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Hello! :)

I am currently working at a Chiropractic office.. I am an employee! my pay-check is maybe $450 every two weeks. I make $13 a 1/2 hour session. But I don't get a whole lot of hours. I am still paying for school loans..and have a house and am looking to start a family. So lately I have been thinking about what I bring to the table and its not much! I need to step up and do something about it!  Usually my hours are: Mon 2-6 Tues 2-6 Wed 9/12- 2/6 and Fri 9-12 / 2-6. But of course there are slow days or days that kind of just dwindle down do to people who cancel or no show. I really want to have more hours.. but I'm thinking that would mean I need to step up and do some CEU's or look into some kind of billing and coding program.. I was wondering if there are people out there that are or  have been in my situation. Are there any of you who work at the Chiropractors do extras beside massage? Did you take a course in coding and billing to get extra hours? I want to talk to my boss about this and see what the best route would be for me to take. I would love some advice from you who work in Chiropractic offices. I need to weigh my options.. and know are there any other options I am over looking? Are there other modalities I can do to help add to the practice?   Many questions! :)

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and give me advice.. its much appreciated.. my brain hurts from thinking far to much on this topic!

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There are a lot of good DVDs and books on all those subjects...Very much less expensive.. And you can always press the rewind button on your DVD player.. Easy to learn.

Jessica Belanger said:

Oh, really? I wonder whats the point in taking it then.. I myself would find it a little redundant to take that class then. I already paid to learn it once... and have my books.  I'm thinking insurance will be different per State..because most of the companies our patients have do not cover Massage Therapy. Some will only cover it if the Dr. does it!  *That makes no sense to me!!*  But a few do cover and I think Anthem does a discount.  Yeah I actually just looked for Oriental Medicine.. looks like Mass. is the closest... :(  That's a 4 hour drive for me. So it probably won't happen. I love Maine.. but the opportunities here are far and few between unfortunately.  That's why I didn't really get into Pregnancy Massage.. I called a few different hospitals..and there are very few birth clinics.  I would always call and leave a message and they never returned any of my calls. My Teacher even helped me come up with a good voicemail message to leave so I could sound professional and get my point across.. because I am not always so good on the phone. Then while I worked at the Spa for that 5 months or so, I actually came across a client who had worked at a hospital doing Pregnancy Massage. But she was no longer doing it...not enough hours ect... to sum it up..she said "Maine-Care isn't going to cover massage!"   A lot of pregnant women in Maine are on it....but I can see why. I can't even get benefits.. I don't work enough hours! Even if I did, I still couldn't.. I'm paying $200 a month in school loans.. plus my house mortgage ect... its just too much some days. I should of waited.. I went to school 3 months Before my 24th Birthday.. under the age of 24. they count you under your parents income..well in Maine they do anyways. So that really kind of screwed me over.. since my parents are not paying for any of it. I think I'll do a bit more research and see if maybe we are over looking some insurance companies.. but you said you can get 96 an hour from the insurance company?

I only buy DVD's unless they are CEU accredited.. I know quite a few are not..but I would probably take seminars where my boss would most likely pay for it if it will benefit his clinic.

Gordon J. Wallis said:

There are a lot of good DVDs and books on all those subjects...Very much less expensive.. And you can always press the rewind button on your DVD player.. Easy to learn.

Jessica Belanger said:

Oh, really? I wonder whats the point in taking it then.. I myself would find it a little redundant to take that class then. I already paid to learn it once... and have my books.  I'm thinking insurance will be different per State..because most of the companies our patients have do not cover Massage Therapy. Some will only cover it if the Dr. does it!  *That makes no sense to me!!*  But a few do cover and I think Anthem does a discount.  Yeah I actually just looked for Oriental Medicine.. looks like Mass. is the closest... :(  That's a 4 hour drive for me. So it probably won't happen. I love Maine.. but the opportunities here are far and few between unfortunately.  That's why I didn't really get into Pregnancy Massage.. I called a few different hospitals..and there are very few birth clinics.  I would always call and leave a message and they never returned any of my calls. My Teacher even helped me come up with a good voicemail message to leave so I could sound professional and get my point across.. because I am not always so good on the phone. Then while I worked at the Spa for that 5 months or so, I actually came across a client who had worked at a hospital doing Pregnancy Massage. But she was no longer doing it...not enough hours ect... to sum it up..she said "Maine-Care isn't going to cover massage!"   A lot of pregnant women in Maine are on it....but I can see why. I can't even get benefits.. I don't work enough hours! Even if I did, I still couldn't.. I'm paying $200 a month in school loans.. plus my house mortgage ect... its just too much some days. I should of waited.. I went to school 3 months Before my 24th Birthday.. under the age of 24. they count you under your parents income..well in Maine they do anyways. So that really kind of screwed me over.. since my parents are not paying for any of it. I think I'll do a bit more research and see if maybe we are over looking some insurance companies.. but you said you can get 96 an hour from the insurance company?

Well first off, ask yourself if you want to do coding and billing.  I work through a nail salon and the owner is perpetually pressuring me to take her nail tech course, to expand in the "beauty industry".  Personally, massage is the career I want- for health and wellness and for a lifetime.  Other skills are great but when I have the time and funds for further education I will be training further in massage, not in cosmetology, because that is my dream.  If your goal is a build a massage career I would consider expanding your massage training before changing gears.  However, if you are happy with the chiropracter and just want to be a bigger part of that business then courses in coding and billing are the way to go.  Either way I would find some Business and Marketing classes and work to expand your massage clientele. 

I would suggest building up own practice. You can do outcall to your clients.  

I worked in the beginning of my carrer for different chiropractors. Usually it is a very hard work, people have issue with back, neck, etc. Sometimes very little breaks in between sessions.  I see therapists burn out for little money.

So you can work towards improving your technique. When you get enough experience -  time to move on.

There is always a demand for talented therapists. Just get the modality that you are good at.  trade more with others.

That way you would learn hands on".  Good luck

Elena, sandiegomassageworks.  Owner of sports massage in San Diego

Lets just say that my initial massage training was very grounded in treatment massage, so I had a good foundation. I also have taken 1 day a month in which I go to Brian Utting's house (he's a local massage legend and prior massage school owner) for a small group tutorial in which we go into various deep tissue and treatment techniques. Additionally, I took a ton of CE's this year. The two main ones I've focused on were Lomi Lomi and Thai massage. Although I did some energy courses and some other lovely Woo Woo stuff. 

I'd say, for me (I worked in a chiro office, but focus mostly on my own business now), it has been an asset to know a high variety of treatment and clinical work; however, my success in the chiro office and in my own business is that I blend yummy, good feeling with the treatment, and don't get too hyperfocused on any one modality. I take from each class I've done, and made it my own, felt it in my hands, and truly listened to my clients verbal and non-verbal communication. 

Be vast, and seek out different modalities to not only help you stand out, but also push your own boundaries. Highly rewarding. :)

Good luck,

Sarah

I worked in an integrated health office, primarily staffed by chiropractors. I also trained in ART, so was able to have appointments for this treatment as well as massage.

Check with your Chiropractor and or the person that does the insurance billing. A lot of insurance companies will not pay for massage on it's own. At least here in NC. However if it is in the treatment plan from the Chiropractor then insurance here will pay for the massage.

Well that's what we do at our office.... the Dr refers patients to me and it has to be in their treatment plan for them to see me. But we're finding that some insurance companies don't want to even cover massage unless you're the DR or a PT doing the work. Which is very disappointing and a slap in the face to how much time and effort I put into my studies. 

Chris Reynolds said:

Check with your Chiropractor and or the person that does the insurance billing. A lot of insurance companies will not pay for massage on it's own. At least here in NC. However if it is in the treatment plan from the Chiropractor then insurance here will pay for the massage.

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