STEP 5: Building, Furniture, Electronics

Private Practice Private Practice Startup
, , ,
1

waiting-room-ga162b2561_1920 png
waiting-room-ga162b2561_1920 png1920×1280 201 KB

Time to get down to business…

By this time you have done a good amount of research and decided where you want to start your practice. The next step is to secure a building.

Decide whether to rent or buy. It would be a good idea to discuss these options with your financial advisor if you have one. It is also worth considering buying an already-established practice from another practitioner wishing to sell their practice. In that case, many of these steps might become redundant.

Once you have a building, you will have a better idea of what furniture would be best according to its layout. And remember the electronic equipment!

Below are lists of some things to consider regarding each of these points.

THE BUILDING

1. Location:

  • Easy access (perhaps on or adjacent to a main road).
  • Visualisation (make sure people know you are there).
  • Parking.
  • Population demographics (to align with your services and type of practice).
  • Safety.
  • Proximity to support or related medical services (pharmacies, clinics, hospitals, paramedic services, etc.).
  • Access to fibre if possible.

2. The building:

  • Reception area.
  • Bathroom.
  • Staff bathroom (if possible).
  • Area/basin to scrub for procedures.
  • Easy access for patients with difficulty mobilising (e.g., ramp, smooth path for wheelchairs).
  • Consultation room with enough space and privacy.
  • Procedure/emergency room (can be convenient).
  • Room for the nurse (where applicable).
  • Green area (kitchen, private place of rest for staff).

THE FURNITURE

1. Waiting room:

  • Couches/chairs.
  • Coffee table.

2. Reception:

  • Desk or counter.
  • Chair(s).
  • Filing cabinet for documents and stationery.

3. Consultation room:

  • Desk.
  • At least 3 chairs (one of which is for you).
  • Cupboard/chest of drawers for documents, stationery, pamphlets, and trinkets.
  • Bookcase for documents, books, etc.
  • Examination bed.
  • Bedside table/space to place things when examining or doing procedures.
  • Bookcase/tiered stand for examination equipment, emergency medicine, etc.

THE ELECTRONICS

  1. Computer(s).
  • Reception area.
  • Consultation room(s).
  1. Internet access.
  2. Printer/copier/scanner.
  3. Telephones.
  • Reception area.
  • Consultation room(s).
  • Private telephone network (to communicate within the practice).
  1. Point of payment device.
  2. Generator or backup battery (to keep online processes ongoing during load-shedding, let’s face it).

:left_speech_bubble:Please contribute to this conversation by replying to this topic.