While there are a myriad of details that must be taken care of on a daily basis in order to remain in business, when starting a new practice, a key decision is choosing a location for the office. A prime location can significantly increase patient traffic and help make the business a success. That's because people visit these types of practices on a regular basis and convenience is a major concern. With specialists, who most people visit less frequently, location is less important. You do have to take a McDonald's type of approach where location and hours of operation are very important.
Physicians have a number of resources they can consult when deciding where to locate an office.
For physicians who have been a part of a large practice but are leaving to strike out on their own, they can consult their patient databases to see where their patients live or work then locate their practices in those areas. Townsend also suggests that physicians consult with Realtors to help choose an office location. Realtors have a good idea of demographics and the areas where population bases are starting to grow. When Brooks Wilkins decided he wanted to break off from a larger practice, he looked for a spot that would be convenient to where many of his patients worked. Wilkins was with Blue Ridge Family Practice, a practice controlled by Rex Healthcare.