The Practitioner's
Playbook

a blog

The Brutal Truth About Owning a Clinic (And Why You Should Give A Damn)

Let’s talk failure. The big, scary, heart-wrenching, keep-you-up-at-night kind. Because 20% of all small businesses won’t even make it to their first birthday. And before you start thinking, “Well I’m different,” let’s fast forward: 50% are dead within 5 years.  It’s not just the little guys. Half of the Forbes Fortune 500 will be nothing more than a cautionary tale within a decade. And here’s the real gut-punch—if you’re an acupuncturist, that number is even higher. Acupuncture schools are shutting down left and right. Why? Because their graduates are defaulting on student loans, leaving schools without the funding to stay… Read More

Creating an Effective Marketing Plan for Your Acupuncture Clinic

Let’s have a real chat about something every practice needs to get right: MARKETING.  Yeah, yeah, I know you’ve probably heard it a million times—“word of mouth is the best way to build a business.” And sure, it can be. But here’s the thing: relying on word of mouth to get your practice off the ground? That’s like driving a car with one flat tire. And I know what you’re thinking—“But word of mouth is free, and I’m on a budget!” Sure, word of mouth doesn’t cost you anything up front, but it’s unpredictable. Listen, waiting for your patients to… Read More

Answer Your Phone

Do you ever wonder why some acupuncturists are raking in 5-6 figure months while you’re barely getting by? It’s not just about skill, expertise, or even location. The secret is much simpler: they’re answering their phone—and they’re doing it the right way. At Mitowi Management, we know the power of the phone. When you attend one of our in-person events—whether it’s #SHIFT®, NXT LVL, or Map to a Million—we go the extra mile to help you succeed. How? We secret shop your clinic. Yep, we actually call your clinic and try to book an appointment. Here’s what we’ve found: most… Read More

The Future of Acu Schools

So, let’s talk about what’s happening in the world of alternative medicine education. Just recently, AMC shut down with zero warning, and now there are whispers that the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine might be next. You might be wondering, what’s going on? Turns out, there’s a storm brewing in the world of holistic medicine schools. Students walked in with stars in their eyes, dreaming of careers where they could work alongside traditional doctors and offer relief through acupuncture and other holistic treatments. They invested years of their lives and hefty student loans into these dreams, lured by promises of… Read More

You’re Billing Insurance Wrong

Let’s get real for a second. You’re in this business to change lives, not to dance to the tune of insurance companies or the Department of Veterans Affairs. But here’s a cautionary tale that might just be the wake-up call you need. Ever heard of Dr. Dongxin Ma? Probably not, unless you’re a regular reader of legal dramas in the healthcare world. Dr. Ma, an acupuncturist in Austin, recently got slammed with a $2.3 million fine for playing fast and loose with the VA’s billing rules. He billed for 60 minutes of one-on-one care per patient, even if he only… Read More

If you Have Time to go Home & Fall Asleep While Treating Patients You’re Doing it Wrong

Sometimes we come across a story in the acu world and we understand immediately the purpose of the face palm emoji.  You know, this one 🤦🏼‍♀️  The one that tells the world you’re muttering ‘uff da’ or ‘bless his heart’ or whatever phrase communicates shock and dismay in your part of the world.  Grab your popcorn friends and settle in because this one’s a doozy. Picture this: An Iowa man goes to his local acupuncturist for a bit of relief. That acu sticks the needles in, then—wait for it—goes home and takes a nap. Yep, you read that right. Homeboy… Read More

Knowing Your Worth

YOU CAN HEAL OTHERS AND HELP YOURSELF People are spending money. UberEats had record profits last year. The iPhone, even in its 15th iteration, is raking in over 30 million. Americans spent a RECORD $214 BILLION on summer vacations in 2023.  Again, people are spending money. So why do you have such a difficult time asking them for that money? You’re providing a service. A service that has been cultivated after almost a decade of education.  A service that has been a proven medical solution for over 3000 years. A service that could ultimately change the buyer’s life for the… Read More

Cultivating an Authentic Online Presence: Tips for Social Media

Recently, one of our valued AMPers (Advanced Mentoring Program) had been approached by a social media management company offering to represent their clinic for just over $1000 a month.  ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS! $1000 a month for a few posts and reels. Our response?  We took their precious face in our hands, told them how pretty they are and gently whispered “ ARE. YOU. OUT. OF. YOUR. MIND?”  We would later cry ourselves to sleep, shaking a fist to the sky and bellowing ‘have we taught them nothing?!” But seriously, the truth is that social media management doesn’t have to be… Read More

Optimizing Your Appointment Scheduling: Tips for Streamlining Patient Flow

Optimizing Your Appointment Scheduling: Tips for Streamlining Patient Flow You stroll into your clinic, tea in heand, ready to tackle the day. But as you open your EHR with a sense of forbodeing, what do you find? Surprise appointments scattered about like confetti, all over your calendar. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Once upon a time, you said yes to the siren call of your EHR’s online scheduling portal. Oh, the thrill of knowing patients could book appointments without lifting a finger! But fast foward to today, and you’re starting to wonder if it’s less miracle, more mischief.  Let’s get… Read More

Utilizing Technology to Improve Practice Efficiency: Must – Have Tools

Shortly after opening my practice in 2019, I was busting at the seams. My existing space was too small for my patient volume and my EHR was struggling to keep up the pace. Know how I knew this?  My staff pulled me aside one day for a ‘somethings-gotta-give’ intervention. Gotta love empowered staff!  My office manager was struggling to complete scheduling tasks in a timely manner because our existing EHR was too slow and too small to handle the patient load we have, As someone who specializes in treating the geriatric community, I definitely don’t want them standing at the… Read More