As the national debate over healthcare rages, one thing is certain: You are expected to be more than just healers.

With diminished insurance coverage and growing competition for patients, nowhere is this new reality more obvious than among chiropractors — and being business savvy is a must for any practice.

We talked to a few successful chiropractors and business management gurus to get the skinny on a few lucrative office strategies.

Pay attention to these details, and you might find your office running more smoothly — leaving you feeling less overwhelmed.

Put it in writing

“Majority of chiropractors who call me are struggling because their office manager of 14 years has left and they don’t know how to turn on the computer,” says consultant Kathy Mills Chang.

That’s where a standard operating procedure (SOP) manual can help.

When each process’ steps are outlined in writing, anyone can slip into the position of a vacationing staff member or someone who has resigned. “I could win the Powerball and leave, and no one is in the lurch,” Mills Chang explains.

Alicia Burke, DC, of Absolute Health LA in Los Angeles has put this process to the test with detailed job descriptions and an employee handbook for reference. “If it’s not on paper, it won’t happen,” she says. “You really have to spell it out.”

While delegation may be difficult to do, it’s crucial for maintaining a schedule that puts patients first.

“Seventy-five percent of delegating problems are because they don’t think someone can do the job as well as they can, and they don’t feel they have time to teach their staff how to do things,” says Maria Marsala, a strategic business advisor who owns Elevating Your Business.

But when your staff knows they can turn to a written document such as an SOP for instruction or to answer a quick question about a process, they won’t need to interrupt you or patient care or put a chore on the back burner.

“The best use of chiropractors’ time is utilizing their best skill set — being a doctor,” says Paul Maguire, DC, who coaches chiropractors. “If you want to grow, you have to have help,” Maguire says. “No doctor can do it without help.” He also suggests that if the office is a mess, hire someone to get it organized. Need marketing materials? Leave the designing and writing to the pros.

Lisa Goldberg, MD, of All Care Consultants takes the SOP one step further. “The whole office has to have a mission statement,” she asserts. When everyone understands and buys into the purpose and goal of the practice, they’re more likely to follow a process that works towards that end goal.

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