Physiotherapy clinics are just like any other organization in that they begin with an idea, work towards this idea, and eventually great things happen. But not as great things happen right when you walk into the clinic for the first time. It’s during this initial period that you’re likely to make contact with the physiotherapists, the physical therapists, the doctor, the hospital, etc. That’s when you ask them about pricing, availability, set up, liability, etc. In order to get the best deal possible, it helps to understand what these professionals look for in patients before making any decisions.
The “place” part of the equation is obviously going to be the physiotherapy clinic. It needs to be easily accessible by both patients and other healthcare providers. The space it occupies is going to depend on the size of the clinic, but it should at least have enough space to house the physiotherapist, the equipment they’ll be using, and other staff members. If space is limited, it’s also helpful to know if there will be other staff members such as the nurse available to take over if the physiotherapist is unable to continue. Make sure they know about any insurance coverage they may have so they don’t surprise the client with bills they don’t have.
Once the place is established, it’s time to identify a target market. In terms of healthcare practices, this could be anyone who has recently suffered some kind of injury or illness and is now seeking ways to correct or prevent any further pain or damage. This could be athletes, retired people, or people who are suffering from some sort of paralysis. The physiotherapy clinic will need to have a way of communicating with this target market so it can tailor services to their needs. Remember, this sector isn’t only interested in pain relief, but also in preventing injury and increasing mobility.
The next step involves determining how much money a physiotherapy clinic is going to make over the course of a year. For some clinics, this comes in the form of fees paid directly to them by the patient, and for others it comes from revenue gained from various activities. Either way, it’s going to be important to set an appropriate budget since it’s likely a large amount of money will be coming in. Setting a limit on how much can be spend each month can help to ensure that the practice doesn’t go over its allocated budget. Some physical therapists make their living off of commissions, which can mean the limit could be prohibitive for a practice to maintain.
The next piece of business to consider for a physiotherapy clinic is whether or not to purchase a computer-based practice management software program. These programs allow physical therapists to keep up with multiple patient files and track multiple types of services. This software can be especially beneficial to a practice management system if many therapists are using it.
The last step in purchasing equipment is to look into how the devices will be used. Can the practice install and use magnetic body scanners or ultrasound machines? Will therapists continue to be able to perform their traditional physical therapy treatments without needling patients with needles? Are patients comfortable having their legs or feet massaged while seated in a chair? These are all important questions that must be answered before any equipment is purchased.
When looking at potential equipment for a physiotherapy clinic, one should keep in mind the kind of service the clinic is looking to provide as well. Do they want to provide massage services or only offer treatments that involve pressure on the musculoskeletal system? Are the therapists experienced and certified? The best Physiotherapists will have achieved the certification required by their state. Also important is whether the clinics wants to become one of the many outpatient facilities that are quickly growing in popularity. Clinics that treat an assortment of patients, rather than a specific group of patients, will be able to serve their clients better over time.
In order to purchase the right equipment for a physiotherapy practice, it is important to ask the following questions: What services do they offer? What type of staff will be required to manage the clinic? How will payment for the services to be received and managed? When completing this type of business plan for a new Physiotherapist business, it is important to remember to include all of the above information. This will ensure that any questions about payment and the handling of funds are addressed from the very beginning.