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Hello. My name is Dr. Kim Hoang chiropractic physician in the new Orleans area. They give again ChiroSecure for allowing me to have this platform to communicate with my fellow colleagues in today’s show. I’d like to talk about how diversity, uh, in, um, uh, being able to speak different languages, uh, can, uh, be beneficial for not just, uh, your practice, but also the people in the community. Um, I’ve been practicing for about 21 years. Uh, when I, um, first started practicing, um, uh, in the, the clinic, um, that, uh, after I graduated, um, uh, the clinic itself saw mainly English speaking, uh, patients as do most offices, um, and a little bit of history about myself, um, in a show that I did prior, um, I have, uh, mentioned that, uh, both my parents are, uh, immigrants from Vietnam, uh, during the fall of Saigon and 1975, they fled Vietnam and they came to the United States.
Um, they had to, uh, of my siblings at, uh, at that time. And, uh, and then once they were here in the United States, my mom and dad had another, uh, five children. Um, whenever my mom would get sick, most of the time, whenever she would have to go to the doctor, we would always, or one of the, um, the siblings would always have to go with her to translate. And I found that, um, in order for the doctor to really understand and really diagnose the issue, they need to understand a full history. As far as when did the pain started? Does it bother you more at night? Um, does it radiate, uh, the, the, the, the type of pain, when, when does it bother you? The most, those things cannot be said on a piece of paper, uh, just with the, the, the, the, the intake form, uh, in any event.
Um, uh, during the first five years of my life, I mainly spoke Vietnamese because that’s all my parents knew how to speak. Um, once I started elementary school, I learned how to speak English. And, um, usually whenever I’m at home with my parents, I would speak Vietnamese to them. And of course, whenever, uh, whenever I was at school, I was speak English. So there was a combination. Um, w whenever I was in my twenties, I unfortunately lost both of my parents. And at that time, um, I did not really need to speak the language anymore. Uh, fast forward I graduated from chiropractic school, and then I went to, uh, practice at an amazing practice. I learned so much, uh, from, uh, from the doctor that employed me. Um, but again, you know, it was mainly English speaking patients. Uh, it wasn’t until started my private practice that I found that there was a need for a Vietnamese speaking chiropractic physician.
I’d also learned a little bit of Spanish, uh, prior to that as well, too. Um, once I started my private practice, I knew that there was a need. So I started to, um, advertise in the Vietnamese news newspaper here in new Orleans. And I was able to attract a lot of Vietnamese clients or patients. Um, but once I started seeing them, I found that it was a little difficult, um, the way that you speak, uh, to your patients, it’s not just, hi, bye. Hello, how are you doing? It’s more so, okay. You have this disc herniation at this level, and it’s causing the numbness and tingling down towards your arms. So I had to really learn those specific terminologies, everything from disc herniations to, uh, what is your stomach, uh, what is a kidney in Vietnamese? Um, and to this day, I’m still learning, um, because that’s not something that I speak, uh, often.
Um, but I find that, that, that, that, that was something that was needed in the Vietnamese community, uh, chiropractic care. Um, and, uh, but we need to be able to communicate clearly with these patients. Uh, whenever I hired my staff mutually, I would always have at least one Vietnamese speaking person in each office. Um, and again, if I’m not here, then at least there’s a staff member to be able to communicate. And so that was one of the, um, the, the, the, the types of patients that, that I attract. Uh, mainly [inaudible] speaking. Uh, on another note, I knew that there was also a need in the Hispanic community. Um, Spanish is probably one of the top five most spoken language in the world. And, um, I think that, you know, a lot of times whenever we travel, there’s many places that, that speak Spanish. Um, and, and, and so I find that, that, that there was a need in that community as well too.
Now, Spanish is not something that I speak fluently. Uh, I have learned some of the terminologies as far as like where’s the pain they face up face down because of that nature. But, um, I do employ, um, Spanish speaking staff in each of the offices. So that’s, I think that’s an easier way, uh, for, uh, for my colleagues to be able to, um, attract those types of patients. Um, on another note, I would tell you that these patients, um, are the most humble, a lot of times, uh, people I know back in Vietnam and also in many of the countries, uh, where Spanish is spoken, uh, or at least the patients that I see around in, in my area, most of them are from, you know, countries that don’t really put health first. And whenever I’m able to see these patients, uh, number one, being able to explain it to them and for them to understand it, they are so thankful.
And, and, and, and it brings me joy to be able to see them get better with, with not just the, um, the, the use of medication. And there’s a ton in place for, you know, we, we want to be proactive, but not reactive. And, and it’s up to us to be able to communicate with these patients. And, and again, you know, if you’re not able to learn the language, and I know it’s hard to, to pick up another language, I’ve been trying to learn Spanish for awhile, and I highly appreciate and respect the language, but it’s just difficult. We’re, we’re very busy with our lives, our kids, uh, with our practice. So to learn in a, be able to speak the language on a regular basis is really hard to be able, just to learn it. So short of us learning it, having a staff member there to be able to translate, um, there are Google translate nowadays, but I will tell you, it’s not the same.
A lot of times with the Google translate, it’s better than nothing. However, whenever the patient comes in, it’s more like, okay, it’s a scale of one to 10, it’s a two, or I hurt here, you know, so, so having someone to be able to tell the story on a day-to-day basis, I think is very, very important. Um, so, um, uh, I feel too that, you know, uh, again, uh, being able to communicate with the patient and for, for us, we, we, uh, we went to a wellness practice over here. So we don’t just treat the patient until the pain is gone. We want it to be able to educate them that, you know, we want to be able to get them into not just pain relief, but also into wellness care. And, uh, again, in most of the patients that at least my patients that, that are mainly Spanish speaking or Vietnamese speaking, they don’t really understand that they don’t, they, they, they never, uh, put health as, as, uh, as a priority.
Uh, so to be able to, to, um, educate them to that level, I think that it, it is very, very gratifying. Um, the show was going to be pretty short. Um, I, I think that in my, the, my main focus today was more so about diversity of languages. Um, and, um, I actually did a little bit of research in prior to doing the show and some of the most spoken languages in the world, I was kind of surprised, but English is number one, no surprise to that. Mandarin is number two. Hindu is number three. Spanish is number four, and French is number five. So somewhere in your community, I bet, you know, there’s a big, uh, maybe, uh, uh, a French population. Well, I guess, in, in those languages, uh, there’s, there’s probably, you know, dual language. So it’s probably not as much as, as the Spanish speaking and also the, the Vietnamese speaking, but I bet there’s a lot of Chinese, you know, uh, population sometimes, um, you know, that’s the only language that they speak. So again, you know, just, just having a staff member over there, I think you can’t go wrong with Spanish. Um, but, but having just another staff member there to be able to communicate the story is, is, is, is, is not only going to help, you know, your, your practice, but also the people in those community. Um, and, uh, I think I’m going to slowly wrap up the show, uh,
To Kim. I’m going to answer your question. If you can answer, how did people go about finding staff that are bilingual? Did you advertise or
Great question? Yes. Yes. So, um, some of them are word of mouth. Uh, so, um, a lot of these communities are very tight knit communities. Um, if, you know, one bit of obese person, you know, another Vietnamese person, uh, and so, uh, being that I knew she always have a Vietnamese or either Spanish speaking staff members. Most of the time, first off, I, I would ask those staff members if they have any referrals. Um, but also I actually advertise in the Vietnamese and also the Spanish newspaper as well, too. And, uh, I’ve been advertising with them ever since I started my private practice, uh, 15, 16 years ago. And as far as the amount that I pay is close to nothing, uh, as far as return of investments. Um, and you know, it’s not just advertising in there. It’s of course, being able to, um, have a, a patient who knows, or who have had your service, and then, you know, normally it will spread, uh, word of mouth. Um, but, um, but I have advertised in the Vietnamese and also the Spanish newspaper nowadays. Uh there’s uh, there’s, there’s, there’s online, uh, presence as well, too. Um, but, um, uh, I would probably start off again, you know, word of mouth or either, uh, the, um, the, the, the local newspaper, if you’re not sure Google it, um, if you need my help, I’m sure that the people that I’ve advertised with over here has connections with people in your area.
I have one last question. Um, do you find that, um, when you hire somebody that’s bilingual, whatever the languages do you advertise on your website that you’re bilingual, that you speak Spanish, that you speak Vietnamese or whatever?
Well, whenever we advertise in the newspaper, the Spanish, or either the, uh, the Vietnamese newspaper. Yes. Um, I believe in the Spanish newspaper, we do put that, that, that we do speak Spanish. And, uh, so, uh, um, you know, we, we don’t want to assume the obvious, um, but, um, in the Spanish newspaper we do put it, now they can tell on bitten me. So I think they know that I speak Vietnamese, but it would be beneficial if you do have a Spanish speaking or Vietnamese speaking to put it on, uh, to put it on the advertisement and, or, uh, your website as well, too. Absolutely. Um, I wanted to add something in as well, too, at the beginning, whenever I started seeing, um, Spanish speaking, either mainly just, uh, uh, uh, Vietnamese speaking patient, I will tell you it was a little difficult because your report a finding is not, it just doesn’t flow out.
It takes a little bit more time, but again, I will tell you that as you continue to, um, do the report of findings, you’ll see. And with the person, let’s say, if I have, uh, my, my Spanish speaking staff, uh, in the room with me, I’ll speak, and she knows what I’m about to what I am about to say. Uh, and, and, and, and so she’s able to take over the conversation, and then I pretty much kind of point out as far as the, what I, where I feel the issues of what your treatment plan is going to be. Um, she then takes over because she understands the financial, uh, options that the patient has, but be a little patient at the beginning. I remember whenever I first started with my Spanish speaking, I would be in there for probably maybe half an hour, because I would try to speak it and then have to wait for them to translate and then speak again. Um, but again, now that I do have a staff members who have been with me, uh, for some time, they do understand, uh, and, and have been, or have done a report, a finding for me already. So be patient, but it’ll pay off in the end again. Uh, you know, I’ve been doing it for the last 15, 16 years, and, and I truly love, uh, being able to help, um, the, the, the, the patients in those communities. They, they are very, very thankful. They are super, super hard working as well, too.
Okay. Um, any other questions, Alan? Okay, so I’d like to thank ChiroSecure again for giving me this opportunity. I wanted to say that at the beginning, whenever I was asked, um, I’m a little shy in front of the camera, but, um, but I find that whenever you, whenever you find hesitation and you said that you don’t want to, you shouldn’t do it. So I’m want to advise my colleagues, you know, be comfortable being uncomfortable. I think that’s how you grow as a person. And I remember my first show, Alan, he probably remembers as well too. I was, I was probably sweating and then just shaking and, you know, not really knowing how to, um, to speak and, and instead a lot of, uh, um, but anyways, just have fun with it. And Allen, I appreciate you very much for giving me this platform as well, too.
I’ve I really have had a lot of fun. Um, being able to share with you guys, my colleagues, uh, uh, my story and my journey, and please don’t hesitate. My, my website is www dot Meddory dash Gretna dissenter, Emmy T a I R I E dash G R E T N a D I S C C E N T E r.com on there. You’ll have a link to communicate with me. Uh, and, uh, in the last thing that I would say too, is, um, you know, find something that you’re passionate about. I mean, recently for me, uh, I’ve been able to, um, specialize in, in this injuries and I’m having so much fun seeing these patients, not, not seeing these patients, you know, being in poor health, but it’s been so gratifying. I have enjoyed practicing, uh, more so now than ever. Uh, and, um, that is because, uh, what we do matter.
And, uh, I’m, I’m, I’m able to see 12 millimeter disc herniation patients get better naturally without the use of surgery. And to me, that, that, that, that makes me feel like a superhero. And, but it doesn’t come, it doesn’t come easily. It takes a lot of hard work. Uh, there’s a lot of, you know, a lot of, um, seminars and, you know, studies and, and, and things of that nature. And recently, if you guys want to know more about it, I’m, uh, I’m actually one of the, uh, doctors with the, um, with dissenters of America. But, you know, if it’s not that find something else that you’re passionate about, you know, your patients can see, uh, your enthusiasm. It, it bleeds through, and I didn’t realize this, but my coach, uh, coach Bob said that, you know, whenever you’re feeling down, whenever you’re feeling exhausted and tired, it’s going to bleed through, it’s going to bleed through and your patients will feel that, uh, uh, and, and, and so w bring your a game.
You know, I, I encourage all of my fellow colleagues to be the best that you can, and, you know, our profession is an amazing profession. And, you know, we, we, we, we are able to do so much, um, um, that the w in the world needs us. So, so go out there and reach for the stars. And, and again, you know, I’m here. If you guys have any questions for me, I love to be able to communicate with my colleagues and, and, uh, and, and, and help one another out. Um, so thank you so much.