Guest guest Posted December 1, 2005 Report Share Posted December 1, 2005 You may want to call the local paper and pitch them a story. Keep pounding the pavement, doing talks, visiting churchs etc. I don't find the money worth spending in advertising, unless you are offering services different from other providers in your area (ie aesthetic services etc) that you are trying to market rocky --- renepac@... wrote: > Hello to all, > I have been " lurking " on this discussion group for a couple of weeks > and > would like the advice of those of you that have experience starting a > clinic from scratch. I opened a 'cash only' clinic about 6 weeks ago > in a > city of about 80K people with a large rural draw. This area, like > most > others, has a large percentage of folks with no insurance or a large > deductible. I do not accept any insurance and have a $35 office visit > for > new or returning patients. The clinic has been very well received and > I am > seeing 4-6 patients per day. I only have operating capital for > another 2 > months so I need to double these numbers in that time frame. I need > to see > about 12 people per day to make my overhead. > My question is this: What works best for advertising? I have a nice > phone > book ad, twice weekly ads in the local newspaper and I have done as > many > speaking engagements as possible to local community service and > business > organizations. My budget does not allow for any TV or much radio > advertising. > Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. > Rene' McCarty, PAC > LifeTime Health Center > Tyler, TX > > Rakesh Patel MD Arizona Sun Family Medicine, P.C. 633 East Ray Road, #101 Gilbert, Arizona 85296 www.azsunfm.com PLEASE NOTE: Email is not a secure form of communication. It should not be used for urgent or sensitive messages. Email may be done securely through our web portal. If you have a medical emergency go to an Emergency Room or call 911. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 1, 2005 Report Share Posted December 1, 2005 One thing that has worked for me is tapping into the business community - go to Chamber of Commerce mixers, Mayor's breakfasts, Rotary Club lunches, and just get to know the staff at the Chamber, City Hall, and your local Small Business Development Center. Also, make sure you know the folks who run your American Lung Association, American Diabetes Assoc., American Heart, etc. People often go to them asking about doctors in the area. Good Luck! , MD Rancho Mirage, CA --- renepac@... wrote: > Hello to all, > I have been " lurking " on this discussion group for a > couple of weeks and > would like the advice of those of you that have > experience starting a > clinic from scratch. I opened a 'cash only' clinic > about 6 weeks ago in a > city of about 80K people with a large rural draw. > This area, like most > others, has a large percentage of folks with no > insurance or a large > deductible. I do not accept any insurance and have a > $35 office visit for > new or returning patients. The clinic has been very > well received and I am > seeing 4-6 patients per day. I only have operating > capital for another 2 > months so I need to double these numbers in that > time frame. I need to see > about 12 people per day to make my overhead. > My question is this: What works best for > advertising? I have a nice phone > book ad, twice weekly ads in the local newspaper and > I have done as many > speaking engagements as possible to local community > service and business > organizations. My budget does not allow for any TV > or much radio > advertising. > Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. > Rene' McCarty, PAC > LifeTime Health Center > Tyler, TX > > __________________________________ Yahoo! Music Unlimited Access over 1 million songs. Try it free. http://music.yahoo.com/unlimited/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 1, 2005 Report Share Posted December 1, 2005 We don't have a telephone book ad. We do get referrals from our insurance companies, but the majority of our business is from other doctor's offices. We have a color three fold brochure that we have been handing out for since May, we opened in August. We have handed out about a thousand brochures, mostly through specialists and nurses that we know. We see about 40 new patients per month, with no new Medicare, Medicaid. But my wife just walked in, and, as usual, struck to the heart of it. You need to reach the uninsured. Those with insurance won't care how cheap the visits are. As a side thought, I would also make sure you hit your qualifications hard, people will like inexpensive healthcare, but not if they think the quality is not there. With your model it would seem that you are appealing to the part time/full time workers without insurance. I would try visiting some business that do not offer insurance to their employees. Restaurants, bars, and stores. Tell their owners what you do, and how you are compensated for your time. Suggest that they promote it as offering low cost health care for employees. Leave them a stack of brochures. I bet they will gladly hand them out. $35 is not far from the copay of a lot of insurance companies. If you block off two or three mornings a week, you could hit a lot the businesses in your area and depending on the size of the business a whole lot of potential customers. Re: New practice One thing that has worked for me is tapping into the business community - go to Chamber of Commerce mixers, Mayor's breakfasts, Rotary Club lunches, and just get to know the staff at the Chamber, City Hall, and your local Small Business Development Center. Also, make sure you know the folks who run your American Lung Association, American Diabetes Assoc., American Heart, etc. People often go to them asking about doctors in the area. Good Luck! , MD Rancho Mirage, CA --- renepac@... wrote: > Hello to all, > I have been " lurking " on this discussion group for a > couple of weeks and > would like the advice of those of you that have > experience starting a > clinic from scratch. I opened a 'cash only' clinic > about 6 weeks ago in a > city of about 80K people with a large rural draw. > This area, like most > others, has a large percentage of folks with no > insurance or a large > deductible. I do not accept any insurance and have a > $35 office visit for > new or returning patients. The clinic has been very > well received and I am > seeing 4-6 patients per day. I only have operating > capital for another 2 > months so I need to double these numbers in that > time frame. I need to see > about 12 people per day to make my overhead. > My question is this: What works best for > advertising? I have a nice phone > book ad, twice weekly ads in the local newspaper and > I have done as many > speaking engagements as possible to local community > service and business > organizations. My budget does not allow for any TV > or much radio > advertising. > Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. > Rene' McCarty, PAC > LifeTime Health Center > Tyler, TX > > __________________________________ Yahoo! Music Unlimited Access over 1 million songs. Try it free. http://music.yahoo.com/unlimited/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2005 Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 From Joanne in Drain, Or, I advertise in the ad section on the back of church and synagogue fliers because the folks often look at the backs of their fliers and pay attention; and they are cheap for the size space you get, usually less than $50 a year. I made my own ads, attractive ones with lots of white space, that show I give sensitive care to my patients and have open access. Also many of the patients you get out of that are quite nice. Joanne Holland DVM/MD Hello to all,I have been "lurking" on this discussion group for a couple of weeks andwould like the advice of those of you that have experience starting aclinic from scratch. I opened a 'cash only' clinic about 6 weeks ago in acity of about 80K people with a large rural draw. This area, like mostothers, has a large percentage of folks with no insurance or a largedeductible. I do not accept any insurance and have a $35 office visit fornew or returning patients. The clinic has been very well received and I amseeing 4-6 patients per day. I only have operating capital for another 2months so I need to double these numbers in that time frame. I need to seeabout 12 people per day to make my overhead.My question is this: What works best for advertising? I have a nice phonebook ad, twice weekly ads in the local newspaper and I have done as manyspeaking engagements as possible to local community service and businessorganizations. My budget does not allow for any TV or much radioadvertising.Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.Rene' McCarty, PACLifeTime Health CenterTyler, TX Yahoo! Personals Single? There's someone we'd like you to meet. Lots of someones, actually. Yahoo! Personals Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2005 Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 From Joanne in Drain, Or, I advertise in the ad section on the back of church and synagogue fliers because the folks often look at the backs of their fliers and pay attention; and they are cheap for the size space you get, usually less than $50 a year. I made my own ads, attractive ones with lots of white space, that show I give sensitive care to my patients and have open access. Also many of the patients you get out of that are quite nice. Joanne Holland DVM/MD Hello to all,I have been "lurking" on this discussion group for a couple of weeks andwould like the advice of those of you that have experience starting aclinic from scratch. I opened a 'cash only' clinic about 6 weeks ago in acity of about 80K people with a large rural draw. This area, like mostothers, has a large percentage of folks with no insurance or a largedeductible. I do not accept any insurance and have a $35 office visit fornew or returning patients. The clinic has been very well received and I amseeing 4-6 patients per day. I only have operating capital for another 2months so I need to double these numbers in that time frame. I need to seeabout 12 people per day to make my overhead.My question is this: What works best for advertising? I have a nice phonebook ad, twice weekly ads in the local newspaper and I have done as manyspeaking engagements as possible to local community service and businessorganizations. My budget does not allow for any TV or much radioadvertising.Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.Rene' McCarty, PACLifeTime Health CenterTyler, TX Yahoo! Personals Single? There's someone we'd like you to meet. Lots of someones, actually. Yahoo! Personals Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2005 Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 From Joanne in Drain, Or, I advertise in the ad section on the back of church and synagogue fliers because the folks often look at the backs of their fliers and pay attention; and they are cheap for the size space you get, usually less than $50 a year. I made my own ads, attractive ones with lots of white space, that show I give sensitive care to my patients and have open access. Also many of the patients you get out of that are quite nice. Joanne Holland DVM/MD Hello to all,I have been "lurking" on this discussion group for a couple of weeks andwould like the advice of those of you that have experience starting aclinic from scratch. I opened a 'cash only' clinic about 6 weeks ago in acity of about 80K people with a large rural draw. This area, like mostothers, has a large percentage of folks with no insurance or a largedeductible. I do not accept any insurance and have a $35 office visit fornew or returning patients. The clinic has been very well received and I amseeing 4-6 patients per day. I only have operating capital for another 2months so I need to double these numbers in that time frame. I need to seeabout 12 people per day to make my overhead.My question is this: What works best for advertising? I have a nice phonebook ad, twice weekly ads in the local newspaper and I have done as manyspeaking engagements as possible to local community service and businessorganizations. My budget does not allow for any TV or much radioadvertising.Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.Rene' McCarty, PACLifeTime Health CenterTyler, TX Yahoo! Personals Single? There's someone we'd like you to meet. Lots of someones, actually. Yahoo! Personals Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2005 Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 The only advertising source mentioned here that I would say to watch out for is the local ER. I have found that more often than not these referrals are the infamous “train wreck” patients with no (or poor insurance) that none of the other doctors want to see. Lot’s of drug seekers, bills that don’t get paid, BWC claims that are rejected after you’ve seen them 4 – 5 times, etc. Not all are like this, but a lot of these ER “referrals” are. We have stopped taking our business cards to the ER for this reason. Word of mouth remains the best source. Re: New practice From Joanne in Drain, Or, I advertise in the ad section on the back of church and synagogue fliers because the folks often look at the backs of their fliers and pay attention; and they are cheap for the size space you get, usually less than $50 a year. I made my own ads, attractive ones with lots of white space, that show I give sensitive care to my patients and have open access. Also many of the patients you get out of that are quite nice. Joanne Holland DVM/MD Hello to all, I have be! en " lurking " on this discussion group for a couple of weeks and would like the advice of those of you that have experience starting a clinic from scratch. I opened a 'cash only' clinic about 6 weeks ago in a city of about 80K people with a large rural draw. This area, like most others, has a large percentage of folks with no insurance or a large deductible. I do not accept any insurance and have a $35 office visit for new or returning patients. The clinic has been very well received and I am seeing 4-6 patients per day. I only have operating capital for another 2 months so I need to double these numbers in that time frame. I need to see about 12 people per day to make my overhead. My question is this: What works best for advertising? I have a nice phone book ad, twice weekly ads in the local newspaper and I have done as many speaking engagements as possible to local community service and business organizations. My budget does not allow fo! r any TV or much radio advertising. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Rene' McCarty, PAC LifeTime Health Center Tyler, TX Yahoo! Personals Single? There's someone we'd like you to meet. Lots of someones, actually. Yahoo! Personals Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2005 Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 The only advertising source mentioned here that I would say to watch out for is the local ER. I have found that more often than not these referrals are the infamous “train wreck” patients with no (or poor insurance) that none of the other doctors want to see. Lot’s of drug seekers, bills that don’t get paid, BWC claims that are rejected after you’ve seen them 4 – 5 times, etc. Not all are like this, but a lot of these ER “referrals” are. We have stopped taking our business cards to the ER for this reason. Word of mouth remains the best source. Re: New practice From Joanne in Drain, Or, I advertise in the ad section on the back of church and synagogue fliers because the folks often look at the backs of their fliers and pay attention; and they are cheap for the size space you get, usually less than $50 a year. I made my own ads, attractive ones with lots of white space, that show I give sensitive care to my patients and have open access. Also many of the patients you get out of that are quite nice. Joanne Holland DVM/MD Hello to all, I have be! en " lurking " on this discussion group for a couple of weeks and would like the advice of those of you that have experience starting a clinic from scratch. I opened a 'cash only' clinic about 6 weeks ago in a city of about 80K people with a large rural draw. This area, like most others, has a large percentage of folks with no insurance or a large deductible. I do not accept any insurance and have a $35 office visit for new or returning patients. The clinic has been very well received and I am seeing 4-6 patients per day. I only have operating capital for another 2 months so I need to double these numbers in that time frame. I need to see about 12 people per day to make my overhead. My question is this: What works best for advertising? I have a nice phone book ad, twice weekly ads in the local newspaper and I have done as many speaking engagements as possible to local community service and business organizations. My budget does not allow fo! r any TV or much radio advertising. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Rene' McCarty, PAC LifeTime Health Center Tyler, TX Yahoo! Personals Single? There's someone we'd like you to meet. Lots of someones, actually. Yahoo! Personals Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2006 Report Share Posted January 7, 2006 Hi group, Started my solo/solo practice today with one patient whom I spent 1 and a half hours with. It was so liberating to finally start, although I don't have my computer/EMR up yet( pen to paper still works). That should be ready the next 2-3 weeks, but wanted to get started anyway. I'm glad to start slowly. I still have a lot of small stuff to do. Will follow-up once things start moving. Thanks to all for the invaluable input from the list serve. Everyone made it that much easier for me to start. I was able to get the server and other hardware equipment at a lot less than the Alteer quote by internet shopping and using a desktop at the office(I have one room) and laptop at home. Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2006 Report Share Posted January 7, 2006 Congratulations and best wishes on a very successful practice! Are you able to tell us who you are now and where your practice is located? SetoSouth Pasadena, CA Hi group, Started my solo/solo practice today with one patient whom I spent 1 and a half hours with. It was so liberating to finally start, although I don't have my computer/EMR up yet( pen to paper still works). That should be ready the next 2-3 weeks, but wanted to get started anyway. I'm glad to start slowly. I still have a lot of small stuff to do. Will follow-up once things start moving. Thanks to all for the invaluable input from the list serve. Everyone made it that much easier for me to start. I was able to get the server and other hardware equipment at a lot less than the Alteer quote by internet shopping and using a desktop at the office(I have one room) and laptop at home. Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2006 Report Share Posted January 8, 2006 n Bobb-McKoy. My practice is in Englewood, New Jersey. whew!!! what a relief!!! Seto wrote: Congratulations and best wishes on a very successful practice! Are you able to tell us who you are now and where your practice is located? Seto South Pasadena, CA Hi group, Started my solo/solo practice today with one patient whom I spent 1 and a half hours with. It was so liberating to finally start, although I don't have my computer/EMR up yet( pen to paper still works). That should be ready the next 2-3 weeks, but wanted to get started anyway. I'm glad to start slowly. I still have a lot of small stuff to do. Will follow-up once things start moving. Thanks to all for the invaluable input from the list serve. Everyone made it that much easier for me to start. I was able to get the server and other hardware equipment at a lot less than the Alteer quote by internet shopping and using a desktop at the office(I have one room) and laptop at home. Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2006 Report Share Posted January 8, 2006 n Bobb-McKoy. My practice is in Englewood, New Jersey. whew!!! what a relief!!! Seto wrote: Congratulations and best wishes on a very successful practice! Are you able to tell us who you are now and where your practice is located? Seto South Pasadena, CA Hi group, Started my solo/solo practice today with one patient whom I spent 1 and a half hours with. It was so liberating to finally start, although I don't have my computer/EMR up yet( pen to paper still works). That should be ready the next 2-3 weeks, but wanted to get started anyway. I'm glad to start slowly. I still have a lot of small stuff to do. Will follow-up once things start moving. Thanks to all for the invaluable input from the list serve. Everyone made it that much easier for me to start. I was able to get the server and other hardware equipment at a lot less than the Alteer quote by internet shopping and using a desktop at the office(I have one room) and laptop at home. Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.