turn over was high. The doctor expected staff to train staff, the office policy was a copy-of-a-copy-of-a-copy with many edits in the margins. The lack of real focus or direction and the unhappy-grumpy doctor caused me to follow those who preceded me and I gave my notice after a couple of weeks.
The next doctor I worked with had the busiest practice so far with a maximum of 130 visits per week. Staff training was done by both doctor and staff but mainly by staff. As in many offices the doctor taught one person who taught the following person who then changed the process to suit her needs and then taught the next person. After so many dilutions the policies and procedures were, in effect, staff generated. This doctor desired to grow his practice but was never able to break his plateau. Organization in this office was improved but nothing was written down beyond the office employment policy.
I spent a short time consulting another doctor in San Francisco on insurance billing and staff training. This was a multi-doctor office filled with fresh graduates with no experience in running a Chiropractic office. Policies were ever changing and directed by the ‘marketing guy’. Potential patients were brought into the office by hiring lay persons to distribute flyers during the lunch hour, promising free lunches, provided they subject themselves to a carpal tunnel lecture with a rubber band twisted around their index finger for the duration. New patients came but quickly left never to return.
Just before entering PCCW I had the great fortune to be employed by Dr. Heun. This office was very different from all the other offices I had experienced. For the first time I was exposed to open adjusting, Chiropractic Biophysics, focused communication, high-volume, and high patient retention. This was a well oiled machine. Every aspect of the office had a reason for being. Chiropractic was the primary objective. Not only were the policies and procedures written down in an office manual, but the staff was also cross-trained. If one staff member was away, any one of us knew how to perform his or her job. If a bus crashed in front of the office we were prepared to process each person with integrity and without compromise. I spent only six months here but my whole viewpoint of what Chiropractic was and how an office should be run was forever changed.
From here I went on to PCCW. This was a necessary step to becoming a doctor but little can be said for how they prepare students to open and run an office. I spent my preceptorship with Dr. Heun during my last quarter which helped to transition me back into the ‘real world’. After graduation I returned to Dr. Heun’s office as a New Patient Assistant, then as an associate and later moved on to open my own practice.
Out of all the doctors that I have worked with, Dr. Heun has taught me the most. Not a day goes by in my practice that doesn’t include something learned from him. Ninety percent of my office policies and procedures learned from working in his office, I have incorporated into my own office and they continue to stand the test of time. The importance of integrity, operating from my platform, and keeping the balance of my professional life with my personal life are lessons that he not only taught but demonstrated. These are bars of excellence that I strive for.
A great deal of how I practice and a large part of the doctor that I have become I owe to my experiences with Dr. Heun. If I have trouble solving a problem the dialog in my head says, “What would Dr. Heun do?” If my inner dialog doesn’t present a solution I have but to pick up the phone to tap the years of experience that dwell within him.
Every day I save lives through Chiropractic, one spine at a time. Thank you, Dr. Heun, for showing me the how and the why. I am maker of my own game and I’m still having fun.
Dr. Saundra Bedient, ?California
“Dr. Heun is the real deal. His insight into running a very successful chiropractic practice comes from actually running successful offices for 20 years. His advice is straightforward and practical, ready to use on your very next patient. The conversations I have had with Dr. Heun have had a more positive effect on my practice and personal life than any other person in chiropractic. Thanks Dr. Heun!”
Dr. Jonathan Laux, ?Ohio
“Don’t tell me, show me. So many people are quick to offer advice about almost anything but few have been successful when following their own advice. Imagine how valuable it would have been in Chiropractic College if you had spent your younger years observing and understanding every dimension of chiropractic. Dr. Scott J. Heun has done what few actually achieve. He is a second-generation chiropractor who was able to retire at an early age. Dr. Heun maintained a thriving contemporary chiropractic practice grounded in sound philosophy and cutting edge healthcare science for over 20 years! What I find more impressive is that he did this while raising 4 children, staying out of debt, and maintaining plenty of free time for family, hobbies, and honing his own personal growth. Many chiropractors struggle for a lifetime trying to achieve what Dr. Heun did by his mid 40′s. When looking for a foundation for real-life experience, insight, and balance, I believe Dr. Heun offers a rare gem of insight in the midst of advice-generating people who continue to permeate our chiropractic profession without personal practical experience to back up what they advocate.”
Be well.
Dr. Len Siskin, ?New Jersey
February 12, 1989
Dr. Scott J Heun ?2300 San Pablo Ave? Pinole, CA
Dear Scott,
Please accept my congratulations on completing The Best Work Course. You have demonstrated excellent understanding of what is at the heart of a successful professional practice: peoples’ unique core commitments and natural genius. I have no doubt that you will be able to lead your staff to operate from a high-integrity brand promise, and that patients will find it both re-assuring and compelling.
Branding is both straightforward and powerful when it is based on the foundation that you now understand. It’s a well-kept secret, and one that I am confident you will use to great advantage. Every detail counts. When people are disciplined about taking on this challenge, and build their practices on their own special integrity, everyone thrives: their clients, their staff, their vendors, and themselves.
I wish you the best of everything, and look forward to watching your success.
Best regards,
Marsha Shenk?, The Best Work People ?California
Marsha Shenk, ?Business Consultant and Professional Coach, ?California www.bestwork.biz
“As a Preceptor from PCCW I was happy to be able to be at Dr. Heun’s office. Being one of the select few, able to learn from a seasoned veteran, I took this time very seriously. Going back to school and hearing the stories of my classmates’ experiences reinforced my notion that, I was in the right place. I could see the awe and disappointment in the faces of a lot of my classmates when I would describe what I was doing and learning. This was a critical time in my budding career, associating with the right mentor would either help me grow or retard my growth as a Doctor of Chiropractic. It is imperative to find the right match when selecting a mentor. You should ask yourself, “Are they open to mentoring you?”, “Can you learn from them?”, “Are you willing to be humble and soak up every bit of information you can?” Some people will just choose anyone, without realizing that this experience is very important to their development as a heath professional, It’s the garbage in garbage out scenario.
Being a NPA in Dr. Heun’s office was an experience filled with ‘PEARLS’ and the goal was to be able to recognize the value of these pearls. Thought my experience level was in its infancy I still remember the ‘PEARLS’ that were given to me. Dr. Heun allowed me just enough freedom to hang myself; this was a good thing (he probably thought differently at the time). What I mean is that, some lessons just have to be learned the hard way. This is where the experience develops. One of the most important lessons I learned was that of; KNOWING YOUR WEIGHT’. Being the NPA is not the same as being the Primary Doctor! Knowing the limits of your experience and knowing your role in the office is so critical in having an efficiently running office. If a member of your team oversteps their experience level the ramifications can be costly. Losing patients, having a bad reputation, killing a practice and all be avoided by having experience and experienced people in your practice, mentoring (aka an objective set of experienced eyes) helps with these.
After I was done with my preceptorship, I began my career at Dr. Heun’s office. Continuing to collect those pearls and now knowing the value of them was a lot easier. This is the time where, the rubber met the road. School does not teach you how to do the things that are required of you in practice. Communication, relationships, and ethics are some of the most important things I learned from Dr. Heun. Many try to open offices right out of school. Do they succeed, is my question.
I am a firm believer that without the lessons I learned from Dr. Heun, I would not be where I am today. Developing a model of Chiropractic is more than technique, ADIO, and not using drugs. It is the endless pursuit of teaching and helping your fellow man, brother, and sister. It is office design, layout, equipment, and motive. These all help the Chiropractor help those around him, the patients.
Being able to communicate effectively will help you, as the doctor, help the patients get out of their own way so they can get healthy. We know what to do and how to help them. The patients are scared, uniformed, and leery. They are usually at your office as an act of desperation.
I had a new patient come into my office. He had had some experience with Chiropractic and medicine. Both of these professions had wrote him off, as being beyond help. I conducted a thorough physical examination and x-rays. When it came time for his ROF, I was concise empathetic, and optimistic. He was surprised hopeful, for the first time in a long time, he said. Now he is playing golf, being a father, husband, and grandfather. In other words I helped him regain his life and salvaged his belief in Chiropractic.
‘Raising the Bar’, when so many are lowering the standards of care, DDX, and Treatment, is a hard thing to do when you have nothing to model yourself after. If you have no model or template to follow, you will go with the flow and slowly fade away into obscurity. Holding yourself at a higher level is not bad. You are not saying you are better than somebody else. It means that you want the best for the patient.
Teaching the masses, one spine at a time and with a baby spoon is not a skill learn instantly. Dr. Heun would say the word “Rubik’s Cube”, when we would be teaching the patient’s with the material we learned in Neurology and Subluxation Pathology, these subjects are just too foreign for the average person. Teaching the masses lessons specifically tailored for them is the most effective.
I have used what I learned at Heun Chiropractic to continue the legacy that is Chiropractic. First, to do no harm, second to teach the world, one spine at a time.”
Dr. Glenn G. Wong, ?California
Health Education Critical Review Paper
Saundra Bedient
March 12, 1997
March 5, 1997, I had the pleasure of attending a Spinal Care Class in the office of Scott J. Heun, DC, CCSPh at 2300 San Pablo Avenue in the city of Pinole, California (business phone – 510.724.2200). I had previously worked as a new patient assistant in Dr. Heun’s office subsequent to attending Palmer West. Dr. Heun is very supportive of chiropractic students and was amenable to my attending one of his classes.
Dr. Heun conducts his classes in the back part of his office on Wednesday evenings. The doctor uses a large grease board and a plastic spine as visual aids. He always dresses professionally in the office and for his spinal care classes. He remains standing during the class and appears to be very comfortable while speaking to groups of people. Eye contact is well maintained throughout the class, and the doctor’s gestures are flowing and natural.
Dr. Heun begins his class by explaining what his responsibilities are and what the patient’s responsibilities are regarding the return to health. His responsibilities include giving the very best chiropractic care possible, while the patient is responsible for keeping their scheduled appointments, performing prescribed exercises, and for keeping their account up-to-date. He follows with the meat of the class by explaining what a normal spine looks like and what a subluxation is and what it can do to a person’s health. The rationale behind the adjustment, exercises and traction are explained. The doctor explains to the patient that pain is the last symptom to appear and the first to go. This leads to the difference between patch-care and corrective-care. The doctor ends the class with a very brief review of what was discussed.
Dr. Heun spoke with the confidence and conviction of someone who loves and believes in his job. He speaks clearly, enunciates well, and projects his voice accordingly. Hesitations are few, his voice never monotone. The only distraction during the class was at the beginning when a few patients were leaving and settling their account.
The people who attended the class appeared to understand what was being said to them. The doctor was interactive and patients would nod and keep their attention focused on the doctor.
Discussion
I enjoyed listening to Dr. Heun speak about chiropractic and why it should be an important part of every person’s life. I like his approach and sequence of the class because each part was a building block for the following part. I would keep the general outline of his talk but make it my own with vocabulary. I would not try to replicate his class word for word because I am a different person. By using different words and analogies I can send the same message but in my own way. I especially liked that the emphysis of the class is to educate his new patients, not as a ploy to drum-up referrals.
I truly have to struggle to find some aspect of the class that I would not use in my own practice. The one thing I would change would be to have the staff be more conscientious of the noise they were making while shutting down the office. It was distracting my attention away from the class.
Saundra Bedient, ?Student Palmer College of Chiropractic-West
“It is unique today, a lot of major consulting groups focus on either scaring patients, or sales tactics, or forcing people, and he doesn’t do any of that – I really appreciate that. It has been a great seminar, a long drive, and a long flight, but it was WELL, WELL worth it.”
Dr. John-Paul Curletto, Nevada
“In-office talk and patient communication is probably the most important patient education tool we have. I felt like it was very comfortable for me to go back to the office Monday morning and apply the things we learned in the seminar and help positively impact our patients health.”
[After attending the "Day to Day Dialogue and Patient Education" Workshop.]
Dr. Brian Hackleman, Missouri
“Meeting with Dr. Heun and some of the other doctors to talk about the basics of report of findings and how to tie that to the patient and the treatment they need was great – and today was a fantastic day as well. I just can’t say enough about the information I am able to take back to my office and implement starting Monday, and how I can teach the staff and interact with the patients and have some new information to teach them and bring them along. So Scott, thanks a lot, I can’t wait until the next one!”
Dr. Rick Osborne, Washington
“I came to the Hillsboro seminar and one of the things I derived from the program, and always from Dr. Heun’s seminars, is that we ALL need to develop a system in order to practice, in order to flourish in our practice, and I think Dr. Heun, unlike a lot of other practice management people, teaches you to tailor a system to yourself, to your personality, to how you are. That is extremely important in this day and age. Most others have a system, and you have to conform to their system, with this program, it is the opposite. Dr. Heun takes a system and fits it to your personality and how you integrate yourself with your patients and your practice. The information we went over today is invaluable in helping you to achieve these goals and be more efficient as a practitioner and to get your message out to the public and actually help more people and to be rewarded for that. None of us got into this [chiropractic] to be poor, we all want to make an honest living, and I think he can certainly help people do that.”
Dr. Pat Friend, Nebraska
“I am the wife of a chiropractor, not a chiropractor myself, however, I am in the office as much as the doctor. I have attended several other seminars and they were really good, however, they didn’t come close to Dr. Heun’s. They (SJHC Workshops) are so personal with a lot more one on one attention. The information you learn can be applied so easily without any stress. It definitely helps you grow not only in your office, but also as a doctor. There is role playing, which I believe helps you to realize what you are doing and what you personally can improve on. You also get to visit with the other doctors, which I believe is a great positive experience too. ?I will be at every seminar Dr. Heun invites us to. I won’t ever miss the motivation and positive experience.”
Mindy Hackleman, Missouri
“The [Hillsboro] Workshop was a one of a kind seminar experience. The hospitality and comfortable environment were overly impressive. The material was very relevant to the way I practice. I had a great time and would highly recommend the workshops to any chiropractor looking to better themselves and their practice.”
Dr. Matt Ritter, Pennsylvania
“Dr. Scott has so much wisdom and experience to draw from – to be here today was a privilege [SJHC Workshop], I never come away from an encounter with him, either on the phone, or in an environment like this without learning something we can implement the next day.”
Dr. Linn Erickson, Nebraska
“Every time I have the opportunity to come to these workshops or communicate with Dr. Heun on the phone, one of the things I am most thankful for is that everything is completely congruent. There are a lot of other management companies and people who do consulting work that are in it for ulterior motives. What you see is what you get, it’s honest, and I am very thankful for him.”
Dr. Ben Rall, South Dakota
“This is probably the most information packed seminar I have ever been to. He [Dr. Heun] has a unique perspective on patient communication. His focus is always on the patient, and I think that is something some people have lost in the chiropractic profession.
I feel very fortunate to be able to work with him.”
Dr. Casey Horbach, Wisconsin
“The Presentation of Findings seminar is a great set of tools for building long-term meaningful relationships with your patients, which are built on the foundation of trust. No smoke and mirrors or dog and pony shows here, Dr. Heun obviously has the experience and success to back up his assertions. I highly recommend this seminar, for anyone looking to increase their practice, as well as make it more personally rewarding.”
Dr. Nick Smith, Montana
“I was introduced to Dr. Heun by Dr. Deed Harrison. I shared with him some of my challenges in practice, and he said you know I’ve worked with a number of coaches along the way, and I think the guy that would work best for you is Dr. Heun. He gave me his web site and told me about him.
I looked him up on the web. I thought WOW; this guy speaks a language I haven’t really heard before. So I called Dr. Heun and we had a fantastic visit. He told me I was a good fit to come to his upcoming seminar. I really enjoyed the approach and the information, and the personal touch to chiropractic that he really brings.”
“My wife came with me to the last Hillsboro Seminar [Workshop]. Of the MANY chiropractic seminars she has attended in the last 30 years, encompassing thousands of people, she thought the workshop at Hillsboro might be her favorite. I agree.”
Dr. Chuck Plante, Minnesota
“Perhaps I am biased because he is my mentor, but I have good reason. Today, I have a successful practice. My direction is clear, and the reward for my hard work is growing. I get to help people significantly improve their spines and positively change lives. I took the opportunity to work with Dr. Heun the moment it was offered, only now realizing that it was he who has been working for me all this time. It was the headspace and clarity of an experienced and successful doctor which has clinched my success, all I had to do was listen and then take action. Thank you Dr. Heun, your value in my life is immeasurable.”
Dr. Cecilia Garrison, California
“Dr. Heun is the real deal. His insight into running a very successful chiropractic practice comes from actually running successful offices for 20 years. His advice is straightforward and practical, ready to use on your very next patient. The conversations I have had with Dr. Heun have had a more positive effect on my practice and personal life than any other person in chiropractic. Thanks Dr. Heun!”
Dr. Jonathan Laux, Ohio
“Out of all the doctors that I have worked with, Dr. Heun has taught me the most. Not a day goes by in my practice that doesn’t include something learned from him. Ninety percent of my office policies and procedures learned from working in his office, I have incorporated into my own office and they continue to stand the test of time. The importance of integrity, operating from my platform, and keeping the balance of my professional life with my personal life are lessons that he not only taught but demonstrated. These are bars of excellence that I strive for.
A great deal of how I practice and a large part of the doctor that I have become I owe to my experiences with Dr. Heun. If I have trouble solving a problem the dialog in my head says, “What would Dr. Heun do?” If my inner dialog doesn’t present a solution I have but to pick up the phone to tap the years of experience that dwell within him.
Every day I save lives through chiropractic, one spine at a time. Thank you, Dr. Heun, for showing me the how and the why. I am maker of my own game and I’m still having fun.”
Dr. Saundra Bedient, California
