10 Tips on How to Open a Successful Medical Office

Opening a medical office involves several steps and considerations - especially when it comes to insurance, liabilities, regulatory bodies, and other governmental guidelines.  It’s important to be very thorough in what you’d like to accomplish with your office. We spoke to leasing expert and Director of National Accounts, Brian Sheehan to find out what general steps you may want to take.  Here’s what he shared.

1. Develop a business plan:
   • Before opening a medical office, it is important to determine area need for services and develop a business plan that outlines your goals, target market, services offered, and financial projections. This plan will serve as a roadmap for your business and help you secure financing if needed.

2. Secure financing:
   • Before you can open your medical practice, you'll need to find the right financing options. Research different lenders and sources of funding to determine the best option for your situation.

3. Obtain necessary licenses and permits:
   • Depending on your location and the type of medical services you plan to offer, you may need to obtain certain licenses and permits from your state or local government. These may include a business license, medical license, and facility permit.
     
      
4. Choose a location:
   • Location is key when it comes to success in business, especially in the field of healthcare services. Find a spot that is both convenient for patients and also has good visibility and accessibility from main roads or highways.  Space in grocery-anchored shopping center will often provide these benefits while also providing ample parking and giving your clients convenient access to other goods and services when visiting your facility.

5. Set up the physical space:
   • Once you have a location, you will need to set up the physical space of your medical office. From purchasing medical equipment to finding the right software and technology solutions, there are many things to consider when setting up a medical office. Make sure to research all necessary requirements that must be met before you open. Verify all equipment needed to run operations are up-to-date and in compliance with safety standards set forth by relevant medical organizations or governing bodies in your locality or jurisdiction.

6. Hire a team:
   • You will need to hire staff for your medical office, but ensure you’re hiring qualified staff such as nurses, physicians, administrative personnel, billing specialists, etc., depending on the type of medical office you’re opening up. By making sure that all staff is certified and well educated, you avoid exposure to significant liabilities.

7. Put safety protocols in place:
   • Make sure your practice follows all safety regulations set by OSHA, HIPPA and other federal agencies so that you always ensure patient privacy as well as general safety protocols in your office environment. Consider implementing an electronic health record (EHR) system for managing patient data securely and efficiently.

8. Standard Operating Procedure:
   • Before accepting any patients, adapt a standard operating procedure (SOP) for your office. This involves your process for scheduling appointments, admitting your patients, and maintaining any patient/personnel records. Consider creating a workflow process that outlines how tasks will be managed on a day-to-day basis including patient check-in/check-outs, staff responsibilities, etc.

9. Obtain insurance:
   • It is important to obtain liability insurance to protect your medical office in the event of a lawsuit or other legal action. Make sure to also establish relationships with health insurance companies so that you can accept patients who have different types of insurance.

10. Advertise your services:
    • Once your medical office is up and running, you will need to advertise your services to attract patients. This may include creating a website, participating in community events, and networking with other medical professionals.

Opening a medical office can be a complex process, and the specific requirements will vary depending on your location and the type of services you plan to offer. It is important to do thorough research and consult with professionals in the field to ensure that you have all the necessary information and resources to be successful.