Acupuncture Technology News

I’d be smiling if I knew how to fly it.

I don’t own an airplane. Investing in an airplane only makes sense if you use it to do what it’s designed to do–fly! Otherwise, it’s just an expensive toy that sits in the hangar, gathering dust. I don’t know how to fly an airplane, and I don’t own one.

Would you buy an airplane if you didn’t know how to fly it? I once saw a video of a guy who did this with a helicopter. He bought it and just couldn’t wait to try it out. You can guess the result…

You Want to Fly

When it comes to investing in your Acupuncture Practice, it’s not just about buying a piece of equipment. Just as the true value of an airplane is only realized when it’s airborne, the true value of your AcuGraph investment is only realized when you have the training you need to make it fly, so to speak.

When we developed the first version of AcuGraph in 2003, it was a great tool. Do an exam, get a graph–pretty basic, but useful nonetheless. And training? It came with a manual.

As AcuGraph has evolved with greater capability and value, we’ve also added additional training resources: videos, seminars, blog entries, and even personal coaching. The point is that AcuGraph is a high performance aircraft that will help your practice soar–but only if you know how to use it. And without proper training, it’s just a really nice airplane sitting in the hanger.

More Value than Ever Before!

And THAT, my friends, is why I’m so excited about our new AcuGraph system packages. ALL our AcuGraph packages now include incredible training that will get you up and flying fast. Options include all the following, depending on your needs:

• Video boot camp
• AcuGraph e-Course
• Seminar Series (with CE credits!)
• AcuGraph Case Studies Textbook
• Personal Coaching
• Personal Case Consultations
• Concierge Installation and Setup
• Patient Education Tools
• Advanced Marketing Training
• And More…

What’s even better? The combined packages save you LOTS of money! In the past, our users purchased AcuGraph, realized they needed training, and purchased it separately within a few months. Those who got the most training, got the most benefit from their AcuGraph investment. But they also spent the most, and had to do it in multiple purchases.

Who wants to invest in equipment only to find they also need to invest in training they hadn’t planned on? With our new, integrated packages, you get everything you need up front, and save money doing it! Equipment, training, coaching–it’s all there to guarantee your success!

Taking Off

If you haven’t yet made your practice investment in AcuGraph, there’s no better time than now! Your package is positioned on the runway and ready for take off. We have equipment and training packages tailored to every need and every budget. We’ll even design a custom package for you!

Is your practice ready for takeoff?

- -> Click Here to See the AcuGraph Packages <- -

It’s Saturday morning…and most of us are relaxing after the long week. So WHY are we sending you this email?

In a nutshell…it’s because I want to give you something to ponder and consider before you get caught up in the activities of the work week.

We’ve been working with Practitioners for the past 10 years. We try hard to produce a quality product and deliver exceptional service. I think most of you would agree that we’ve successfully accomplished that goal.

We’ve also heard about your struggles and challenges. We’re not just “business people” that make equipment for the Acupuncture profession. We are a collection of Practitioners that HAVE been and still ARE right there in the trenches with you.

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Don’t be SO busy that you forget to complete your CEU credits!   

As an Exercise Physiologist I have to renew mine every 2 years…not long ago I forgot about the CEU requirements! What did I do? Yep, you guessed it, I pleaded, threatened, begged and stomped around like a 5 year old! Did it work? NO…I had to retake the exam!

It would have been MUCH easier to just complete the available online CEU’s!

Learn from my MISTAKE! Order one of our Professional CEU programs today…save $50 by clicking on one of the CEU packages below!

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Are you a planner/organizer? I’ve learned how to be “that girl” over the years out of pure necessity. Having 9 kids FORCED me to learn organization skills. Consequently, I am a list maker. I’ve even been known to file my holiday lists away in my computer so that I can bring them out the next year and use them again.

I’ve been doing some business planning for the new year–making lists of things that I want to implement in my clinic. While planning, I like to ask myself questions about my clinic in order to decide which new ideas to implement. Here are a few that I’ve asked myself recently.

• Where should I focus my spare time? Networking, health fairs, finding new patients, activating old patients? Was my networking effective last year?
• How many NEW patients did I have last year? How many of those patients came for a series of treatments and then disappeared? How many of the same patients actually became part of my CORE group of regulars?
• Who are my CORE patients? What can I do to show them how much I appreciate them?
• Do I have patients who I need to work on reactivating?

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Summertime is a Challenge for Adults! 

Every business has predictable cycles. Summertime is a challenge for a lot of businesses, especially in healthcare!

For practitioners, work is slow…but imagine what your patients are going through?!

School is out, the kids need to be entertained and kept out of trouble. There’s Scout Camp to plan, Girls Camp, Summer School, Family Reunions and Family Vacations!

Is it any wonder business dramatically picks up when Summer ends? Parents need help recovering!

So, what can be done during such a time of upheaval? One word…PREPARATION!

• Now is the time to get those CEU’s while improving your technique!
• Take the time to sharpen the vision and mission of your practice!
• Write a new Business & Marketing Plan!

We’ve got some great news…We can Help!

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Greetings Friends.

I’m writing to let you know about a great idea we had…several years ago!

See, back in the good old days of AcuGraph 3, we noticed that many of our users were not aware of some of the basics of using the system. Oh, they still used it and got good results, but occasionally we’d hear comments like, “I didn’t know AcuGraph could even do that…” when we would talk about one of the system’s features.  Occasionally we would even come across a user who didn’t know some of the basics of using the system. [Yes, you have to moisten the probe tip!]

So, we decided we needed a course–something that would make it quick and easy for our users to learn the basics and some advanced features of the system in short, quick lessons they could do in their spare time. Well, we created that course. It was called the AcuGraph E-Course, and it consisted of a series of quick AcuGraph lessons and exercises sent by email over the course of several weeks. People loved it.
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There are some things in life that I am EXCELLENT at—but there are other things that are not my specialty. This relates to my personal life and also to my business.

My expertise is in Chinese medicine. Like you, I’ve spent lots of time developing my skills and talents as a TCM practitioner. That’s why patients are willing to PAY for my services, right?

Everyone has their area of expertise. When I need something printed for my business, I call my printer and graphics design person. When I need bookkeeping, I call my bookkeeper. Why? Because I HATE bookkeeping and I’m terrible at it. Why would I want to spend weeks trying to become an effective bookkeeper when I could call someone else who is already an expert?

Okay, are you ready for me to rant a little???? Here it comes…

I regularly follow several blogs and conversations about acupuncture on social networking sites. Recently, a few conversation strings have REALLY bothered me. The topics were primarily acupuncturists complaining about how they gained an education in acupuncture, but they were not prepared to run a business when they graduated. Some even quit practicing because they can’t make a living in acupuncture.

Frankly, this isn’t news, but it also isn’t necessary. What bothers me most is that these same failing practitioners are not willing to invest in tools or professional services that will provide the help they need.

To illustrate my point, let’s look at a real world example. Have you ever known a “wanna be” photographer–who buys a nice camera and suddenly thinks he is a pro?  Of course it takes a lot more than owning a nice camera to make someone a good photographer.

How about bookkeepers? Does owning QuickBooks make you a good bookkeeper? Nope. We all know this and I’m pretty sure I’m not offending anyone by saying it out loud. I’m also pretty sure that when a professional photographer has special needs, like questions about taxes, they’re likely not opening up TurboTax to hunt for the answer. When the local CPA needs professional photography shots for their wedding, they’re likely not asking some kid just because he or she has a decent camera.

So why is an Acupuncture Practice any different? Why is it that time after time acupuncturists “go it alone” as they try to create and build an acupuncture practice? It frustrates me to no end to hear these solo acupuncturists lecture other acupuncturists about how acupuncture is so unique that no other professional can possibly help in their practice.

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Are you Following along?

If you’ve been following my blogs, you know that my primary goal is to help each of you have a commercially successful practice. The other day, I helped a practitioner set up a health screening table at a grand opening sponsored by a local Chamber of Commerce. We anticipated 100-200 people, however, due to the pouring rain, flooded parking lot and the fact it was on a Thursday night, there were maybe 25 people! So how did it turn out? Approximately 10 people were screened, and 6 of those 10 setup appointments for the following week!

Such a tiny little event still had the potential to bring in 3-6 new patients! There was only one problem: the practitioner had not prepared to do the follow-up work needed to have a high “show” rate and turn those prospects into new patients. This was a bit of a wake-up call to me.

You see, I had assumed that the procedures were in place to deliver effective customer service, and all that was lacking was the ability to attract new people and schedule appointments!
So let’s take things from the beginning and cover all of the basics needed BEFORE you conduct a marketing event.

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Hello Friends…Feliz Cumpleanos!

It’s not your birthday? That’s OK. It’s mine! (Happy Birthday to me!) You didn’t get me anything? That’s OK too. I got you something!

Here it is:

Dr. Jake Fratkin came here in January and gave an incredible 2-day seminar on advanced AcuGraph applications in your practice. With over 30 years’ experience, Jake is a wealth of not just knowledge, but wisdom.

Of course, due to Dr. Fratkin’s reputation, seats sold out very quickly and we had a lot of disappointed people who wanted to attend but couldn’t.

The good news? I decided to go ahead and have the seminar recorded. Boy am I glad I did, too, because it turned out incredibly well. You can now watch the entire 12-hour seminar, including all lectures, live demonstrations and class participation—and you can watch it on DVD or online.

And both the DVD and online versions include 12 credits of continuing education credit.

What’s it cost?

The DVD version is $379 and the online streaming version is $349.

Now for your birthday present:

I’ve taken $50 off the price of either version, good through the rest of today. That puts the DVD version at just $329 and the online version at $299.

Both still include the CE/PDA credits, and both are available right now. But don’t wait. Just as birthdays come, and then they’re over, this deal will be over at midnight.

Order your Copy Now…Click HERE!!

Meanwhile, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to me, and have a great week!

It’s time to confess…

I can’t believe that it took me so long to figure this out. Actually, I’m rather embarrassed to admit that I didn’t understand the value of the “By Element” chart.

I’ve been explaining the AcuGraph features to practitioners for years.  When I sit down with a practitioner to explain the graphs, I usually scroll through the each one to show multiple ways that they can analyze the graphing information. Once I reach the “By Element” chart, I usually tell the practitioner something like this:

“And you can look at the same information by element on this chart. But since, I’m not a 5 element practitioner, this chart isn’t of value to me.”

Can I just set the record straight??? I was completely wrong! That chart is actually EXTREMELY valuable to me as a practitioner. We teach about this concept in the Advanced Training Seminar Series, but it was actually in the January 2012 Dr. Jake Fratkin Seminar that the light bulb went on and I finally got it! Each time I watch the Fratkin Seminar, another tidbit of wisdom continue to show up to help me become a better practitioner.

Each graph is designed to give valuable information about how the energy is flowing in your patient, which then becomes important as you decide how to treat.

The “Baseline” graph is the first one that you see. It shows you the difference between the channels of the upper body and the lower body.

The “Yin/Yang” graph became extremely valuable to me when I started treating with the concepts I learned from Dr. Fratkin. Yin leads and yang follows. I use this graph to analyze which primary yin channels need to be treated first.

The “By Element” graph is next. I used to click on it and take a look, but I never made treatment decisions based on what I saw. But now I know better..

What I learned:
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Okay, I’m a “Big Picture” kind of guy. In other words, I like to see all the details, from the start to the finish! When it comes to being proficient with the AcuGraph Dr. Larsen has created a simple progression that will help you become an “AcuGraph-Master.”

Like most electronic purchases, we have a conditioned need to “plug the thing in and watch it work!” We come by this tendency honestly…just think of how home appliances were marketed for the past 50 years.

Mastering the AcuGraph isn’t difficult as long as you take it step by step. So let’s take a minute and go over the 3 steps to learning how to maximize your investment.

Step #1 – Beginner   

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On my way to work I was flipping through the radio stations, looking for a good song. On at least three of those stations they were talking about an expo, tradeshow or fair! My last three posts focused on how to take advantage of these events. Today let’s talk about how to CREATE opportunities with the medium to large corporations near you.

The public perception of corporations is interesting. Hollywood portrays them as cold, uncaring monoliths of our society. This portrayal makes them intimidating to approach! Here’s a different way to think of corporations: In order to make their millions, they NEED healthy, productive employees. The expensive health insurance they offer does NOT prevent them from getting sick or injured. It fixes them after they’re broken! Meanwhile, employees miss work, productivity drops and costs increase. The service you offer ties directly into increased productivity and profits!

The Research is clear…Corporations NEED YOU!

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Last weekend, I was at an Acupuncture Symposium in Bloomington, Minnesota. It was a beautiful experience! I saw some beautiful scenery, met amazing people and tried some delicious local cuisine while enjoying the land of 10,000 lakes!

I also had the chance to talk with students, Acupuncturists, and Acupuncture-Certified Chiropractors that attended the Great River Symposium. I took this opportunity to get some feedback.

I asked one, simple question: “How does AcuGraph impact your practice?”

Here’s what I heard:

1. “The patients are always excited to see how their graph has changed.” Acupuncturist

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Enjoy the clip!

We’d love your feedback!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QicmybM40M

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This last week I have been working on a REALLY BIG project. It’s a secret, but I’ll give you a couple of hints...

#1: I’ve been editing hours and hours of video.

#2: I’ve been creating test questions for the NCCAOM, California and Florida boards.

I’ll tell you what I’ve been working on IF you don’t tell my boss that I told you….  Deal??? (He doesn’t like information to leak out too quickly because then we get tons of phone calls with questions that we don’t have all of the answers to.)

Are you ready?!?

I’ve been working on the Jake Fratkin 2012 training DVDs

which should be coming out SOON!

I can’t give you an exact date as of yet, but I thought you would be excited to hear that they are on the horizon. Currently, we are awaiting CEU approval from the NCCAOM, CA and Florida boards. Everyone who attended the seminar in January of this last year is aware that we recorded the seminar and many have prepaid for their copy. If you purchased a copy of the training back in January, we will be sending it out to you before we receive approval, because you have already earned your CEU’s. You can’t hold me to it, but it looks like these pre-release copies may be shipping as soon as one week from now. For everyone else, you will have to wait patiently. But at least you can still be excited because I let you in on the secret!

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