I once had a patient tell me that I had a very strange business model in that I got them better so fast that it must be hard to stay in business. Although this was nice feedback, it did make me wonder what my main goal as a practitioner is and I came up with this: My goal is work myself out of job. My goal is to teach my patients how to heal themselves. My goal is to give people the tools they can use daily to improve function and enjoy a better quality of life.

Now that may seem like an obvious answer for a healthcare practitioner to give, but not so. Unfortunately, there are many who would prefer you continue to come in frequently and for long treatment plans leaving the question open: who is this really benefitting? The patient or the practitioner's bottom line? WE must never forget that Doctor means Teacher. I have always felt that patients need to be empowered to be active participants in their health and healing. They crave the knowledge to understand what is happening to them and cherish the tools taught to them in order to take control of their health and ultimately their lives again.

So, if you find yourself with lingering symptoms concerning any condition you may be suffering from, don't be passive about your healing. Get active! Ask the questions; ask for clarity (pun intended)! Ask for the tools to help yourself. Ask for how to improve without needing to come to visit after visit, but what can you be doing at home BETWEEN visits to help yourself. And if you don't like what you hear, find a practitioner who will find those answers for you. Find a practitioner who likes to work herself out of a job.