Best Way To Find Patients?

[sexyheather2213]

I am interested in being a caregiver.

 

Can any experienced caregivers let me know how to find some patients?

 

 

Any help is appreciated....Thanks.

[+kurt klaas]

How to Become a Professional Primary Caregiver

for Medical Marijuana Patients

 

To become a Caregiver, you should first thoroughly investigate what will be required of you to become a Caregiver and determine if you have the proper qualifications. That is, do you have the proper character, motivation, interests, compassion, skills, time, physical facility to grow marijuana and the upfront cash needed to purchase startup materials?

 

Prospective Caregivers need to understand what they are getting in to, and they need to have realistic expectations. This requires presenting some blunt facts. The key question you will have to consider in becoming a Caregiver is this: since the activity of Caregivers is completely unregulated by the state, do you have enough of what it takes—such as the things listed above—to become a Caregiver for a medical marijuana patient that will rise to a professional level of competence?

 

You should not answer this question too quickly. The Michigan Department of Community Health that administers the state’s medical marijuana program does not have the authority to screen prospective Caregivers, except to check the criminal record of applicants, and does not make inspections or take enforcement actions. Therefore, anyone can offer to provide Caregiver services, even if they are not properly qualified. Regrettably, some Caregivers are incompetent in one key aspect of the profession or another. If Caregivers were carefully regulated—as most service occupations are by the government, such as requiring specific educational attainments or requiring an examination for certification—many of them would be disqualified for their sub professional abilities. A few others would be arrested for their crooked, illegal activities.

 

To oversimplify matters, there are two types of Caregivers, and they are distinguished by the difference in their motivation. Some persons are motivated to become a Caregiver primarily because they imagine it’s an easy way to make lots of money quickly. The other type of Caregiver is devoted to the medical marijuana cause and to compassion for patients. The one group is motivated by greed, the other by concern for human beings. By listening and watching the actions of specific Caregivers, you can pretty quickly tell which ones are driven primarily by self-interest and which are driven primarily by the ideal that “it’s all about the patients”. For professional Caregivers, it’s all about the patients and serving them. You need to have realistic expectations. Forget about making lots of money, more than you have ever had. Sure, there are always a few who pull this off, especially those who are willing to risk breaking the law by diverting marijuana to the street market. The reality is most Caregivers are not going to make a living off of medical marijuana. For most persons, it’s going to be a side job. You might want to view your service to grow a garden for a patient as a sort of hobby for which you receive compensation. But even as a part time job, don’t think it’s going to require little time and effort.

 

If you are starting from scratch, becoming a professional medical marijuana Caregiver is a long road that requires a great deal of self-discipline and self-teaching and cash, among other things. Starting from scratch, costs for a grow operation for your first patient can easily reach $2000.00. To be sure, you are investing this money in starting up a business of a kind, which will eventually generate enough returns to cover startup costs, your labor and other expenses. But in the meantime, you will need startup cash. However, you could negotiate a startup fee with a new patient to cover some of the initial expenses.

 

You’ll also need to educate yourself about the science of marijuana, such as its medical benefits and risks, known as its “pharmacological profile”. For instance, you should know what the scientific research data shows about whether or not marijuana has an addiction risk and if so, how severe it is compared to other drugs. You will also need to learn the law regarding medical marijuana, which is very crucial. And you will need to learn how to help a patient become registered with the state, among other things. To help you with these and other key issues, the Holland Compassionate Care Community has available the Michigan Medical Marijuana Guide. It contains much of what you need to know to elevate your care-giving into a profession. And of course you’re going to learn lots of things by attending club meetings and other activities.

 

And then you will need to find patients that are in need of a Caregiver. Sometimes you will have to compete for these patients with other Caregivers. Frankly, the need to sign up five patients in order to become a well-compensated Caregiver drives some of them to greedy behaviors. One patient extensively involved in Michigan’s medical marijuana movement has described Caregivers as “hawks on mice” because of the frantic competition they sometimes display. It might be more politically correct not to mention such unpleasant facts. But there’s a good reason to draw attention to the unprofessional behaviors of some Caregivers: it is the responsibility of a Compassionate Care Club to do what it can to address problems regarding incompetent or unethical Caregivers and hold up high, professional standards. And the best way to deal with potential problem Caregivers is head on. Anything less than total professionalism in all areas of the occupation is unacceptable. The standards we uphold as a community should be nothing less than what generally characterizes professional occupations of every sort. Wouldn’t you agree?

 

There are a variety of ways Caregivers can search for patients. One of the best ways is through your existing network of friends and family. Some people that you know know nothing about how they could be helped by medical marijuana. Educate them and offer your service, not all at once but in one appropriate step at a time (Give them a copy of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Guide). Advertising, such as in the local Flashes, can also get you leads. However, in order to protect yourself from quacks and thieves, do not use your primary phone number as a contact method. Use a special contact phone number or email address. Of course, advertising, too, will require expense. Also, the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association web site allows publishing a state-wide ad once per month. Also, networking through involvement with a local compassion club might get you leads. However, the HollandCCC has created a procedure for regulating how Caregivers can offer their services in or through the club. Some clubs simply allow anyone, no matter what their qualifications or reputation are, to offer their services during public meetings. We feel this doesn’t create a sound procedure for screening Caregivers so that a minimal level of competency is maintained. Therefore, only Caregivers who are members of our club will be approved for offering their services, if they want to do so through the club. We are currently working on creating an application questionnaire for Caregivers, the answers to which will be posted in a confidential list of all recommended Caregivers who want to offer their services in or through the club. This list will be made available to Patients searching for Caregivers.

 

Finally, as a Caregiver, you will obviously need to become proficient at growing medicine-grade marijuana (most likely indoors). For you first crop, keep it simple as possible. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the finer aspects of producing really bountiful, fast crops. Unless you have had some prior horticulture experience, stick to soil at first, which is the simplest method. After having gained some experience, you can move up to a more productive hydroponic method.

 

In sum, nothing really worth doing is easy. Becoming a professional medical marijuana Caregiver is not easy. But the relationship of care-giving you will develop with patients—which could include many other everyday duties a patient may need help with—has tremendous rewards besides the compensation that you will receive for all your service. In sum, it’s all about the patients.

This info is provided by the Holland Compassionate Care Community (hollandccc.org)

[______]

The best way to get started is to become a patient, learn to grow and when you can keep yourself fully supplied, then find a patient. Until you have a few grows under your belt there is no reason for a patient to want to hire you.

 

Many new people come on here and make their first post an offering of caregiver services. Most of those people rarely stick around for long. I guess an optimist would think they fill all their patient slots and live happily ever after. My guess would be that they get the idea in their head that caregiving will be their ticket to untold wealth, make a post and when a line does not form for their services they give up and go back to playing on their PS3 all day.

[MIMEDGROW]

grow high quality medicine at fair prices.

[sexyheather2213]

Wow. More info then I needed.

 

 

I just asked the best way to find patients....?

 

 

A simple answer is all that was needed.

 

I dont need a lecture.

 

 

Anyone care to answer or RE Answer?

[phaquetoo]

Wow. More info then I needed.

 

 

I just asked the best way to find patients....?

 

 

A simple answer is all that was needed.

 

I dont need a lecture.

 

 

Anyone care to answer or RE Answer?

 

ok your in the rite place to find a patient, You do need to be committed to this, and you dont have to be a rocket scientist, yes you can make a living doing this and be compasionate at the same time!

 

You need to find a person that is a patient or becoming one, they put you down as a c.g, If it is there first app it dont cost them anything, if they are already a patient and dont have a c.g, you get the c.g forms fill it out, give send the state all they require to run a back ground check on you. and it cost 10 bucks!

 

if you are new to marijuana its a lil late for an outdoor grow, unless you put it in 5 gal buckets and can bring it in in the fall to finish out under lites! other than that, just try and be compasionate, if you gouge people you wont be working long. if your fair they will line up for you!

 

Peace!

Jim

[+420Atheist]

You have not given anyone much to go on. It sounds like you are starting from square one that is why you are getting the full "lecture." Don't dismiss this good information without consideration.

 

To answer your question I would think the best way would be referrals from patients or friends you trust. I can understand how young people would have a hard time. If you get to my advanced years you have a lot of friends with physical issues I am sadden to say.

 

The problem with things like advertising on Craigs list is you don't know if you will be ripped off or get hooked up with some nut job. If you are young look to some of your parents friends or older family members. Though in my opinion most people know someone who suffers from some kind of chronic pain.

[drtarzanmd]

Wow. More info then I needed.

 

 

I just asked the best way to find patients....?

 

 

A simple answer is all that was needed.

 

I dont need a lecture.

 

 

Anyone care to answer or RE Answer?

 

Please Start off w/ going to

 

Compassion Meetings in your Local Area ...

[Ryoki]

Wow. More info then I needed.

 

 

I just asked the best way to find patients....?

 

 

A simple answer is all that was needed.

 

I dont need a lecture.

 

 

Anyone care to answer or RE Answer?

 

 

 

If you thought this was going to be 'simple' I think you may be in for some hurt. You're dealing with botany,chemistry,electronics,construction,HVAC technologies,and thats just to grow the plants.

Then you have deal with legal issues on a city,county,state and federal levels.

After that if you find a patient you have to deal with their illness. What is best for them? Can you provide it? do you know how to make mediables? Capsules? Are you willing to learn? Can you deal with people who are dying and looking for comfort?

Then after all that you might start thinking about the money aspect. What do want to invest? What do expect as compensation? Will you be willing to take a loss to help your fellow humans or are going to pass on those who don't or can't pay what you want?

 

If you don't want 'lectures', grow carrots. A great deal of folks have risked much to get us here. Listen to what they tell you, it will help you in the long run. It takes more then just wanting to do it. It takes a real commitment.

[BDR]

Wow. More info then I needed.

 

 

I just asked the best way to find patients....?

 

 

A simple answer is all that was needed.

 

I dont need a lecture.

 

 

Anyone care to answer or RE Answer?

 

Oh... That's easy... Just go out and get yourself a giant flag that reads "I Grow Good Pot".. Hang it up on your front porch and watch em come flocking in..... Seriously.... You may post in the caregiver services section of this forum... Just make sure you have done your research first... and follow the rules of posting in that section.. There is a lot involved in becoming a competent and capable caregiver as stated above... I wish you the best of luck & if you have any other ?'s just ask... we like to help B) Peace, love, and Big Buds

[dlovas]

How to Become a Professional Primary Caregiver

for Medical Marijuana Patients

 

To become a Caregiver, you should first thoroughly investigate what will be required of you to become a Caregiver and determine if you have the proper qualifications. That is, do you have the proper character, motivation, interests, compassion, skills, time, physical facility to grow marijuana and the upfront cash needed to purchase startup materials?

 

Prospective Caregivers need to understand what they are getting in to, and they need to have realistic expectations. This requires presenting some blunt facts. The key question you will have to consider in becoming a Caregiver is this: since the activity of Caregivers is completely unregulated by the state, do you have enough of what it takes—such as the things listed above—to become a Caregiver for a medical marijuana patient that will rise to a professional level of competence?

 

You should not answer this question too quickly. The Michigan Department of Community Health that administers the state’s medical marijuana program does not have the authority to screen prospective Caregivers, except to check the criminal record of applicants, and does not make inspections or take enforcement actions. Therefore, anyone can offer to provide Caregiver services, even if they are not properly qualified. Regrettably, some Caregivers are incompetent in one key aspect of the profession or another. If Caregivers were carefully regulated—as most service occupations are by the government, such as requiring specific educational attainments or requiring an examination for certification—many of them would be disqualified for their sub professional abilities. A few others would be arrested for their crooked, illegal activities.

 

To oversimplify matters, there are two types of Caregivers, and they are distinguished by the difference in their motivation. Some persons are motivated to become a Caregiver primarily because they imagine it’s an easy way to make lots of money quickly. The other type of Caregiver is devoted to the medical marijuana cause and to compassion for patients. The one group is motivated by greed, the other by concern for human beings. By listening and watching the actions of specific Caregivers, you can pretty quickly tell which ones are driven primarily by self-interest and which are driven primarily by the ideal that “it’s all about the patients”. For professional Caregivers, it’s all about the patients and serving them. You need to have realistic expectations. Forget about making lots of money, more than you have ever had. Sure, there are always a few who pull this off, especially those who are willing to risk breaking the law by diverting marijuana to the street market. The reality is most Caregivers are not going to make a living off of medical marijuana. For most persons, it’s going to be a side job. You might want to view your service to grow a garden for a patient as a sort of hobby for which you receive compensation. But even as a part time job, don’t think it’s going to require little time and effort.

 

If you are starting from scratch, becoming a professional medical marijuana Caregiver is a long road that requires a great deal of self-discipline and self-teaching and cash, among other things. Starting from scratch, costs for a grow operation for your first patient can easily reach $2000.00. To be sure, you are investing this money in starting up a business of a kind, which will eventually generate enough returns to cover startup costs, your labor and other expenses. But in the meantime, you will need startup cash. However, you could negotiate a startup fee with a new patient to cover some of the initial expenses.

 

You’ll also need to educate yourself about the science of marijuana, such as its medical benefits and risks, known as its “pharmacological profile”. For instance, you should know what the scientific research data shows about whether or not marijuana has an addiction risk and if so, how severe it is compared to other drugs. You will also need to learn the law regarding medical marijuana, which is very crucial. And you will need to learn how to help a patient become registered with the state, among other things. To help you with these and other key issues, the Holland Compassionate Care Community has available the Michigan Medical Marijuana Guide. It contains much of what you need to know to elevate your care-giving into a profession. And of course you’re going to learn lots of things by attending club meetings and other activities.

 

And then you will need to find patients that are in need of a Caregiver. Sometimes you will have to compete for these patients with other Caregivers. Frankly, the need to sign up five patients in order to become a well-compensated Caregiver drives some of them to greedy behaviors. One patient extensively involved in Michigan’s medical marijuana movement has described Caregivers as “hawks on mice” because of the frantic competition they sometimes display. It might be more politically correct not to mention such unpleasant facts. But there’s a good reason to draw attention to the unprofessional behaviors of some Caregivers: it is the responsibility of a Compassionate Care Club to do what it can to address problems regarding incompetent or unethical Caregivers and hold up high, professional standards. And the best way to deal with potential problem Caregivers is head on. Anything less than total professionalism in all areas of the occupation is unacceptable. The standards we uphold as a community should be nothing less than what generally characterizes professional occupations of every sort. Wouldn’t you agree?

 

There are a variety of ways Caregivers can search for patients. One of the best ways is through your existing network of friends and family. Some people that you know know nothing about how they could be helped by medical marijuana. Educate them and offer your service, not all at once but in one appropriate step at a time (Give them a copy of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Guide). Advertising, such as in the local Flashes, can also get you leads. However, in order to protect yourself from quacks and thieves, do not use your primary phone number as a contact method. Use a special contact phone number or email address. Of course, advertising, too, will require expense. Also, the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association web site allows publishing a state-wide ad once per month. Also, networking through involvement with a local compassion club might get you leads. However, the HollandCCC has created a procedure for regulating how Caregivers can offer their services in or through the club. Some clubs simply allow anyone, no matter what their qualifications or reputation are, to offer their services during public meetings. We feel this doesn’t create a sound procedure for screening Caregivers so that a minimal level of competency is maintained. Therefore, only Caregivers who are members of our club will be approved for offering their services, if they want to do so through the club. We are currently working on creating an application questionnaire for Caregivers, the answers to which will be posted in a confidential list of all recommended Caregivers who want to offer their services in or through the club. This list will be made available to Patients searching for Caregivers.

 

Finally, as a Caregiver, you will obviously need to become proficient at growing medicine-grade marijuana (most likely indoors). For you first crop, keep it simple as possible. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the finer aspects of producing really bountiful, fast crops. Unless you have had some prior horticulture experience, stick to soil at first, which is the simplest method. After having gained some experience, you can move up to a more productive hydroponic method.

 

In sum, nothing really worth doing is easy. Becoming a professional medical marijuana Caregiver is not easy. But the relationship of care-giving you will develop with patients—which could include many other everyday duties a patient may need help with—has tremendous rewards besides the compensation that you will receive for all your service. In sum, it’s all about the patients.

This info is provided by the Holland Compassionate Care Community (hollandccc.org)

 

The solution is to make all these CHIMPS that are trying to be CG's take a test half of them will be eliminated because they cannot study and take a test like the real estate and or mortgage licenses. That cleaned up those industries bigtime.

 

And if they have to pay another fee to take the test will also weed out a another 20%.

[rockinlespaul]

The best way to get started is to become a patient, learn to grow and when you can keep yourself fully supplied, then find a patient. Until you have a few grows under your belt there is no reason for a patient to want to hire you.

 

Many new people come on here and make their first post an offering of caregiver services. Most of those people rarely stick around for long. I guess an optimist would think they fill all their patient slots and live happily ever after. My guess would be that they get the idea in their head that caregiving will be their ticket to untold wealth, make a post and when a line does not form for their services they give up and go back to playing on their PS3 all day.

 

 

What he said...