Dr. Perrine, center, with patients Yuli Ediht,
left, and Elizabeth Escobar. |
When I was a little boy, Christmas Eve was always an exciting
time for my brothers and me. I can recall being five years old,
wide-eyed, and lying in bed thinking about how sad it would
be to grow up. I knew inevitability I would have to start buying
gifts for everyone. I could not comprehend the joys that could
come with a life of service and giving.
Fast-forward 23 years to February of 2008 when, as a new
Palmer graduate, I posed for a picture with Dr. Kern. The
ceremony was so surreal. Thousands of memories passed
through my mind—watching my mother receive chiropractic
care when I was seven and reminiscing about the many years
I spent with my mentor, Dr. Bill H. Richardson. He once said,
“Son, if you go to Palmer and get your degree, you can have
my practice.” And that’s just what happened. Five days after
graduation, I took over his clinic. I could not have dreamed
of a better graduation present.
At my office, which is a walk-in and 100 percent cash
practice, I treat an average of 160 patients a week with an
average of 3.66 new patients per week since opening. I care
for patients ranging from three months to 86 years of age, some
of whom are multi-millionaires, others who are middle income
and many more who come from lower income homes.
My clinic is located in Southaven, the fifth largest city in
Mississippi. The unique aspect of my practice is the amount
of Hispanic patients that come in for treatments. Initially the
language barrier presented minor obstacles. This required me
to learn a small amount of Spanish, taught to me mostly by
willing family members of the patients.
A common occurrence, which transpires in variations, happens
when a Hispanic family enters the clinic for the father of the
family to be treated. Without fail, post treatment, he will get
up and return to his family in the waiting room. Seconds
later the mother, son, daughter and grandparents will ask to
be treated. Those families then go back to their community,
sharing the experience of chiropractic. My marketing is 100
percent word-of-mouth.
The Hispanic community, from my experience, warmly accepts
natural health care. I believe in true preventive health care.
I also believe in helping those individuals who are hurting,
physically and financially. Likewise, I treat and lead patients
toward maintenance care.
However, I have yet to see a day where I did not take
care of multiple pelvic subluxations. Most of my Hispanic
patients need to function to work and to make money to
feed their family. If I do not help them, their chances of
getting the help they need are slight because many of them
don’t carry health insurance, which other healthcare providers
require. For people with less of an ability to pay I offer a discount.
In some cases, I’ve even had people offer fruits and vegetables
as payment. In other cases, I’ve provided care for free.
I’ve also found that many of these patients don’t like to use
symptom-reducing medications, which their culture shuns.
I am blessed to be the one to serve their desire for natural
health care. I wish I had a whole practice of patients as committed
to chiropractic. But then my job would be too easy.
My practice works because my patients know that I care
for and desire to serve them. I refuse to allow a lack of
money to prolong the suffering to anyone’s health. Patients
who lack insurance coverage are at times left out of the circle
of chiropractic care. This is unacceptable. Regardless of age,
race, or earnings, all my patients receive the same treatment,
care and compassion.