Starting a clinic in India can be an experience that takes time and a lot of effort, but it can be a successful venture with careful planning and execution.
This blog features the top 10 common mistakes to avoid when setting up a new clinic.
Not Doing Your Research
Before starting your clinic, it is important to do your research. This includes understanding the healthcare needs of your community, the competition, and the regulatory environment.
You must also research the infrastructure and licensing requirements before setting up a clinic in India.
Not Having a Business Plan
A business plan is essential for any business, and this is especially true for a clinic. A clinic’s business plan must include the key prospect, type of specialty, finance, and infrastructure requirements.
Without a business plan, tracking the progress and making necessary adjustments along the way will be difficult.
Not Securing Financing
Starting a clinic can be costly, so securing financing is important before getting started is important.
There are a number of ways to finance your clinic, including loans, grants, and investor funding. You should consider all the costs before taking up a loan so that you have adequate financial resources to run the clinic efficiently, especially during the initial months.
Not Finding the Right Location
The location of a hospital or clinic is important for many reasons, including accessibility, visibility, and parking.
It’s important to consider all these points and make sure that you find a location that will be convenient for all your patients.
Not Hiring the Right Staff
Hiring qualified and competent staff is essential for any clinic. This includes doctors, nurses, paramedics, therapists, medical technicians, ward workers, and others.
You must ensure that the medical staff is professionally trained and authorized to practice. Be sure to take your time in finding staff that is knowledgeable and passionate about healthcare.
Not Having an EMR
No matter what size medical clinic you are setting up in India, not having an EMR system is a big mistake. EMR systems are the future of healthcare that helps us to track patient data and outcomes, which is essential for quality care.
An EMR for doctors can help them streamline their workflow and manage their patients efficiently.
Not Promoting Your Clinic
Once your clinic is up and running, you need to promote it to attract patients. There are several ways to promote your clinic, including online marketing, community outreach, and print advertising.
For a doctor, word of mouth is the biggest form of marketing ever. So follow strict standards and ensure the best medical care for your patients so that you build trust and create a good image.
Not Ensuring Quality Care
Quality care is essential for any healthcare facility. Establish protocols and procedures to ensure patients receive the highest quality of care.
You must also ensure that the clinic is well-equipped to provide related medical procedures under one roof so patients can get timely care.
Not Being Registered with The Relevant Authorities
A clinic must be registered with the relevant authorities to operate legally in India.
Make sure the clinic is registered under the Companies Act 2013 and Societies Registration Act 2001. Also, you must ensure that the drug licensing requirements are also fulfilled to be able to sell medications legally in the clinic.
Without all this, the clinic may be shut down by the authorities.
Not Having Adequate Insurance
A clinic needs to have adequate insurance in place to protect against any potential risks. Without proper insurance, a clinic may be liable for any damages.
Business insurance for the clinic will ensure that your clinic is covered in case of theft or damage caused by events like a fire.
Why Not Investing in an EMR is a Big Mistake
When considering setting up a new medical clinic in India, you are often tempted to skip investing in an Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system. But resist that temptation – not having an EMR can be a big mistake.
There are many good reasons to have an EMR in India, even in a small clinic.
For one thing, it can help you keep track of your patient’s medical histories and medications. That’s important information at your fingertips when trying to provide the best care.
An EMR for doctors can also help you with billing and insurance claims. And if you ever need to refer a patient to another specialist, having an EMR can make the process much smoother!
Setting up a new clinic involves many formalities that must be fulfilled to operate legally. While the licensing and infrastructure requirements cannot be compromised, there are a few things that you can implement to make your work easier.
You can register on HealthPix, India’s largest EMR used by more than 1000 doctors across the country. HealthPix has served more than 1.2 crore patients across 370 cities in India. Learn more about HelathPix HERE