Location, Location, Location

You’ve heard the real estate advice, about how the value of a property is most determined by its location. It’s true for medical and health care practices too! Probably more true than that other saying, “Build it and they will come!” which doesn’t always seem to work out. Finding the perfect office location might seem to be an obvious goal, but the goal is often elusive to new practices. Other practices may have already taken the best locations, or a suitable office might not even exist. This article is aimed at new practices and in most circumstances would not apply to a practice with the means to build their own office to suit.

Just like fast food outlets that always seem to sprout up across the street from each other, you need to consider establishing your practice where other medical offices already exist. Don’t worry about the competition; it’s all about convenience for the patient, and exposure of your practice to potential new patients. Your patients will stick with you because of the excellent care and personal attention you provide!

So here are some tips, some common sense, hopefully a few that you hadn’t considered before. If you are a primary care provider, you want to be close to the action so that many cars and potential patients on foot see your sign and the convenience of your location. For specialists, location is slightly less important. As my realtor once said to me (I am a specialist physician), “You are a destination doctor. Patients will drive to a specialist almost wherever they are.” (Especially if their primary care doctor recommended you to them). Pediatricians will want to locate near an Obstetrician’s office for possible referrals, and close enough to the hospital to run in for newborn deliveries if your hospital wants you to be available when your patient is being born.

Other tips are to pick a location with much parking available, and lighted if you plan to have evening hours. A traffic light near the parking lot exit makes left turns easier. If your office is on the second floor or higher, a building with not one but two elevators provides a backup elevator if one should fail during business hours.