Setting up a medical practice in Australia is a big decision. There’s a lot to consider, especially if you want to set up a general practice, or if you’re planning on expanding beyond a small clinic at some stage. However, it can be incredibly rewarding and lucrative. If you’re ready to take the plunge and create something great, welcome aboard. You’re in for a whole new world of learning. Show
If you’re looking for information on how to start a medical centre in Australia, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve been helping medical clinics and healthcare specialists get established across the country for years now and have a pretty good idea of what goes into starting a medical clinic. There’s a whole range of things you need to be aware of. You’ll need to make decisions on everything, from choosing the right location and IT solutions to accreditation and staff management. And if you don’t know what you need to do, it can be hard to know what your medical practice set up is missing. Download our new Medical Practice Setup ChecklistWhy partner with GPsupport?At GPsupport, we’ve helped hundreds of providers successfully open new medical practices around Australia and have the expertise to guide you through every step of the journey. book Expert knowledgeGetting new practices set-up for success is what we do! We have in-depth experience delivering end-to-end IT solutions that will have your practice ready for launch and well-placed for continued growth. comments Go-to supportThere’s a reason why we’re called GPsupport! In addition to equipping our clients with all their IT needs, our team is always available to provide troubleshooting and personalised assistance when the unexpected happens. check Complete peace of mindOur best-practice IT solutions will protect valuable patient data, and will ensure that your clinic is always compliant and accreditation ready. Here are 6 essentials things you need to do when opening a medical practice in Australia:1. Plan your BusinessThe best place to start is with a business plan. While you might specialise in healthcare, a medical clinic is still a business and needs to be treated like one. Plan out your unique value proposition (why patients should choose you over others), how you’re going to raise awareness, where your clinic is going to be and what you’re going to do to make your patient’s experience more enjoyable. You need to have a framework you can build on, one that lays out where you’re going and what you need to do to open a medical practice in Australia. There are a few ways you can do this:
The important thing here is to be organised and prepared, so you can gain clarity and direction, achieve goals, and deal with problems as they arise. 2. Ensure your Medical Practice is Future-ProofOne of the worst things that can happen to a clinic is the gradual fade into technological obsolescence. As time goes on, developments will continue to be made in medical practice technology, with faster networks, better client management programs and more intelligent IT systems that help clinics operate at their best. Failing to upgrade or plan your systems to be upgradeable can mean the end of your clinic in 5 or 10 years. While that may seem like a while, there’s often no chance at resurrection for practices that let themselves slip. Some of the most difficult and time consuming IT fit-outs we’ve done are upgrades for old systems. Transferring data, implementing new processes and dealing with a decade of messy IT systems is almost not worth the time at all. Save yourself the hassle down the line, and plan your IT systems to be scalable and smart. And with the launch of the National Digital Health Strategy, good technology is more important than ever. If you’re not sure where to start when finding the right technology for your medical practice, we can help you find what you’ll need. Our experts can help you set up, install and manage medical IT systems for your new clinic, as well as plan out the necessary technology purchases. Knowing what technology you need to buy will help you save money in the long run, and stop you ending up with obsolete tech and a problem on your hands. 3. Determine Funding for Your ClinicDepending on how ambitious you are, opening a medical practice in Australia could cost anywhere between $30,000 and $500,000. It’s the difference between getting a fit-out for an existing clinic and starting completely from scratch, and could completely change how you go about medical practice set up. There are four main options when it comes to funding: self-funding, traditional bank loans, specialised medical practice investors and private investors (e.g. angel investors). Some banks, such as ANZ have specialised funding and loan options for medical practices and small businesses. Check with your bank of choice for more information, and find out if there’s an option that works for your needs. 4. Understand Australian Medical Practice Laws and InsuranceWhen it comes to the law, there are no shortcuts. All medical practices in Australia need to be compliant with state and national level laws. While some can be annoying, they’re not just there to protect your customers and patients. They’re to protect your business as well. Before you start, check that:
You’ll also need to organise insurance for your clinic. A tailored insurance plan is essential for medical clinics, as no two medical practices are the same. When you’re shopping for insurance, as about business insurance, medical indemnity insurance, management liability insurance, medical-legal expenses insurance and cyber liability insurance. As healthcare can be incredibly sensitive, insurance is critical. At the very minimum, you’ll need accident and protection insurance, and well as correct medical indemnity insurance. 5. Hire the Right Staff and Manage Them ProperlyWhen you’re hiring staff for your practice, you need to make sure you’re choosing people that understand your clinic’s values, as well as the importance of accuracy in their work. Above all, a good practice manager is essential for smooth operations. The practice manager you choose should be able to manage digital platforms and customer data, as well as manage patients and other employees. Beyond hiring staff that will fit your business, you’ll need to make sure you’re following Australia’s National Employment Standards, set out in the Fair Work Act 2009. There are also several workplace laws directly related to employees, including:
6. Choose the Right Location for Your PracticeChoosing the right location for your practice is essential. Think about location visibility, the demographic, demand for a medical practice, economic infrastructure and proximity to other health service facilities in the area. It can be useful to place your clinic near allied health professionals, pathologists, pharmacies and hospitals, as you can build relationships and generate new patients. Having a ‘shop-front’ practice can also be useful for visibility. If you’re planning on targeting a specific niche, demographic information can be found on the Australian Bureau of Statistics website. Now It’s Up to You! If you’re working out how to open a medical practice in Australia, these are the bare essentials you’ll need to consider. As you’ll find out soon enough, there’s a lot that goes into running a medical practice. The best way to learn is just to get out there and give it a go! With the right foundation, good people helping you out and a solid understanding of how medical clinics operate in Australia, you’ll have everything you’ll need to get started. 7. (Bonus) Get Medical Practice IT SupportSetting up a medical practice can be hard if you’ve never done it before. Having a medical practice support team on-board can help you get things organised faster, get guidance when you need it and ensure everything is working correctly before you launch. If you need assistance setting up a clinic, or you’re looking for medical IT Support, the team at GPsupport can help you. We specialise in establishing and maintaining networks and IT systems for new medical practices and healthcare clinics and can get your clinic up and running within a week. We’ve helped hundreds of clinics and GPs across Australia get started and improve their systems.
What we doGPsupport will remove the headaches often associated with setting up a new practice. We have a hands-on, can-do attitude and our team will:
Contact us today to discuss our New Medical Practice Checklist and how we can support your journey. Medical IT Support, SimplifiedWe support our clients by providing end-to-end technology solutions that enhance business efficiencies and improve patient outcomes. Our approach offers security, control, ease, and peace of mind that helps our clients to thrive in an increasingly digital world. Can a non physician own a medical practice in Canada?Who is eligible to purchase a medical practice? In order to purchase or lease a medical practice, it is required that the individual is a licensed physician. Non-physicians cannot make this purchase.
Can a non physician own a medical practice in Ohio?Pain management clinics must be owned and operated only by physicians. In all cases, physicians must exercise professional judgment in rendering medical services based on patients' best interests and within the minimal standards of care of similar practitioners under the same or similar circumstances.
Can a non Doctor own a medical practice in Florida?Florida does not have a prohibition against the corporate practice of medicine, which exists in many states. That means non-physicians can own companies that employ physicians to treat patients.
Can a non Doctor own a medical practice in Australia?In Australia, you do not have to be a doctor to be a corporate owner, partner, or principal in a clinic, as long as the clinic is effectively controlled by accredited physicians.
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