Our nation’s rural areas sadly lack in healthcare facilities. Today’s residents of these towns and counties suffer needlessly from ailments that a routine checkup or quick trip to the doctor could solve for them, but they simply don’t have the access to do that. If you are interesting in being a part of the solution, first- great! Second, it is time to find out exactly how this can be done.

When you boil it down, opening a rural health clinic is actually not that different from opening any other type of small business. In fact, many of the steps are the same:

#1 Secure Funding. Most people need to begin here, because they won’t be opening the clinic with their own money. There are a ton of different ways to get the resources you need to start your healthcare clinic. It could be a giant donation from an angel investor, a small business loan from a bank, or a number of other avenues. Try it all!

#2 Make it Official. Get all of the legal aspects out of the way early. That way, you don’t have to worry about someone taking your big idea or getting too far ahead of yourself. A quick checklist of things to concentrate on include:

• The type of business structure (LLC, corporation, or a partnership, to name a few.)
• Choosing the clinic’s name
• Registering your business
• Federal tax ID
• State tax ID
• Permits, licenses, and insurance

While some things you can do on your own, it’s best to consult with a lawyer when starting out, so you can make sure you’ve covered everything that you need.

#3 Decide what services you offer. Pause and really think about the kind of healthcare clinic you want to open. Should it be a general practice or specialize? It could be focused on kids, or deal mainly with sports injuries, or be a special place for those who have a language barrier to other forms of medical care. Decide this sooner rather than later, so you know the staff you’ll need to bring on.

#4 Hire a staff. To scale your business, you are going to need to hand off responsibilities to other people. You need a team! Depending on the size and services of your clinic, you may need a few or dozens. Do you need nurses? Doctors? Physical therapists? Medical Interns? Receptionists? Specialists? Nurse technicians? Custodians? Security guards? Take your time and think over it all.

#5 Bring in a third party company for help with the details. You don’t have to do this alone, and this doesn’t just mean because you brought in some staff members. Aptus Associates, LLC offers a variety of practice support services that will make getting started a lot easier, like dealing with the insurance companies on your behalf, billing services, software management, and so much more.

Does it sound like a lot? It is, but it will be well worth it when you are making a real difference in the lives of people who would otherwise go without health care. Do not delay in getting started! And don’t forget, when you are ready for help, Aptus Associates, LLC is here to be on your team.