How to set up a dental clinic?

How to Set Up a Health Clinic

• Answer:

  Health clinics constitute a vital addition to our communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 43.6 million Americans were uninsured in 2009, and about one in five Americans had gaps in their coverage. Health clinics can fill an important need in society, though setting them up can take a great deal of work. Difficulty: Moderate Things You'll Need Office location Medical supplies Office Supplies Team doctors and consultants Insurance Instructions Research your local area and find out more about your patient demographic. This information will help you decide what kind of medicines to stock and what supplies you need. It also helps you make staffing decisions; for example you may need a bilingual doctor or receptionist. You can gather this information from state and local health departments, hospitals, other clinics and social services. Determine your budget. There are a number of resources and grants available to help you start a clinic, but you need to have a clear idea of how much it will cost to run. Factor in salaries for doctors and nurses, rental fees, insurance, lab tests and office staff salaries. Assemble a team. You will need a number of different people to ensure your clinic succeeds. Interview and hire an accountant, a lawyer, an insurance specialist, doctors, nurses and office staff. Find a location. You can work with a local hospital or business, or rent a commercial space for your use. When looking at possible locations, consider what rooms your health clinic will need. All clinics must have restrooms, waiting rooms, private exam rooms and a secure place to store patient records. Make sure your location is fully handicap accessible. Gather medical supplies and office equipment. Your clinic needs exam tables, scales, medical waste containers and blood pressure gauges among other medical supplies. You will also need chairs, desks and filing cabinets. Shop around until you can find the best price for these items. Get the word out. Let the community know you exist and are ready to begin helping people. Attend public forums and motivate community members to get involved with the health clinic.