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Thinking of opening a satellite office? Consider these factors:
You'll also want to evaluate how well your new location will work with other services your new patients may need. Explore other patient facilities nearby as well as traffic patterns and road systems that will enable your potential new patients to reach your location. Ensure reliable communications mechanisms are in place so your satellite clinic can easily contact your main office as well as the hospital or surgery center with which you have admitting privileges. Make sure your affiliated hospital can accommodate additional admissions from you.
Most important, you'll need to analyze your expected volume. How will you attract business to a new location where you may not be as well known? For specialty practices, are referral patterns already established with other physicians in your specialty? In sum, can you realistically fill your daily schedule at your new office?
Next, consider reimbursement. You may have the volume to support a satellite office, but it's likely your payer mix will change.
Elizabeth Woodcock, MBA, CPC, is a professional speaker and consultant specializing in practice management. Elizabeth is a Fellow in the American College of Medical Practice Executives and is a Certified Professional Coder. She can be reached at
elizabeth@elizabethwoodcock.com
or via
editor@physicianspractice.com
. Learn more about Elizabeth at
www.elizabethwoodcock.com
.
This article originally appeared in the April 2006 issue of
Physicians Practice
.
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