How to set up a dermatology office?
When deciding to open an office, the health professional must understand the different stages of the process that involves opening such a business and it is also very important that there is planning. If you are from the field of dermatology and still do not know where to start your practice, today we will help you.
When we talk about planning, it is important to know that there are different strategies to be followed. Here on the blog, you can read a very complete article on planning a successful long-term practice, which is characterized by 4 steps: customer acquisition, service, loyalty, and management.
Therefore, these steps concern the office after it is ready, but unlike this, in this new article, we will comment on how the office opening process works, in other words, how to assemble it and leave it the way you always dreamed of!
In addition to years of study to graduate in Medicine, as well as years of residency, if you want to have your dermatology office, and get your certification from the American Board of Medical Specialties, a title that proves that you have passed the exam and are, in fact, a specialist in your field.
Planning
First of all, it is necessary to take reserve of all the necessary inputs in the structure of your office, as well as the main services offered, target audience, and location. Having all these points aligned, the first thing to do is to start calculating the entire amount that will be necessary to invest in your business.
At this point, having an accountant can be essential, as, in addition to helping you choose the best tax regime in a very simple and agile way, he will be able to collaborate with obtaining all the necessary documentation in this initial opening step.
Necessary investment
When putting all the necessary investment at the tip of the pencil, it's important not to leave anything behind. This means that in addition to renting the property, you need to keep in mind that there will be expenses with:
- Furniture and decoration of the entire environment;
- Lighting;
- Service equipment;
- Medical-hospital equipment;
- Water and energy;
- Management software;
- Salary of employees (in case there is a secretary or receptionist, for example);
By the way, if you are still in doubt about hiring someone to help you in the office, Here's a very interesting article to let you know the difference between a secretary and a receptionist. It is worth taking a look at!
As you can see from the list above, we've also included the management software. But after all, what is its purpose? Well, using the software can be much more beneficial than you might think, because, in addition to assisting in all the management part of the office through its financial-oriented features, good software is essential for your appointments to be more personalized and safer, thanks to the use of electronic medical records.
When hiring software, it is important to take into account some factors such as security, ease of use, functionalities, the support offered by the product, and its cost-effectiveness. If you don't use the software yet, or if you already use it but want to change it, we recommend Ninsaúde Apolo. Ninsaúde Apolo is suitable for several specialties and has several features that help not only in medical care but also in every part of appointments and finances Learn more by visiting the Apolo.app website.
Choice of location
The location of your office can be defined by your target audience, as the easier, it is for them to find you, the more patients you will have. Depending on the region of the country, opening an office in the city center is almost always the best option. The city center is also great for those who want to attract patients who use an insurance plan. In other cases, if private consultation is your focus, choose a location that is close to Class A and B residential areas.
Another important tip is to assess the need for one more specialist in dermatology in that specific region. Look for areas where such a professional is in short supply, so you will have the preference of patients in that region.
It's also important to keep in mind your future plans for this location: if you want to stay there for a long time, the idea is to acquire a space that can be expanded in the future.
Property structure
When opening an office, you can choose to build your own property or you can choose to rent (Don't forget to include your choice in your expense list). Regardless, it is important to assess whether the structure has enough space for everything needed in an office. In general, a dermatology office needs to have:
- Reception room;
- Attendance room;
- Procedure room;
- Bathrooms;
- Kitchen (for employees' use).
Administration and Marketing
After opening your office, it is time to work to reap the rewards. But remember, to keep your practice on the upswing, you need to pay attention to the points we mentioned in our article "How to have a successful practice in 4 steps". Knowing where and how to capture customers is important, but don't forget that how you serve them is critical to your success, after all, only with good service comes loyalty. And finally, don't forget to carry out good management.
So, did you like the tips? Keep following the blog to stay on top of more content like this. Are you a healthcare professional but do not yet use management software for your clinic or practice? Meet Ninsaúde Apolo.