The endeavor of starting a new business can be both exciting and stressful for the person. You have to make all the business decisions on your own and find the most proper way to execute them. Let’s not even get started on the amount of red tape you’ll need to go through before you can get the relevant licenses and permits. However, the trouble is definitely worth it as there’s no better feeling in the world that knowing you’ve accomplished something on your own. Being your own boss and working independently is both a gift and a curse, but that’s where your organizational skills are put to the test.
The better plan you make, the easier the process will be. Most medical experts impulsively decide to start their own practice and they’re unprepared for what comes next. So, if your New Year resolution was to finally go solo, then stick to our easy checklist that was tailored to answer all of your questions and doubts.
Outline a plan
We can’t stress enough how this first step is the most important one as it all depends on how detailed your initial plan is. If you have everything on paper, then you’ll simply follow the steps and the process will be made much simpler. Your plan should cover the basics. For instance, you need to decide whether the practice will be completely solo with you as the only owner or whether you’ll team up with some other experts in the industry and start a group practice.
Also, you should have a location in mind and think about the office space. In addition, your practice will need a name in order to be registered, so you might want to jot down some ideas.
Purchase the equipment
Once you’ve found the ideal location and signed the lease, the next step is to furnish your office. Naturally, you’ll need to compile a list of furniture and office supplies (computer, faxing machine, phone, desk) that will make your patients’ stay enjoyable and pleasant. If you’re not sure what to buy, do a bit of online research and make a list of priorities. This might be a good time to think about hiring an office assistant that can help you with the furnishing process and handle calls with the suppliers.
The main three points you ought to have in mind are an EHR, a Medical Billing Software and a Practice Management Software. All these are a must if you’re serious about getting down to work.
Find staff
After you’ve settled in your office space, the problem you’ll have to tackle next is hiring trustworthy staff that will help you achieve everything you’ve envisioned. The best way to find reliable professionals is word-of-mouth—inform your closest colleagues that you’re in search of employees and see whether they have anyone to recommend. Also, you can post an online ad and schedule interviews with the people who catch your eye.
Be sure to run a background check on your potential employees and choose the ones who’ve gone through the necessary training, earned their certificate in BLS and are familiar with working in such an environment.
Promote your practice
Last, but not least, you’ll have to spread the word and let your community know that there’s a new medical practice in town. Luckily, with the Internet as your trusted ally, you’ll be able to mark this step as complete in no time. If you have an existing client base, don’t hesitate to contact those people via email to notify them about your location and working hours. You could also include some type of a special discount or certain perks for your first patients.
Nonetheless, keep in mind the fact that not everyone is tech-savvy. That’s why you’ll still need to print out leaflets that you can distribute while at the same time building your online presence. If you’re not a digital marketing mag, consider hiring someone who’ll do all the dirty work for you.
The bottom line
Hopefully, you’ve sighed with relief now that you have a list to follow. As you can see, the process does take time but it’s no mission impossible. A solid plan is crucial to ensure a smooth and stress-free process. If you get overwhelmed, take a look at the tips and tricks above and you’ll be owning your medical practice in no time.
